Al Goldstein, publisher of Screw and assorted other underground newspapers, was branded a misanthropic pornographer. He certainly practiced the porn part, but “misanthropic” was an extreme exaggeration. He was a satirist, and most of his newspapers, many of which I designed, were done with conviction and a generous helping of interventionist motivation.
The word “generous” should be highlighted. When often he was asked byfriends to help fund a publication venture, he would gladly do it, and usually throw in my services as part of the investment. This, indeed, is how I came to become the art director and designer of the feminist periodical Broadside. It was edited by his ex, Mary Phillips, a former flight attendant who was a writer, photographer and editor with experience in sexist inequity.
The paper avidly supported the Equal Rights Amendment and advocated for women’s rights—across the board. It was a important short-live attempt at serious feminist reportage. It was also a chance to refocus my graphic design education, such as it was, to do something less salacious than Goldstein’s Screw, and practice my recently found love of Herb Lubalin’s type stylings.
Goldstein did not meddle with any of the editorial content. He barely looked at my layouts until after they were published, so I had relatively free reign. What he did do was set a limit to how many issues he could finance without making back his expenses—after three issues it folded.
It may seem odd for a pornographer to publish a serious feminist pub but Goldstein was complicated in his politics and beliefs.
I just found these in my storage bins (being donated to the SVA Archive) and am compelled to share them here, awkwardly designed logo and all.
