Set 1961051001a, This Month on Okinawa, 1957

Set 1961051001a
This Month on Okinawa
1957 // 1961 - 36 Issues

Condition. The magazines are in Very Good or better condition. Occasional small tears to the cover or internal page but no major damage. Contents are clean and free from blemishes such as tropical staining and foxing. One issue has a name written on the front cover. Another has a hole punched at the upper left corner.

Krebs, L.J. (editor):
This Month on Okinawa, Naha, Okinawa, Ryukyuan Advertising Co., 36 issues (32 regular issues and 4 supplements) published between February 1957 and January, 1961 (Vol. 7, No. 1), 12mo (5 x 7 1/4 in - 12.9 x 18.2 cm), a monthly magazine, illustrated paper wraps, staple bound. While the number of pages varies, each issue is generally 75-150 pages. An excellent pictorial magazine for the U.S. military community on Okinawa. Probably the only Western language periodical of the time that documented life on Okinawa from the perspective of U.S. Forces personnel. Loaded with nostalgic ads for beers, bars and cars. Many of the photographs are credited to "Blackie the Photographer" (Earnest Gordon Bradford) and ads for his Keystone Studio in RYCOM Plaza appear in many issues. It is interesting to note there were no TV schedules and it would appear that the Armed Forces Network was not broadcasting at this time.

The weekly issues usually contain the following categories of news and information:

"Opening Gun" - Letters to the editor.
"Yackety-Yack" - Editorial comments on current events and happenings.
"Movies" - Movie theatre schedules and information about the stars.
"Clubs" - A recap of the events in US military clubs, the American Legion, the VFW and Women's clubs.
"Service News" - Current events for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines on Okinawa.
"Island Activities" - News and information on recreational activities available on Okinawa.
"Business World" - Information about the business community patronized by U.S. Forces.

The assignment of volume and issue numbers to each issue was not started until 1960. The first issue with this type of designation that I have seen was designated Vol. 6, No. 9 (September, 1960). Based upon this numbering system, it would appear that the first year of publication would be 1955. This is the year sometimes cited in the issues ("published since 1955"). I do not know the precise month in 1955 when publication began. The last issue for the monthly magazine was January, 1961 (7:1). The successor magazine was This Week on Okinawa it appears that the first issue of that magazine was issue 7:2 (February 17, 1961).

Example of Photo Feature Article - US Forces, Key Buildings

Kubasaki High School, Graduating Class of 1957

From the May 1960 Issue Commemorating
Commodore Perry's Visit to Okinawa in 1853

Example of advertisements

~~ Set 1961051001a ~~ This Month on Okinawa 1957 // 1961 - 36 Issues

Set 1961051001a
This Month on Okinawa
1957 // 1961 - 36 Issues