To Helen, With Love

Sad news. David Brown, the very great movie producer (Jaws; The Juror) and husband of COSMO’s beloved founder, the equally great Helen Gurley Brown, died in New York earlier this year.

He had the most glittering of careers, made an enormous contribution to the universe and was always a consummate gentleman. Without David, there would have been no COSMO as you all know and love it. He convinced HGB that she should approach Hearst to suggest making the content of her best-selling book, Sex And The Single Girl (Four Square), into a magazine. The rest, of course, is publishing history.

David loved, respected and supported his wife in every meaningful way, even writing all of the cover lines of US COSMO while Helen was at its helm. Theirs was one of the great love affairs of the last century.

I have always been more than grateful that life threw me at Helen’s feet. However, after my mother exited this editor’s seat and appointed me to replace her, Helen, I think, felt less than lucky.

In the early days, I was a youthful combo of ignorant and arrogant, and thought I knew best. But she was always a lady and I learnt more from her when she was irritated with my mulishness than when she was not.
Here’s an extract from one letter she wrote me. In her unique style, naturally.

‘Dearest Vanessa, I think we should possibly let up on you producing COSMO in its pure original form. As I have said until you are probably getting bored, the magazine belongs to you and you probably know what is right for your constituency. I would love COSMO to be more of a magazine of real help for your young reader, and there is some in the mix. Just not as much as I would like. Since there is almost no way you can protect yourself I would like to make some comments that I think are common sense rather than kvetching.

‘I feel you have too many articles that are negative.... I think some things in your COSMO tend to depress or discourage rather than cheer you along... Some of your pictures are boring and obvious ... I wonder why women would want to look at men who are ugly? I always think pulchitrude should apply to somebody you’d actually like to crawl into bed with.

‘Page 89 is a real turn-off to me. It says nothing! Page 97 and 98, ugly pictures! I always found that gorgeous sold the magazine. Vanessa, I probably won’t comment very often, because of the special relationship I have with your mother, but once upon a time she thought American COSMO was the best thing she ever saw and that’s why she wanted to start the magazine in South Africa and did. Maybe she won’t mind me writing you in this way, never mind whether you mind.’

Ouch.

What do you think I did after I received this (and a few other like it)?

I growled and whined and moaned of course (my blog name is not HurricaneVanessa for nothing), but eventually I realised that the opportunity to listen to, and learn from, a genius is a rare and precious gift. And then I grew up. My inner seven-year-old (rebellious, individualistic, stubborn, tempestuous) went to puppy-training classes and I emerged the better – both as a person and as an editor – as a result.

Though I can’t offer the wisdom of Helen Gurley Brown to all of you, I can send her much love and wishes for strength on your behalf. Then I can direct you (and your inner child) to ‘The Seven Year Hitch’ on Page 88.

I do hope Helen approves.

Author: Vanessa Raphaely