/internal/media/dispatcher/56427/fullLIFE magazine, dated January 19, 1959, featuring Fidel Castro's takeover of Cuba01/19/195914 × 10 1/2 in. (35.6 × 26.7 cm)Paper, MetalThe Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection2000.032.00010LIFE Magazine, published January 19, 1959; 120 pages, Vol. 46, no. 3. This issue features an image and story about Fidel Castro's overthrow of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba and his taking rule of Cuba. The caption for the cover image as it is printed on the contents page is as follows:
"Arms raised in a passionate gesture, Cuba's
victorious revolutionary, Fidel Castro,
exhorts cheering crowds in Santa Clara to
build a new Cuba".
On the front cover is a full color photographic image of Fidel Castro speaking at a microphone while gesturing his hands into the air to his right. Behind Castro is a large metal five-armed lamp post that has white globes atop each arm. Parts of the Cuban flag are visible in the far background behind the lamp post. An unidentified man is in the lower right corner of the image; he is looking over his left shoulder. Castro is wearing a dark green jacket with roomy sleeves and a short-billed military-style dark green hat. His head is tilted back as he speaks, and his lips are pulled back tightly revealing his top and bottom teeth and his tongue. His eyes appear to be squinting. Castro's right pointer finger is pointing to the left edge of the image and is the higher of his two raised hands. Above the image of Castro is a wide black band; below is a narrower red band.
The title of the magazine is printed in the upper left corner on the front cover. The text "LIFE" is printed in white within a rectangular red area.
Text printed in white on front cover of image is as follows:
"Crash Diets Are No Good
[long underline]
Turmoil On Capitol Hill: A Look
At A New Kind Of Congress
[above text within black band]
Castro In Triumphant
Advance To Havana
[above text superimposed over lower left corner of image]"
In lower right corner, date of publication and cost of magazine are printed in white text. The cost of this issue was 25 cents.
Relevant feature articles in this issue are as follows:
"Political fights, parties -- pretty women and pathos: old order yields in the 1959 scene," with stories about new congressional leaders as well as full-color photographs of their wives in ball gowns, page 16.
"Liberator's triumphal march through an ecstatic island: Castro calls on Cuba to purify itself and prosper," with several black and white photographic images of scenes of Castro on his cross-Cuba victory tour and new Cuban leaders, page 28.
Editorials, "The Warning of Mechta," discussing the Soviets' artificial planet, page 37.
"Communist in capitalism: U. S. supermarkets and hard tops captivate Old Bolshevik rubberneck Mikoyan," with images of Soviet First Deputy Premier Anastas I. Mikoyan visiting the U. S., page 91.
"What's going to happen to Mechta? Odds are that Russia's 'Asteroid 31,208' will stay in orbit for millions of years," by Albert Rosenfeld, page 98.
Magazine held together with three metal staples at center fold of spine.
Address label adhered vertically facing right in lower left corner on front cover; addressed to Mr. Fritz B. Peterson in Downey, California.
Magazine in ok condition. Color loss along spine on front cover from handling and creasing. Minor fold crease in upper right corner resulting in color loss in black band. Discoloration throughout front and reverse covers. Inside pages yellowed. (JM 12/10/2019)Newspapers & Magazines6621826.670000000035.560000000020616MagazineLIFE Magazine, dated January 19, 1959, featuring Fidel Castro on the cover. The magazine includes a five-page article beginning on page 28 about Castro's overthrow of dictator Fulgencio Batista and Castro's new leadership of Cuba.
This image is not available online larger than a thumbnail to protect the copyright of its creator(s). For a more detailed examination of this item, please schedule an appointment in the Museum’s Reading Room.CubaMagazinesCommunismSpace RaceRussiaMikoyan, AnastasBatista, FulgencioCastro, FidelLIFE MagazineU.S. CongressChicago