April 1964 was a milestone for Gloria and 16 Magazine. Although she had been given editorial control of the magazine in 1957 (little more than a year after she was hired as clerical help by owner Jacques Chambrun,) Gloria finally ascended on 16's masthead to Editor-in-Chief in this issue. No more pesky fictional Georgia Winters keeping Gloria from her rightful title, although Georgia stayed right below her so she could snatch her title back if Gloria were to leave!
The issue also marks a transition of another kind ... the teen idol torch is about to be passed from the generation represented by cover faves Richard Chamberlain, Connie Francis, Paul Petersen, Hayley Mills and Ricky Nelson to those upstart lads from Liverpool featured on the back cover.
Gloria pens an article about Elvis, whose manager Colonel Tom Parker continually thwarted her efforts to interview The King. Here she uses the strategy of setting 16 apart from those mean-spirited magazines who print harmful gossip about Elvis. The subtext is obvious ... 16 brings you the real story because the stars talk directly to Gloria ... and Elvis should too!
And then ... Gloria waves her wand and ... the sixties start for real!
This was a typically fun installment of "You're Telling Me," the column in which Gloria shared some of the countless letters that she received. Gloria had recently bestowed her annual "GeeGee Awards" and some of the winners showed their excellent manners in sending letters of thanks.
And then there was this letter!
And, natch ... Gloria was always making the scene with the grooviest faves and giving us the fab details in GeeGee's Gossip!
Helping us celebrate our faves was one of Gloria's most important missions!
And where else could you get 20 full color pin-ups for $1?