Ray Long
Ray Long | |
---|---|
Born | March 23, 1878 Lebanon, Indiana, United States of America |
Died | July 9, 1935 (aged 57) Beverly Hills, California, United States of America |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Magazine & newspaper editor, film writer |
Known for | Editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine |
Spouse(s) | Several (see 'Personal Life and Family' section) |
Children | Ray Long (1924–1998) |
William Ray Long,[1] (March 23, 1878[2] – July 9, 1935) was an American newspaper, magazine, film, writer, and editor[2] who is notable for being the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine between 1919 and 1931.[3] He is said to have had "a colorful career"[2] before he was affected by financial problems and ended up committing suicide.[4]
Life and career
Long was born into poverty in 1878 in
Long was a police reporter for the Cincinnati Post, and he was made the managing editor of this newspaper when he was 20 years old due to a shake-up at this newspaper.[2] He created a staff to help him out, all of whom were 24 years old or younger.[2] This staff included Roy Howard and O. O. McIntyre, among others.[2] Long helped some editors, writers, and reporters advance their careers, such as James Oliver Curwood, Peter B. Kyne, Ring Lardner, Dean Cornwell, Damon Runyon, Royal Brown, and "a lot of "other good [magazine writers]"".[2] Long also worked with many other reporters, including Booth Tarkington, Roy W. Howard, Meredith Nicholson, George Ade, and other reporters from Indiana.[4]
His good writing and editing skills allowed for him to get promoted to better positions.
A large number of short stories by the writer Somerset Maugham first appeared in Cosmopolitan, Hearst's International and Good Housekeeping. Maugham's connection with the Hearst publications began in 1920 at Ray Long's initiative and continued into the late 1940s.
Professional decline
On October 1, 1931,[9] Long retired from Cosmopolitan and went into the book publishing business, which had been his lifelong ambition.[4]
In 1932 he edited, and published with his publishing partner Richard R. Smith, 20 Best Stories in Ray Long's 20 Years as an Editor,
In his last several years, he went to Hollywood, California
Personal life and family
Long first married Florence E. Webster, but divorced her in 1910.
Suicide
Several weeks before his suicide, Long began feeling ill.[4] His maid, Helen Amdt (or Andt),[2] said that on the day before his suicide, he was in a "dark mood all afternoon" and "seemed unusually morose".[4] On Tuesday,[2] July 9, 1935, at the age of 57,[12] in the bedroom of his California home, he apparently attempted suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a small caliber rifle.[4] The bullet became stuck in his neck and a part of his spinal cord became severed.[6] He was found unconscious and dying by his maid, lying on the bedroom floor and wearing silk pajamas.[4] Long was taken to an emergency hospital during an operation that unsuccessfully attempted to save his life.[13] Long died half an hour after being taken to the hospital.[6]
Regarding Long's death, A.G. Peterson, the
In a bibliographic study of
Funeral
Many of Long's friends, including some prominent writers, attended his funeral, including novelist Rupert Hughes (uncle of famous aviator and philanthropist Howard Hughes), humorist Irvin S. Cobb, and stage actor George Jessel.[16] However, his wife Lucy did not attend his funeral since she said that she was too ill.[2] His funeral service lasted only eight minutes.[16] Rupert Hughes was the individual who was chosen to deliver the eulogy.[16] Hughes said that "[Ray Long had] spent his life putting flowers into the hearts of others", and Long's friends all over the world compensated Long by sending him flowers for his funeral.[16]
Works
Books
- An Editor Looks at Russia: One Unprejudiced View of the Land of the Soviets (NY: Ray Long & Richard R. Smith, 1931)
- 20 Best Short Stories in Ray Long's 20 Years as an Editor (NY: Crown, 1932)
Articles by
- "James Oliver Curwood and His Far North," The Bookman, February 1921.
- "I'm Drinking More Than I Ever Did Before–Aren't You?," Hearst's International, August 1924.
- "The Good New Days," American Legion Monthly, December 1926.
- "A Letter to a Young Man with an Urge to Edit a Popular Magazine," The Bookman, January 1927.
- "Bring Him Back Alive," Writer's Digest, August 1932.
Articles about
- Thornton Lewis, "Ray Long Tells How," Writer's Digest, October 1925.
- Mildred Temple, "Editors You Want To Know," The Author & Journalist, February 1930.
References
- ^ a b c [ Displaying Abstract ] (June 10, 2012). "WM. RAY LONG WEDS AGAIN. - Editor of Hampton's, Divorced Last Month, Marries Mrs. Schon. - Marriage Announcement - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Noted Editor Kills Himself". The Milwaukee Journal. Beverly Hills. July 10, 1935. p. 3.
- ISBN 0874131529.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Ray Long, Noted Editor, Writer, Ends Life in California Home". The Pittsburgh Press. Beverly Hills. July 9, 1935. p. 62.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Press: Peak Passed". TIME. July 22, 1935. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ray Long, Noted Magazine Editor, Discovered Dead". The Berkeley Daily Gazette. Beverly Hills. July 10, 1935. p. 11.
- ^ Long, Ray - editor. (1932). 20 Best Stories in Ray Long's 20 Years as an Editor. New York: Crown Publishers - "Why Editors Go Wrong: 'Fifty Grand' by Ernest Hemingway", pp. 1-3.
- ^ Long (1932), pp. 4 ff.
- ^ "Ray Long, Noted Magazine Editor, Discovered Dead". The Milwaukee Sentinel. New York. July 10, 1931. p. 3.
- ^ Long (1932).
- ^ "MRS. PEARL DILLON LONG. - Former Wife of Ray Long, Editor, and Herself a Writer. I - Obituary - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. June 10, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ Associated, The (July 10, 1935). "Ray Long Shoots Himself on Coast - Suicide Is Laid to Despondency - Writer, Editor and Publisher Dies Soon After Being Found in Beverly Hills Home With Rifle at Side - Once Was a Leader in the Magazine Field. - Front Page - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Ray Long, Editor, Takes Own Life". Ludington Daily News. Beverly Hills. July 10, 1935. p. 1.
- ^ [ Displaying Abstract ] (June 10, 2012). "Ray Long's Ashes Scattered. - Obituary - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ Stott, Raymond Toole Stott (1950). Maughamiana. London: Heinemann. p. 107.
- ^ a b c d "Writers Attend Ray Long Funeral". The Pittsburgh Press. Beverly Hills. July 12, 1935. p. 21.