Hollywood Secrets, Lavish Parties, and the Stories Behind the Headlines
Graydon Carter knows how to tell a story. As the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and co-founder of Spy magazine, he spent decades shaping the cultural conversation, mingling with Hollywood’s elite, and orchestrating some of the most iconic magazine covers of all time.
Now, in his new memoir, When the Going Was Good, Carter takes readers behind the scenes of a world that no longer exists—the last golden era of magazines, when budgets were big, power was concentrated in the hands of editors, and a glossy cover could turn someone into a star overnight.
But this isn’t just a walk down memory lane. Carter dishes on everything from banning Harvey Weinstein from Vanity Fair’s Oscar party to Meghan Markle’s missteps in the media world. And, of course, he shares what it was really like to helm one of the most powerful magazines in the world.
Let’s dive in.
When Magazines Ruled the World
Imagine a time when a magazine’s budget was limitless, photo shoots involved flying A-list celebrities across the world, and the editor’s word was final. That was the world Carter ruled over at Vanity Fair.
In his book, he paints a vivid picture of the industry’s extravagant peak—where media wasn’t driven by clicks but by carefully crafted stories and stunning visuals.
“We used to spend an obscene amount of money on just getting a single shot right,” Carter writes. “And no one batted an eye.”
That era is long gone, but Carter’s stories make you feel like you were there.
Harvey Weinstein: Banned for Life
One of the biggest bombshells in the book? Carter reveals that Harvey Weinstein was blacklisted from Vanity Fair’s iconic Oscar party long before the disgraced movie mogul’s public downfall.
The reason? Weinstein was “just too much”—showing up with uninvited guests, demanding favors, and treating staff poorly. Carter finally had enough and cut him off entirely.
It’s a small but telling glimpse into the kind of power Carter wielded. While Hollywood turned a blind eye to Weinstein’s behavior for years, Carter quietly drew a line in the sand.
Meghan Markle’s Vanity Fair Cover—and a Royal Reality Check
Carter also revisits the now-famous Vanity Fair cover featuring Meghan Markle in 2017. At the time, Markle was dating Prince Harry, and she assumed the article would focus on her philanthropy. Instead, the magazine made her relationship the focal point.
According to Carter, Markle was caught off guard, seemingly unaware that Vanity Fair—a magazine built on celebrity profiles—was always going to focus on her personal life rather than her charity work.
Carter doesn’t mince words, hinting that the misunderstanding revealed Markle’s naivety about how the media actually works.
Reinventing Himself in the Digital Age
After leaving Vanity Fair in 2017, Carter could have easily retired to a life of long lunches and literary events. Instead, he launched Air Mail, a digital newsletter designed to feel like an old-school weekend newspaper.
It’s his way of pushing back against the click-driven news cycle, bringing back in-depth storytelling in a format that works for modern readers.
The magazine industry may have changed, but Carter isn’t done shaping the conversation.
Why Graydon Carter’s Memoir Matters
When the Going Was Good isn’t just about Carter’s career—it’s about the end of an era.
It’s a book for anyone who loves old-school journalism, who misses the days when a magazine cover could set the cultural agenda, and who enjoys a good, behind-the-scenes Hollywood story.
Carter was at the center of it all, and now he’s pulling back the curtain.