Jean Prouvost created the first issue in 1937, which was distributed each Wednesday. French readers flocked to newsstands to buy this early weekly edition, which was a huge success. However, in 1942, German occupation authorities in France stopped the distribution of most magazines, and Marie Claire was one of them. The magazine was not redistributed until 1954. At this time, it became a monthly publication versus a weekly one. In 1976, Prouvost retired and his daughter