In the Alvino Rey song "I Said No", female vocalist Yvonne King of the King Sisters teasingly turns down her male caller with a song filled with rejections: "I said no, no, no". The song's twist ending is that she is actually saying "no" to a Liberty Magazine subscription and finally gives in.
Listen to "I Said No" by Alvino Rey with Yvonne King
So what's the history behind Liberty Magazine? Liberty was an American weekly, general-interest magazine, originally priced at five cents and subtitled, "A Weekly for Everybody." It was launched in 1924 by publisher McCormick-Patterson. At one time it was said to be "the second greatest magazine in America," ranking behind The Saturday Evening Post in circulation.
Liberty featured contributions and articles from some of the biggest politicians, celebrities, authors, and artists of the 20th-century. The contents of the magazine provides a unique look into popular culture, politics, and world events through the Roaring 20s, Great Depression, World War II, and Post-War America.
In 1942, following the lead of The Saturday Evening Post, Liberty increased its price from five to ten cents, resulting in a major drop in sales. It ceased publication in 1950.
It's believed that over 120 full-feature films and television shows have been produced from content published within Liberty, including "Mister Ed", "Double Indemnity" and "Sergeant York" to name a few.
