Toastmasters International -Spotlight on April 1933

A colorful birthday cake with lit candles and a book titled "The Toastmaster" against a backdrop of festive party decorations.

Happy Birthday, Toastmaster magazine! The first issue of this venerable institution launched 93 years ago, in April 1933.

Magazine was an optimistic name for what was essentially a pamphlet, measuring only 3 ½ by 6 inches (9 x 15 cm). But it was a step up from its predecessor, The Gavel, a mimeographed newsletter that began in 1930. And the magazine grew into its lofty title—the Toastmaster has been continually published since 1933.

The first issue comprised short articles submitted by the 13 Toastmasters clubs at the time, detailing their happenings, and offering helpful tips and advice for other clubs. Clubs encouraged each other to hold inter-club meetings, discussed hosting high school speech contests, and relayed their solutions for timing lights.

There was also a Critique Sheet (an early version of a speech evaluation form), and a column dubbed “Gavel Splinters,” described as exploring “the good and bad points of International, with some occasional ‘backdoor’ philosophy.” There were also announcements such as this:

Seattle Club: Mr. and Mrs. Seattle are Proud To Announce the Birth of Their First Toastmaster’s Club.

For nine years, the magazine was published four times a year, until 1942 when it changed to a bimonthly publication and grew a bit in size. In 1946, the Toastmaster went to a monthly schedule.

You can still read the April 1933 issue of the Toastmaster, along with all issues of the magazine at toastmasters.org/Magazine/Explore.