For all of LIFE Magazine’s coverage of serious matters–from war to politics to movements–the editors also had their fingers on the pulse of American leisure. Simply put, they cared about how their readers had fun, and the magazine’s covers reflected that. Never were LIFE’s editors more interested in recreation than during the summer, when covers zeroed in on beach excursions and sailing jaunts, poolside fashions and children at play. Here, to celebrate the impending arrival of the season, a collection of LIFE’s most memorable summer covers.
Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.
June 28, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover "Sea, Sand and Siren" (photo by Herbert Matter).LIFE MagazineJuly 19, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover "Summer Shower" (photo by Fenno Jacobs).LIFE MagazineAugust 16, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover "Young Camper" (photo by George Karger).LIFE MagazineJuly 3, 1939 LIFE Magazine cover "Swim Suit in Pacific" (photo by George Strock).LIFE MagazineJuly 31, 1939 LIFE Magazine cover "Diana Barrymore" (photo by Fritz Henle).LIFE MagazineJuly 29, 1940 LIFE Magazine cover "Girl Lifeguard" (photo by George Karger).LIFE MagazineAugust 5, 1940 LIFE Magazine cover "U.S. Vacations" (photo by George Karger).LIFE MagazineJuly 14, 1941 LIFE Magazine cover "Sand Sailing" (photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt).LIFE MagazineAugust 11, 1941 LIFE Magazine cover "Rita Hayworth" (photo by Bob Landry).LIFE MagazineJuly 9, 1945 LIFE Magazine cover "Bathing Suits" (photo by Ewing Krainin).LIFE MagazineJuly 30, 1945 LIFE Magazine cover "Playing With Shadows" (photo by Harriet Arnold).LIFE MagazineJuly 15, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover "Welded Water Gadgets" (photo by Roger Coster).LIFE MagazineJuly 7, 1947 LIFE Magazine cover "This Pleasant Land" (photo by William Sumits).LIFE MagazineJuly 19, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover "Fun on the Beach" (photo by Michael Lavelle).LIFE MagazineAugust 16, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover "Fisherman" (photo by Rue Farris Drew).LIFE MagazineAugust 23, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover "Pet Deer" (photo by Jon Brenneis).LIFE MagazineJune 27, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover "Inland Sailing" (photo by George Silk).LIFE MagazineJuly 4, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover "Holiday at the Beach" (photo by Ida Wyman).LIFE MagazineJuly 25, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover "Plastic Beach Boat" (photo by George Silk).LIFE MagazineJune 19, 1950 LIFE Magazine cover "Children's Sand Styles" (photo by Nina Leen).LIFE MagazineJune 23, 1952 LIFE Magazine cover
"Mail Order Fashions" (photo by Christa).LIFE MagazineJuly 6, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover "Terry Moore, Hollywood's Sexy Tomboy" (photo by Philippe Halsman).LIFE MagazineAugust 24, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover "Ballerinas at a Beach" (photo by Lisa Larsen).LIFE MagazineJune 28, 1954 LIFE Magazine cover "Sweater Girl Bathing Suits" (photo by Paul Himmel).LIFE MagazineAugust 12, 1957 LIFE Magazine cover "One of Hollywood's Swedish Charmers: May Britt" (photo by Don Ornitz).LIFE MagazineAugust 11, 1958 LIFE Magazine cover "Discovering the Fun of Being Pretty" (photo by Paul Schutzer).LIFE MagazineJune 1, 1959 LIFE Magazine cover "Kansas Family on Lake Afton" (photo by A.Y. Owen).LIFE MagazineAugust 1, 1960 LIFE Magazine cover "Safari In New-Type U.S. Fun Spot" (photo by Lynn Pelham).LIFE MagazineJuly 9, 1965 LIFE Magazine cover "Luxury and Languor of Riviera Yachting" (photo by Howell Conant).LIFE MagazineJuly 19, 1968 LIFE Magazine cover "Young American Nomads Abroad" (photo by Denis Cameron).LIFE MagazineAugust 22, 1969 LIFE Magazine cover "That Young New York Look" (photo by Vernon Merritt III).LIFE MagazineJuly 10, 1970 LIFE Magazine cover "Summer Sun and California Girls" (photo by Co Rentmeester).LIFE MagazineSeptember 3, 1971 LIFE Magazine cover "The Endless Weekend" (photo by Michael Mauney).LIFE MagazineJune 2, 1972 LIFE Magazine cover "Raquel [Welch] on Skates as a Derby Demon" (photo by Bill Eppridge).LIFE MagazineJuly 28, 1972 LIFE Magazine cover "The Bare Look" (photo by Douglas Kirkland).LIFE Magazine