Richard Ekstract, a prominent magazine publisher known for his success in niche audiences, passed away on August 7th at the age of 92 in West Palm Beach, Florida. His son Steven announced his death, stating that the cause was cancer.
Mr. Ekstract was a media mogul who built a small empire of about 20 trade and consumer publications, ranging from electronics to video to decorating and real estate. However, his most notable contribution was his early collaboration with the iconic artist Andy Warhol.
In the summer of 1965, when Mr. Ekstract was just starting out as a trade journal publisher in New York with his first title, Audio Times, he lent Warhol a prototype of a Norelco “slant-track” video camera. This act of generosity allowed Warhol to create the groundbreaking film “Outer and Inner Space.” The film featured Edie Sedgwick, a charismatic and ill-fated figure, delivering monologues in a split-screen format.
To thank Mr. Ekstract for the camera, Warhol gifted him a collection of acetates used to make red silk-screened self-portraits. As part of their agreement, one of these portraits would appear in Mr. Ekstract’s new magazine, Tape Recording. To celebrate the magazine’s launch, he hosted a party beneath the Waldorf Astoria hotel on abandoned rail tracks. The event showcased the portraits and screened “Inner and Outer Space.”
The red self-portraits had a complex journey after this. In 1989, one of them was purchased by filmmaker Joe Simon-Whelan and became the subject of a contentious lawsuit when he tried to authenticate it through the Warhol Foundation. Despite extensive evidence of its origins, the foundation repeatedly denied Simon-Whelan’s request, leading to a legal battle that ended in 2010.
One of the red portraits remained in Mr. Ekstract’s possession until last year when he offered it for auction, but it failed to sell.
Richard Evan Ekstract was born in Brooklyn on February 20, 1931. He grew up in Philadelphia, studied journalism at Temple University, and served in the Army as the editor of Infantry magazine. His first magazine, Audio Times, struggled financially until audio electronics pioneer Avery Fisher became its first advertiser.
Mr. Ekstract’s final venture was the Cottages and Gardens franchise. Starting with Hamptons Cottages and Gardens in 2002, the franchise expanded to Palm Beach and Connecticut. These magazines stood out for their original photography and high-quality content, resembling national publications. Advertisers and readers responded positively, and the magazines gained a strong following.
Mr. Ekstract was known for his bold and innovative approach to magazine publishing. He recognized the value of micro-audiences and believed that a free magazine could still be valuable. Despite being opinionated and sometimes controversial, he left a lasting impact on the industry.
Richard Ekstract is survived by his wife Eileen, his daughter Janet, his sons Steven and Michael, and four grandchildren. His Cottages and Gardens franchise was sold in 2009 to Marianne Howatson. In 2008, Mr. Ekstract mentioned that his decision to sell was not influenced by the recession but rather his desire to move on from the industry at the age of 77.
Mr. Ekstract’s legacy lives on through his contributions to magazine publishing and his collaboration with Andy Warhol, solidifying his status as a visionary in the field.
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