Roy Edward Larsen (April 20, 1899 – September 9, 1979) was an American publishing executive who worked forTime Inc. for 56 years.[1] Following foundersHenry Luce andBriton Hadden, Larsen was credited with being responsible for the company's growth and success.[2] At the time of his death he was described as being "one of the most influential figures in the golden age of the company's empire."[1]
Larsen was born inBoston, Massachusetts, the son of Robert Larsen and Stella Belyea Larsen. He attendedBoston Latin School, graduating in 1917, and enteredHarvard College, graduating in 1921. While in college he served as treasurer and business manager ofThe Harvard Advocate, where he brought the newspaper back to profitability by increasing circulation.[1]
Larsen directed sales from the inception ofTime magazine, and he is credited with recruiting the first 12,000 subscribers via a direct mail campaign in 1923. He continued to increase sales and circulation over the next 30 years. When Hadden died in 1929, Larsen was appointed asTime's business manager by Luce. In 1939 Larsen succeeded Luce as president ofTime, serving in this position to 1960 and then as vice chairman until his retirement in April 1979.[1]
Larsen helped to organize and developThe March of Time, an Academy Award winning radio and news film series which was produced from 1935 to 1951. He also served as publisher ofLife magazine from 1936 to 1946.[1] A fitness buff, Larsen developed an idea for a sports magazine in 1954, which later turned intoSports Illustrated.[2]
A conservationist, Larsen organized the Nantucket Conservation Fund in 1965, and was elected to the board of theNature Conservancy in 1973.[2] As a tribute to Larsen, Time Inc. gave the conservancy a 2,000-acre tract in East Texas now known as the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary.[2][3]
Larsen died in 1979, and the following year was inducted into theAdvertising Hall of Fame.[4]
Larsen married Margaret Zerbe in 1927. They had four children; a daughter, Anne (Simonson) and three sons: Robert, Christopher andJonathan, the latter becoming editor-in-chief ofThe Village Voice.
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