LOOK Magazine — June 10, 1947 Featuring “God Helped Me Stop Drinking: The Touching Story of Lillian Roth” by Patricia Coffin
LOOK Magazine — June 10, 1947
Featuring “God Helped Me Stop Drinking: The Touching Story of Lillian Roth” by Patricia Coffin
America’s Family Magazine · Vol. 11, No. 12
June 10, 1947
Description
Offered here is the June 10, 1947 issue of LOOK Magazine, featuring the article “God Helped Me Stop Drinking: The Touching Story of Lillian Roth” by Patricia Coffin.
This moving photo-illustrated article tells the story of singer and actress Lillian Roth, her struggle with alcoholism, her path to sobriety, and the rebuilding of her life and career. Roth had been a Broadway and Hollywood performer from a young age, but by her late twenties alcohol had taken a devastating toll. In this article, she speaks openly about her descent, her desperation, and the spiritual help that allowed her to stop drinking.
Published years before Roth’s famous autobiography I’ll Cry Tomorrow and the later film adaptation, this 1947 LOOK feature captures an earlier public telling of her recovery story. The article is especially notable for presenting alcoholism through the lens of personal experience, faith, and recovery at a time when public discussion of alcoholic women was still uncommon and often heavily stigmatized.
Also included in the issue is a short article by Marty Mann, one of the most important early public educators on alcoholism. Mann, a pioneering woman in A.A. history and founder of the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism, helped change public understanding of alcoholism from moral failure to illness. Her contribution adds further recovery-history significance to this issue.
Historical & Collector Significance
This magazine is a meaningful piece for collectors of early alcoholism publicity, A.A.-related media, women in recovery history, and public education on alcoholism.
Highlights include:
- June 10, 1947 issue of LOOK Magazine
- Features “God Helped Me Stop Drinking” by Patricia Coffin
- Early public recovery story of Lillian Roth
- Includes multiple photographs from Roth’s career and comeback
- Also includes a short article by Marty Mann on alcoholism education
- Important example of postwar public discussion of alcoholism, sobriety, and recovery
- Strong companion piece to other early magazine articles on A.A., alcoholism, and public education
This issue helps tell the broader story of how alcoholism slowly entered mainstream public conversation—not only through A.A. history, but through the personal stories of public figures and the educational work of advocates like Marty Mann.
Issue Details
Title: LOOK Magazine
Date: June 10, 1947
Volume/Number: Vol. 11, No. 12
Featured Article: “God Helped Me Stop Drinking: The Touching Story of Lillian Roth”
Author: Patricia Coffin
Additional Recovery-Related Content: Short article by Marty Mann
Format: Original magazine issue
Condition
This magazine is in very good condition overall. The issue is complete, with no torn, missing, or loose pages noted. The cover presents well, with light edge wear and light wear to the spine. Interior pages show normal age toning consistent with the period.
Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.
Collector’s Note
A compelling 1947 recovery-related magazine issue featuring one of the best-known public stories of a woman’s recovery from alcoholism, along with an additional contribution from Marty Mann. A strong addition for collectors interested in A.A.-related public education, women in recovery history, Lillian Roth, Marty Mann, and mid-century alcoholism media.
