LIFE magazine was originally a humor and general interest magazine that was first published, as we know it today, in 1936 by Henry Luce. It had a strong emphasis on photojournalism and was originally a weekly publication. In 1972 it became an intermittent “special” until 1978 to 2000 when it was a monthly publication.

LIFE was the first all-photography U.S. magazine and was at the top of the market for more than forty years. Its place in history is considered to be the most important contribution to photojournalism ever made. However, due to economic hardships LIFE put a halt to publication on two separate occasions only to later reappear in a new form of readership.

In 2004 the magazine became a free weekly publication in the form of a supplement to U.S. newspapers. Finally on March 26, 2007, it was announced that LIFE magazine would no longer be published; however the website, www.life.com, would still be up and running. The website features an amazing collection of over 10 million photographs from the archives of the magazine as well as those of current popular icons.

Since its birth in 1936 LIFE has highlighted some of the most famous movie stars, athletes, and popular couples on its cover. To own 434 issues of your very own, check out Geppi’s Entertainment’s Hake’s Americana auction #195. These LIFE magazine extensive lot issues were published between 1936 and 1962 featuring some of the most influential people of our time, including Marilyn Monroe, the Kennedys, Lucille Ball, Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Judy Garland, and many more.