Decades before the internet swept the world by storm, kids had to get by with other forms of entertainment. In the 1970s, one of the best ways for youngsters to soak up pop culture and entertain themselves on slow days was by reading magazines. Back in the day, there were several publications marketed specifically to kids in elementary and middle school. These magazines had the right mix of humor, cartoons, TV personalities, monsters, and movies to hit the “sweet spot” for eight to ten-year old kids.
Admittedly, most of the readers of these magazines were boys. Girls tended to stick to publications more suited to their taste, like Tiger Beat and Young Miss. Here are our top four picks for magazines in the 1970s for kids.
Dynamite magazine usually came as part and parcel of your order with Scholastic Books. During the ‘70s, either you were one of the cool kids who landed a copy of the magazine, or one of the less fortunate ones who had no choice but to look on in envy.
A figure from pop culture against a plain background can always be seen gracing the cover of the magazine. It was a thin mag and featured articles written by R.L. Stine before he went on to stardom with his hit Goosebumps books. Dynamite also featured a regular joke section, and there was always a story about the featured personality on the cover.
Dynamite magazine, like other similar publications, remained popular throughout the 1980s.
You’re mad if you haven’t heard of MAD. Known as a magazine that set the bar high in the humor stakes, the artists and writers were unparalleled in their content. From pop culture parodies of Jack Davis and Mort Drucker, to the Al Jaffee fold-ins found inside the back cover, to the Lighter Side by David Berg, Spy vs. Spy, and Don Martin, everything about the magazine, from cover to cover, was a delight to read thanks to Sergio Aragones and the other artists at the publication.
While the magazine was formerly known for featuring controversial issues and bold political jokes, it lightened its vibe in the 1970s, concentrating on the fun side of pop culture instead. The trademark MAD humor was still evident though, only serving to make it popular with a wider audience.
Crazy, MAD, and another magazine called Cracked, completed the Holy Trinity in terms of humor magazines for kids in the ‘70s. While there were other magazines with similar content, none could measure up to these three.
Despite being in the same niche as MAD, Crazy was more than a copycat of the former. This Marvel publication was responsible for bringing in some familiar comic book artists and characters. It was also more on the edgy side compared to Cracked, but with a softer vibe than MAD.
Check out the creepy clown by the magazine’s title. During the ‘70s, this spot featured a little sheik mascot but he was replaced in the early ‘80s by Obnoxio the Clown.
Another publication by Marvel, Pizzazz is arguably one of, if not the best kid’s magazines of the ‘70s. It combined everything boys love – from superheroes to comics, music, monsters, TV stars, and Star Wars. Pizzazz had a bit of everything inside.
Apart from these four magazines, several other publications deserve an honorable mention for contributing to kids’ entertainment in the ‘70s. These include Sesame Street, Ranger Ricks, Electric Company, and Highlights.