#sunset magazine

[vintagecamping]

Sunset Ideas for Family Camping

Published 1950

[thegikitiki]

1986, where the ideal coastal getaway involved lugging a fragile glass bowl full of raw vegies and a wicker trunk large enough to house a golden retriever across the unforgiving dunes. Nothing quite says "relaxing seaside supper" like the imminent threat of windblown sand adding a delightful, gritty crunch to your perfectly grilled shrimp. Notice how the pristine checkered blanket is flawlessly arranged, utterly defying the chaotic reality of coastal breezes, while a hot charcoal grill casually hangs out mere inches from an extremely flammable wicker monolith. It’s an aspirational masterpiece of culinary precariousness! The casual, rustic tearing of the bread perfectly masks the sheer anxiety of trying to elegantly shuck a hot oyster while sitting cross-legged in the dirt. Ah, the eighties, a time when aesthetic dedication meant accepting that at least ten percent of your meal would be pure silica.

Sourced from the 1986 Sunset Barbecue Cook Book.

[100gayicons]

Genevieve Callahan and Lou Richardson began their careers as writers for Better Homes & Gardens magazine in Iowa. In 1928, Larry Lane, a former colleague, invited them to join him in California to help revive a failing regional magazine called Sunset. He offered them editorial control over the Food section of the magazine.

Gen and Lou were co-architects of Sunset's changes in journalism-based food reporting. For a decade, they reported on the origins of recipes and the cultures that developed them. They went on fact-finding trips and showcased unusual items like avocados and abalone that today we consider commonplace. They reported on cuisines beyond meat and potatoes, highlighting Chinese and Mexican dishes.

Callahan spoke out against demeaning views of women:

“Some misguided souls take the attitude that if a woman enjoys doing anything about the house, she must be a poor, dumb 'domestic' person who could have no interest in the 'higher things of life.' Well, this is no time to get into an argument; but we know that a woman can be both a good cook and a good conversationalist.”

Sunset food editor Jerry Anne Di Vecchio described Gen and Lou:

“They stopped everywhere, from any taco stand or Oriental market, barbecue, or food festival. They were discovering everything for the first time and telling their readers about it — they were the first ones in America to write about posole.”

It’s likely that readers had no idea that “Lou” was a woman. Genevieve and Lou were a lesbian couple, living and working together.

Here’s a rare photo of Lou and Genevieve together:

“Lou Richardson, left, and Genevieve Callahan are working page proofs in their Russian Hill apartment. Visible in the background is Coit Tower, a San Francisco landmark.”

Lou stopped working full time at Sunset Magazine in 1933, but she contributed as a freelancer. Genevieve continued on until 1938.

When asked later about their departure, Bill Lane, son of the original owner, speculated that it may have been that Gen and Lou were too open in their relationship. He thought there was pressure on the couple to cool it down. Although San Francisco had a liberal reputation even in the 1930s, a lesbian couple editing a “family” magazine might attract undue attention.

The couple continued to work together, writing books and going on lecture tours. In 1946, they wrote "The California Cook Book". It’s considered “lesbian-coded” because there are hints about Callahan's relationship with Richardson.

[misforgotten2]

I use Metamucil to get the most out of my "back issues."

Sunset The Magazine of Western Living - August 1958

[aemperatrix]

a little obsessed with these old Sunset Magazine covers

[batteredshoes]

Dude.

[heaveninawildflower]

Illustrated ‘Sunset’ magazine poster for March 1904?.

Image and text information courtesy NYPL Digital Collection.

[danismm]

“Snowdrift” 1927 ad.