Inside the September

Farrah Fawcett, photographed by Bruce McBroom at her Los Angeles home, in 1976. The picture was taken the same day as the one that appeared on her iconic “red swimsuit” poster.

Michael Jackson, photographed by Annie Leibovitz in Los Angeles, October 1989. Another image from the shoot appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair’s December 1989 issue.

Features

Don and Betty’s Paradise Lost
AMC’s hit show Mad Men is more than a time warp into the heady early 1960s—it’s a journey into creator Matthew Weiner’s subconscious, from which Don and Betty Draper (Jon Hamm and January Jones) emerged years ago. As the new season begins, Bruce Handy reports on how they’ve made advertising, daytime drinking, and even marital dysfunction cool again. Photographs by Annie Leibovitz.

The New Astor Court
The trial of Brooke Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, for allegedly defrauding the late philanthropist, has featured media hordes and a parade of high-society witnesses. Astor biographer Meryl Gordon talks to most of the key players—including Marshall’s wife, Charlene, and a dismissed juror—and finds an explosive new document that changes the bottom line. Plus: Court sketch artist Jane Rosenberg documents the ongoing trial.

The Boy Who Would Be King
The metamorphosis of Michael Jackson from apple-cheeked 10-year-old to ghostly recluse remains one of the most intriguing stories in entertainment history. Unearthing tapes and notes of her many conversations with Jackson between 1972 and 1989, Lisa Robinson reveals the budding King of Pop to have been funny, curious, and fatefully troubled. Photographs by Annie Leibovitz. Plus: Jackson’s early career in photos.

Beautiful People, Ugly Choices
Even with the spotlight following Farrah Fawcett to her death, whole chapters of her life remain dark. Leslie Bennetts re-traces the star’s journey, hearing from Ryan O’Neal about the infidelity, the insecurity, and the love that survived it all. Web special: Classic photos from the Charlie’s Angels set, and Bruce McBroom’s swimsuit shoot.

The Rich Have Feelings, Too
The bankers behaved badly, so their jets were taken away. What’s a bailed-out master of the universe to do but have a kicking, screaming tantrum? In a new short story, Tom Wolfe captures the meltdown at a crowded commercial airport. Illustrations by Paul Cox.

Toujours Couture
When Yves Saint Laurent died and Christian Lacroix faced bankruptcy, many heard the bell toll for haute couture. But marveling at high fashion’s power through the ages, and speaking with such current masters as Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano, Amy Fine Collins sees it hanging on by more than a thread. Plus: Patrick Demarchelier’s couture photographs.