35 of LIFE Magazine’s Best Summer Covers

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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 (photo by Herbert Matter).
June 28, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover "Sea, Sand and Siren" (photo by Herbert Matter).LIFE Magazine
July 19, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Fenno Jacobs).
July 19, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover "Summer Shower" (photo by Fenno Jacobs).LIFE Magazine
August 16, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Karger).
August 16, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover "Young Camper" (photo by George Karger).LIFE Magazine
July 3, 1939 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Strock).
July 3, 1939 LIFE Magazine cover "Swim Suit in Pacific" (photo by George Strock).LIFE Magazine
July 31, 1939 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Fritz Henle).
July 31, 1939 LIFE Magazine cover "Diana Barrymore" (photo by Fritz Henle).LIFE Magazine
July 29, 1940 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Karger).
July 29, 1940 LIFE Magazine cover "Girl Lifeguard" (photo by George Karger).LIFE Magazine
August 5, 1940 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Karger).
August 5, 1940 LIFE Magazine cover "U.S. Vacations" (photo by George Karger).LIFE Magazine
July 14, 1941 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt).
July 14, 1941 LIFE Magazine cover "Sand Sailing" (photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt).LIFE Magazine
August 11, 1941 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Bob Landry).
August 11, 1941 LIFE Magazine cover "Rita Hayworth" (photo by Bob Landry).LIFE Magazine
July 9, 1945 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Ewing Krainin).
July 9, 1945 LIFE Magazine cover "Bathing Suits" (photo by Ewing Krainin).LIFE Magazine
July 30, 1945 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Harriet Arnold).
July 30, 1945 LIFE Magazine cover "Playing With Shadows" (photo by Harriet Arnold).LIFE Magazine
July 15, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Roger Coster).
July 15, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover "Welded Water Gadgets" (photo by Roger Coster).LIFE Magazine
July 7, 1947 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by William Sumits).
July 7, 1947 LIFE Magazine cover "This Pleasant Land" (photo by William Sumits).LIFE Magazine
July 19, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Michael Lavelle).
July 19, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover "Fun on the Beach" (photo by Michael Lavelle).LIFE Magazine
August 16, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Rue Farris Drew).
August 16, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover "Fisherman" (photo by Rue Farris Drew).LIFE Magazine
August 23, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Jon Brenneis).
August 23, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover "Pet Deer" (photo by Jon Brenneis).LIFE Magazine
June 27, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Silk).
June 27, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover "Inland Sailing" (photo by George Silk).LIFE Magazine
July 4, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Ida Wyman).
July 4, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover "Holiday at the Beach" (photo by Ida Wyman).LIFE Magazine
July 25, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Silk).
July 25, 1949 LIFE Magazine cover "Plastic Beach Boat" (photo by George Silk).LIFE Magazine
June 19, 1950 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Nina Leen).
June 19, 1950 LIFE Magazine cover "Children's Sand Styles" (photo by Nina Leen).LIFE Magazine
June 23, 1952 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Christa).
June 23, 1952 LIFE Magazine cover "Mail Order Fashions" (photo by Christa).LIFE Magazine
July 6, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Philippe Halsman).
July 6, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover "Terry Moore, Hollywood's Sexy Tomboy" (photo by Philippe Halsman).LIFE Magazine
August 24, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Lisa Larsen).
August 24, 1953 LIFE Magazine cover "Ballerinas at a Beach" (photo by Lisa Larsen).LIFE Magazine
June 28, 1954 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Paul Himmel).
June 28, 1954 LIFE Magazine cover "Sweater Girl Bathing Suits" (photo by Paul Himmel).LIFE Magazine
August 12, 1957 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Don Ornitz).
August 12, 1957 LIFE Magazine cover "One of Hollywood's Swedish Charmers: May Britt" (photo by Don Ornitz).LIFE Magazine
August 11, 1958 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Paul Schutzer).
August 11, 1958 LIFE Magazine cover "Discovering the Fun of Being Pretty" (photo by Paul Schutzer).LIFE Magazine
June 1, 1959 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by A.Y. Owen).
June 1, 1959 LIFE Magazine cover "Kansas Family on Lake Afton" (photo by A.Y. Owen).LIFE Magazine
August 1, 1960 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Lynn Pelham).
August 1, 1960 LIFE Magazine cover "Safari In New-Type U.S. Fun Spot" (photo by Lynn Pelham).LIFE Magazine
July 9, 1965 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Howell Conant).
July 9, 1965 LIFE Magazine cover "Luxury and Languor of Riviera Yachting" (photo by Howell Conant).LIFE Magazine
July 19, 1968 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Denis Cameron).
July 19, 1968 LIFE Magazine cover "Young American Nomads Abroad" (photo by Denis Cameron).LIFE Magazine
August 22, 1969 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Vernon Merritt III).
August 22, 1969 LIFE Magazine cover "That Young New York Look" (photo by Vernon Merritt III).LIFE Magazine
July 10, 1970 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Co Rentmeester).
July 10, 1970 LIFE Magazine cover "Summer Sun and California Girls" (photo by Co Rentmeester).LIFE Magazine
September 3, 1971 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Michael Mauney).
September 3, 1971 LIFE Magazine cover "The Endless Weekend" (photo by Michael Mauney).LIFE Magazine
June 2, 1972 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Bill Eppridge).
June 2, 1972 LIFE Magazine cover "Raquel [Welch] on Skates as a Derby Demon" (photo by Bill Eppridge).LIFE Magazine
July 28, 1972 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Douglas Kirkland).
July 28, 1972 LIFE Magazine cover "The Bare Look" (photo by Douglas Kirkland).LIFE Magazine

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com