Magazine Madness and/or Mania: Co-Ed, May 1963

Published by Scholastic between 1959 and 1985, Co-Ed’s somewhat confusing tagline was “The High School Magazine For Homemakers and Career Girls”, which covers pretty much every group of young women except collegiate co-eds.

Distributed to high school students (who could purchase a subscription for $2.00 if they wished to continue to receive it after they graduate!), its ostensible academic-bent is mostly seen in the reduced amount of advertising (and in some issues, increased amount of paid product placement). This issue is timed for the end of the 1963 school year, but is disappointingly mostly articles about selecting economical luggage and efficiently packing said luggage. There is even a quiz:

“Genuine Leather” indicates

a. “top-grain” leather
b. any cut of leather below top-grain

Wise choices for train travel would be

a. steamer trunk and zipper bag
b. Pullman case and a train case

True/False: The best type of vacation is completely unplanned.

But where should we travel? How about a college tour to glamorous ITHACA, NEW YORK!

(click all to enlarge)

There is a besides Home Economics?????

Also that guy with the pipe has composed some free verse he’s dying to read to you ladies.

Or maybe we’ll travel to The Exhibition Hall of Union Dime Savings Bank at Avenue of the Americas and 40th Street, New York City, site of the 1963 Scholastic Art Awards:

Actually, considering that Hallmark Cards, Inc. is sponsoring this thing, that is pretty modern.

Now really! That’s just encouraging Beatnikism.

Paging right along, we come to Co-Ed’s Co-Ed of the month, winner of the America’s Junior Miss pageant from Louisville, Kentucky, Diane…

WAIT, Diane Sawyer-Diane Sawyer?

She quoted from the Gettysburg Address and sang parts of the Battle Hymn of the Republic with organ accompaniment.

Have to admit: kind of disappointed she didn’t do a ventriloquism act.

There is an advice to the lovelorn column written by the hilariously-named Gay Head, who will tell you why your romantic problems are all your fault:

Is it the boy you want to get back- or is it your self-esteem? It’s a terrible blow to lose an attractive boy. And to lose him to one’s best friend is just about the end.

Perhaps there is nothing the matter with you at all. These boys may suddenly and simultaneously feel that although you are great, so is the competition.

First, stop the solitary knitting and reading.

There is also “Jam Session” a forum for teens to “sound off” about controversial topics. This month, it’s On Appropriate Dress For School.

Let’s hear from the girls first:

I think wearing slacks to school is quite all right. On days when it is cold out, I think this is sensible.

-Jeri Ottman, Minok, Ill.

I think it is all right for a girl to tease her hair if she knows how to do it right. But please don’t overdo it.

-Helen Kruck, Mercer, Pa.

I do not believe school policy should control the code of dress for students. The matter can be handled by the students or each family.

-Gail Robbins, Abilene, Tex.

So…. sensible! Let’s hear what the dudes have to say:

I feel the proper dress for school should be white shirt, tie and sports jacket for boys, uniforms for girls.

– William J. George , Malone, NY

A girl’s outfit should match her own personality and taste. Colors that bring out outstanding features of the face can be worn. Colors that don’t match should never be worn.

– Lance Sartain, Danielsville, Ga.

If a girl thinks she looks good in an elaborate hairdo and messy makeup, than this is what she should wear.

– Richard Farwell, Wilmington, Del.

I think girls should not wear slacks to school because it makes them look as if they are going on a picnic.

– Joe Selesky, Romeo, Mich.

Sitting on the GROUND, eating SANDWICHES??????

It’s like I am watching Women’s Lib being born before my very eyes.

Let’s look at some ads: 

Fully 90% of the ads this month are for acne treatments.  Also I’m fully convinced that 90% of the population was playing electric organs 90% of the time for 90% of the entire decade.

Yeah…. I’d still wear these.

And finally, we have a young lady looking very startled by sanitary napkins. Maybe Kimberly Clark marketed them by chucking them out of car windows at unsuspecting teens?