Urpo Lahtinen
Encyclopedia
Urpo Lahtinen was a Finnish
magazine publisher. He was born on 22 April 1931 in Helsinki
and died in 1994. Urpo Lahtinen started his journalistic career in 1952 writing for the Social Democratic paper Eteenpäin in Kotka
, continuing in Kansan Lehti of Tampere
. In 1957 he started a free tabloid Tamperelainen (delivered to every household in Tampere), which was published by Lahtinen's own company called Lehtimiehet. Urpo Lahtinen's best-known publication was Hymy
("Smile") magazine, which was launched in 1959 and was named after his wife Hymy Lahtinen, specializing in "human interest" type of journalism. In the 1960s and 1970s Hymy became a success with its sensationalist and scandal
stories containing lots of sex and gossips of celebrities often verging on the invasion of privacy
. The most famous writer for Hymy was Veikko Ennala
, and probably one of the most infamous Hymy stories was about the author Timo K. Mukka
, which many thought was one of the main causes to the author's early demise soon afterwards. Lahtinen invested his huge profits in art, and in constructing his luxurious Villa Urpo in Siivikkala. The success also had its negative side on Urpo Lahtinen who became an alcoholic. Lahtinen's company Lehtimiehet was finally sold to Yhtyneet Kuvalehdet for hundreds of millions of Finnish Marks. When Urpo Lahtinen died in 1994 at the age of 63, a court case over his inheritance started between his son Jeppe Lahtinen, his ex-wife Hymy Lahtinen and his widow Maija-Liisa Lahtinen
, continuing to this day.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
magazine publisher. He was born on 22 April 1931 in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and died in 1994. Urpo Lahtinen started his journalistic career in 1952 writing for the Social Democratic paper Eteenpäin in Kotka
Kotka
Kotka is a town and municipality of Finland. Its former name is Rochensalm.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water....
, continuing in Kansan Lehti of Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
. In 1957 he started a free tabloid Tamperelainen (delivered to every household in Tampere), which was published by Lahtinen's own company called Lehtimiehet. Urpo Lahtinen's best-known publication was Hymy
Hymy
Hymy is a Finnish magazine, which was launched in 1959 by publisher Urpo Lahtinen and was named after his wife Hymy Lahtinen. In the 1960s and 1970s Hymy became a success with sensationalist stories containing lots of sex and gossip about Finnish celebrities, often verging on the invasion of privacy...
("Smile") magazine, which was launched in 1959 and was named after his wife Hymy Lahtinen, specializing in "human interest" type of journalism. In the 1960s and 1970s Hymy became a success with its sensationalist and scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
stories containing lots of sex and gossips of celebrities often verging on the invasion of privacy
Invasion of privacy
United States privacy law embodies several different legal concepts. One is the invasion of privacy, a tort based in common law allowing an aggrieved party to bring a lawsuit against an individual who unlawfully intrudes into his or her private affairs, discloses his or her private information,...
. The most famous writer for Hymy was Veikko Ennala
Veikko Ennala
Veikko Ennala was a Finnish journalist. His best-known work was for the magazine Hymy, published by Urpo Lahtinen....
, and probably one of the most infamous Hymy stories was about the author Timo K. Mukka
Timo K. Mukka
Timo Kustaa Mukka was a Finnish author who wrote about the lives of people in Lapland.-Life and work:Timo Mukka was born in Bollnäs in Sweden...
, which many thought was one of the main causes to the author's early demise soon afterwards. Lahtinen invested his huge profits in art, and in constructing his luxurious Villa Urpo in Siivikkala. The success also had its negative side on Urpo Lahtinen who became an alcoholic. Lahtinen's company Lehtimiehet was finally sold to Yhtyneet Kuvalehdet for hundreds of millions of Finnish Marks. When Urpo Lahtinen died in 1994 at the age of 63, a court case over his inheritance started between his son Jeppe Lahtinen, his ex-wife Hymy Lahtinen and his widow Maija-Liisa Lahtinen
Maija-Liisa Lahtinen
Maija-Liisa Lahtinen is a former director of a Finnish foundation and museum Museum Villa Urpo, which is named after her late husband, Finnish magazine publisher Urpo Lahtinen. Mrs. Lahtinen became notorious in Finland after the foundation she and her late husband had established was involved in...
, continuing to this day.