Today in 1936 the first issue of “Life” magazine was published. “Life” was originally a magazine of humorous articles and political cartoons until it folded during the Great Depression. Henry Luce, successful publisher of “Time” bought the name and launched a magazine that relied on photojournalism.
According to Luce, Life magazine was a way “to see life; to see the world; to witness great events…to see things thousands of miles away…to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed…”
The magazine was an immediate success and had a circulation of over 8 million. It lost circulation and advertising revenue because of television and by 1972 ceased publication. In 2004, the magazine reemerged as a weekly newspaper supplement and again enjoys a circulation of millions.
The first issue of Life magazine cost 10 cents.
ALSO
Today in 1984 Boston College beat the University of Florida 47-45 when Doug Flutie threw a 64 yard pass from the 37 yard line into the end zone in the last seconds of the game. (The game clock ran out during the play.)
The game is remembered as one of the most spectacular. Miami moved the ball a total of 655 yards with 32 first downs; Boston 627 yards with 30 first downs. Together the teams ran 150 plays. The lead score changed six times in the last 20 minutes of the game.
ALSO
Happy birthday Henry McCarty,aka William Bonney, aka William Antrim, aka Billy the Kid, born in New York City today in 1859. Billy the Kid was famous for his vigilante involvement in the Lincoln County War of New Mexico, a condemned murderer, and a romanticized outlaw while he was alive. He was shot dead on July 14, 1881 at age 21.

Happy birthday Franklin Pierce, born in a log cabin in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, in 1805. Pierce was the 14th President and his administration is known for the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, making up the territory of Arizona and New Mexico. Unfortunately, he was also known for the Ostend Manifesto, which was a secret plan to start a war with Spain to annex Cuba. This scandal led his own Democratic party to refuse to nominate him for another term. Pierce’s personal tragedy of losing all three of his sons (two by disease, one by a train wreck) led to his drinking and alcoholism. When asked what he would do next when he left office in 1857, Pierce replied, “There’s nothing left, but to get drunk.”
Pierce died in 1869 at age 65.