The Art of TV Guide

By Jerry Alten

Jerry Alten started as Art Director of TV Guide in 1967, and for almost 50 years he engaged the world's greatest illustrators to provide the artwork for the pages of the widest circulated magazine in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977909921
• ISBN13: 9780977909926
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Bangzoom Publishers
• Length: 142 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.8" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book!

I was waiting for a book like this for many years and wasn't disappointed when it finally happened. Jerry Alten's name is familiar to me because I was an advid collector of those TV Guide originals that displayed all of that truly great artwork on both the covers, and eventually insides, during the late 60's, 70's and 80's. He was a true connoisseur of these very different illustrators and showed it by getting it out to a vast amount of people every week or so. Great names like Peak, Fuchs, Sharpe, Davis, Heindel, Amsel, Struznan, English, Santore, Stark, Hess...I could go on and on. The only problem I had with the book was that an illustration by Robert Heindel of Rhoda (Valerie Harper and Julie Kavner) on page 47 was mistaken for being done by Bernie Fuchs. Other than that, this is a wonderful book and well worth owning.

A Connoiseur's Collection of the World's Greatest Illustration

This book is meant as a text to encourage art students and educators to continue the fine of illustration. Mr. Alten's tenure as Art Director of TV Guide occured during the last great golden age of commercial art and his taste in illustrators is impeccable. It is fascinating to hear his reasons for selecting certain artists and for convincing some of the world's "fine" artists to appear on his covers. Those covers and the illustrators who created them are as iconic as the television personalities they portrayed. The cover alone is brilliant in having Johnny Carson painted by Norman Rockwell. I highly recommend this to all.

fantastic collection of americana

This book is really a worthwhile purchase for anyone who enjoys true americana. It is a journey through many years of art at a renowned American cultural publication, TV Guide. At the time that Mr. Alten was directing art at the magazine, the wealth of art and photography that was used to illustrate pop culture is truly staggering. Excellent commentary and storytelling to go with each piece as well. Highly recommended.