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
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.
