Michael Grynbaum on the High-Flying Days at Condé Nast
By the late twentieth century, few institutions influenced culture with the punch—or the expense account—of Condé Nast. But decades earlier, in 1975, when publishing heir Si Newhouse took over as chairman, Condé Nast was just a mid-tier magazine house where properties like Vogue, Glamour, and House Beautiful were all struggling for relevance. Newhouse soon realized his gift for hiring the right people and then getting out of their way. In 1984, he brought on editor Tina Brown to revive Vanity Fair; in 1985, he purchased The New Yorker; and in 1988, he named Anna Wintour editor of Vogue. Newhouse hired Graydon Carter, who launched the famed Vanity Fair Oscar Party. He acquired GQ, Tatler, Bon Appétit, and Architectural Digest; launched hits like Allure, SELF, and Condé Nast Traveler; and took his publications to the international market.
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