When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines

The Oscars party is an event that Carter started during his time with Vanity Fair. Eager to grow the magazine’s cultural reach, Carter decided that Vanity Fair should host an Oscars after-party in Hollywood on Oscars weekend. He was originally inspired by Irving Lazar’s 1980s after-parties. After Irving’s death, Carter filled the “party” gap created by Irving’s passing. Carter was also eager to establish this tradition, because he believed that 1990s Hollywood had lost touch with its iconic and glamorous history. The Vanity Fair Oscars party was his attempt to revitalize the glitz and romance of the town’s cinematic past. He and his Vanity Fair team accomplished this goal in 1993 by carefully planning each party. They were particular about the guest list. They secured special venues and procured elaborate party gifts. The party quickly became known as one of the most important events of the year in Hollywood. Carter devotes several chapters to the event, attention which captures the importance of the party to Carter’s vocational success and Vanity Fair’s growth.

The Canadian Review is the first magazine that Carter ever started and edited. He and his college peers launched the magazine in the 1970s. Carter was at the University of Ottawa at the time. Instead of devoting himself to his coursework, he put all of his creative and intellectual energy into The Canadian Review. The initial inspiration for the magazine was to create a literary, arts, and poetry publication for the campus. Carter grew this idea, suggesting that they eliminate the poetry section and focus more intently on political articles. His work with The Canadian Review marked his foray into the world of publishing. It gave him a footing in this world, fueled his budding passion for editing, and taught him the layout, distribution, and financial challenges of the trade. Carter identifies The Canadian Review as a pivotal moment in his adult life; his decision to take the calendar from his Review office when he left captures his attachment to this job. He also notes that he hung this calendar in all of his subsequent editorial offices as a reminder of his humble beginnings.

Spy magazine is the second publication Carter launched. He started the magazine in 1986 and it ran until 1998. The founding idea behind Spy was to distribute a monthly publication that satirized New York life—particularly the lives of the elite upper class. Carter and his team would select notable financial, editorial, political, or theatrical figures and poke fun at them in Spy. The magazine rapidly took off—inciting rage and gossip throughout the city. The magazine also introduced Carter to a range of new influential individuals and established his reputation in the industry. (He was afraid to accept the editor’s position at Vanity Fair because he’d satirized the publication so heavily in Spy.) Carter also identifies Spy as a pivotal experience in his publishing career. It helped him to learn about New York culture and to find his distinct point of view. He also had a supportive team at the magazine, which taught him the importance of a healthy working environment.