Interview (magazine)

Interview is an American magazine founded by pop artist Andy Warhol and journalist John Wilcock in 1969.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The magazine, nicknamed "The Crystal Ball of Pop,"<ref name=":6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> features interviews of and by celebrities.

Background

In 1965, pop artist Andy Warhol announced his retirement from painting to focus on filmmaking.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite book</ref> After he survived an assassination attempt in 1968, he began to concentrate on building a business enterprise.<ref name=":12" /> When Warhol tried to obtain press permits for the New York Film Festival, he was denied.<ref name=":13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Therefore, having a formal method for obtaining press passes was one of the reasons he founded inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal with British journalist John Wilcock in 1969.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":13" />

The magazine, which was headquartered at Warhol's Factory, started as a film review before shifting its emphasis to pop culture. "I felt there was a need for an easygoing, conversational magazine,' said Warhol.<ref name=":16">Template:Cite news</ref> "Every other paper is full of bad news, but we publish only good."<ref name=":16" />

Interview was published monthly, but is now published six times per year (March, Spring, Summer, September, Fall, Winter).

History

File:AndyWarholMuseumInterviewDisplay.jpg

Covers displayed in the Andy Warhol Museum

Andy Warhol period

The magazine was launched in October 1969 with a cover featuring a still from the experimental film Lions Love…(and Lies), which starred Warhol superstar Viva.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Initially, the magazine was merely a film critique spread published under the title inter/VIEW: A Monthly Film Journal, with the word "view" paying homage to poet Charles Henri Ford, the publisher of the influential literary magazine View in the 1940s.<ref name=":13" />

Gerard Malanga, Paul Morrissey, John Wilcock and Andy Warhol served as editors of Interview's inaugural issue.<ref name=":9" /> By the fourth issue, Morrissey was the top editor since Malanga had left for Europe, and Soren Agenoux was hired as the managing editor.<ref name=":9" />

Bob Colacello was taking a film course at Columbia University when he began writing film reviews for Interview in 1970. By the fall of 1970, Colacello was hired as the managing editor at a salary of $50 ($Template:Inflation in Template:Inflation-yearTemplate:Inflation-fn) a week.<ref name=":9" /> He brought in his friend and classmate Glenn O'Brien as an associate editor.<ref name=":8">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Colacello's first issue featured film 1940s-era stills of actress Rita Hayworth on the cover and on every page. The idea came from Morrissey, who told Colacello, "Just put one on every page and it'll be funny."<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1970, film director Jerome Hill and Charles Rydell became part-owners of Interview.<ref name=":9" /> Their share was sold to Peter Brant and his cousin Joe Allen in 1971.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

By 1972, Interview had a circulation of 30,000, mostly subscriptions.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref> O'Brien worked with artist Richard Bernstein to create the new cursive Interview logo, which is still used today.<ref name=":8" /> The magazine increased size, started printing color covers, and was distributed regularly for 50 cents ($Template:Inflation in Template:Inflation-yearTemplate:Inflation-fn) per copy.<ref name=":4" /> Interview was transformed to become a "reflection of Andy’s social life" said Colacello.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref> "We wanted every issue of Interview to be like a great dinner party, where you have a grande dame, an important political figure, a rock star, an up-and-coming actress, and some model."<ref name=":3" />

O'Brien and his wife Jude Jade sold advertising for the magazine before Sandy Brant became the director of advertising in 1972.<ref name=":20">Template:Cite journal</ref> O'Brien succeeded Colacello as managing editor of Interview in 1972 and continued in that capacity until 1973.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite book</ref> In 1973, Rosemary Kent, an editor from WWD magazine, became the editor-in-chief of Interview, which at that point had a circulation of almost 70,000.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1974, Colacello took over as editor-in-chief and remained in that position until 1983.<ref name=":20" />

Warhol hosted parties for the magazine at New York hotspots such as Studio 54 and Regine's. He used a tape recorder he had in his pocket to capture content for Interview.<ref name=":5" /> The interviews were taped conversations of well-known eclectic people usually at a restaurant and published as a literal transcription. Another trademark of the magazine were full-page photographs of "beautiful people."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

By 1981, Interview was priced at $2 ($Template:Inflation in Template:Inflation-yearTemplate:Inflation-fn) a copy and had a circulation of 90,000.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref> The magazine was described as a "hybrid of People and Vogue on elongated newsprint."<ref name=":7" />

From 1972 to 1989, the artist Richard Bernstein created the covers for Interview, giving the publication its bold and colorful signature style.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Photographers Robert Mapplethorpe and Christopher Makos took pictures for the magazine. Writer Fran Lebowitz was paid $10 ($Template:Inflation in Template:Inflation-yearTemplate:Inflation-fn) a review for her film column. Fashion journalist André Leon Talley answered the phones and styled shoots.<ref name=":3" />

Over time, Warhol withdrew from everyday oversight of Interview but he continued to act as an ambassador for the magazine, distributing issues in the street to passersby and promoting the magazine at events.<ref name=":7" />

Brant Publications period

In 1989, Brant Publications Inc. acquired Interview magazine from the estate of Andy Warhol for $10 million.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Businessman Peter Brant and his then-wife Sandra Brant were friends of Warhol, who died in 1987, and they had briefly invested in Interview in the 1970s.<ref name=":0" />

File:Interview (magazine cover).jpg

April 2011 cover, featuring Lil Wayne

From 1989 to 2008, Sandra Brant ran the business and her longtime partner Ingrid Sischy was the editor-in-chief.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":14">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The magazine's format remained consistent at 60% features and 40% glossy advertising. In 2008, Sischy resigned from Interview when Brant sold her 50 percent stake.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref>

2008 to 2018

For a year and a half the magazine was in flux, edited by Christopher Bollen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Interview restarted under co-editorial directors Fabien Baron and Glenn O'Brien in September 2008, with a cover featuring Kate Moss. Stephen Mooallem and Christopher Bollen served as the working editor-in-chief and editor-at-large, respectively. The publication's content can be found online and via an app, Other Edition, available on iTunes.

As of 2017, Fabien Baron was the editorial director, Karl Templer was the creative director, and Nick Haramis was the editor-in-chief. In December 2013, Stephen Mooallem left Interview to join Harper's Bazaar as its executive editor. Keith Pollock served as editor-in-chief from 2014 to 2016.<ref name="Keith Pollock Named Editor in Chief of Interview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

It was announced on May 21, 2018, that the publication 'folded' and would end both its print and web publications by the end of 2018. The publication also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and liquidation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Relaunch

In August 2018, it was reported that a company owned by Peter Brant, Singleton LLC, purchased Interview out of bankruptcy for $1.5 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On September 6, 2018, Interview announced the launch of its 521st issue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The magazine was purchased by Kelly Brant and Jason Nikic,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with some reports suggesting that the title's intellectual property will be returned to Peter Brant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Editors

Managing Editor / Executive Editor / Editor-in-Chief

Editor	Start year	End year	Ref.
Gerard Malanga	1969	1970	<ref name=":9" />
Soren Agenoux	1970	1970	<ref name=":9" />
Kenneth Geist	1970	1970	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bob Colacello	1970	1971	<ref name=":20" />
Glenn O'Brien	1972	1973	<ref name=":9" />
Rosemary Kent	1973	1974	<ref name=":10" />
Bob Colacello	1974	1983	<ref name=":20" />
Robert Hayes	1983	1984	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Gael Love	1985	1987	<ref name=":15">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Kevin Sessums	1987	1989	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shelley Wanger	1988	1990	<ref name=":15" />
Ingrid Sischy	1990	2008	<ref name=":14" />
Christopher Bollen	2008	2009	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nick Haramis	2017	2021	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mel Ottenberg	2021	present	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Editions

Country	Circulation Dates	Editor-in-Chief	Star year	End year
United States (Interview)	1969–2018	See above
	2018–present
Russia (Interview Russia)	2011–	Aliona Doletskaya	2011	2017
Germany (Interview Germany)	2012–2020	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2012	2013
		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2013	2014

External links

• Template:Official website
• {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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