Norma Laine, restaurateur

In 1950, Norma Laine’s aunt bought her a copy of Gourmet magazine. Not long after that, Laine, co-owner of Cha Cha Cha Encino, says, “I remember my parents coming to dinner, and I made a cheesecake [recipe] out of that magazine--the original New York cheesecake. It was a big hit.”

Inspired by that success, Laine subscribed. By the late 1950s, “I decided I’d like to have all of them [Gourmet magazines] from the very beginning, January 1941.” She and her husband visited stores selling used books, especially around Hollywood. Within five years, she had found and bought all but the first three issues.

“About 20 years ago, my children bought me [issues] No. 2 and No. 3, February and March 1941. I think they paid like $100 each. They weren’t able to get No. 1.” Then, she says, “just a few months ago, this friend of mine said she saw something on eBay. My daughter looked and, sure enough, there was a group of 28 issues from the first two or three years, including No. 1.”

Laine’s daughter snagged the group for $300. “That was our 50th anniversary present,” says Laine. “The set is complete.”