Celebrating Independence Day, 1950: A Boys’ Life Cover to be Remembered

I spent a few hours today reading an impressive backlog of Independence Day articles. In the mix was Roger Kimball’s review of that celebrated [and long overdue] guide to young manhood, the Igguldens’ Dangerous Book for Boys, in which Kimball gives us a glimpse into the book, but more importantly tells us why it matters. His review, from the virtues extolled to some of the projects detailed, reminded me of a magazine I had on my shelf.

I’ve got dozens of issues of Boys’ Life from 1950-1960 – they’re even better than Wikipedia when I need to pass some time reading interesting stuff. It’s full of how-to’s, historical serials, current events articles, engaging fiction and some gorgeous photographs/artwork. Though published by the Boy Scouts, almost every bit of content was of general interest to any boy and his father. [I particularly like the advertisements for Winchester, Ithaca, Remington, Stevens and other gunmakers.]

The July 1950 cover was commissioned to Reynold Brown [responsible for movie posters for Ben-Hur, Attack of the 50ft Woman, The Time Machine and more, available for viewing at that link] with the instructions that he combine Jamboree scouts with Independence Day. The resulting work shows, “Jamboree scouts looking at a mural of Continental soldiers at Valley Forge. The mural shows them repairing the Betsy Ross Flag, the first Stars and Stripes, with loving care, despite their own suffering during that winter of incredible hardships.”

It’s so gorgeous that I had to scan it and share. Not only is the mural wonderful, but seeing a group of boys admire and ponder it with the attention it deserves gives me hope, albeit 57 years after the original publication.