Publishers: Difference between revisions

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During the war, all sorts of subterfuges were activated to circumvent paper allotment restrictions, including fronted publishing companies.  It's doubtful we will ever know fully who really owned what.  I suspect most of these Holyoke connected companies were Bowles subsidiaries.
During the war, all sorts of subterfuges were activated to circumvent paper allotment restrictions, including fronted publishing companies.  It's doubtful we will ever know fully who really owned what.  I suspect most of these Holyoke connected companies were Bowles subsidiaries.


==Sparkling Stars==
===Sparkling Stars===


Steven Rowe, in response to the Et-Es-Go conversation referenced above, points out that Sparkling Stars looks nothing like the other comics:  "It doesnt even use the same artists (and as already
Steven Rowe, in response to the Et-Es-Go conversation referenced above, points out that Sparkling Stars looks nothing like the other comics:  "It doesnt even use the same artists (and as already

Revision as of 05:52, 16 April 2008

Introduction

This page is intended to preserve information about publishing companies and their relationships and practices that either does not fit into the GCD proper or is not yet understood thoroughly enough to be entered. The data should be organized alphabetically by the publishing "group" name (i.e. common names like DC and Marvel that include a number of historical corporations and imprints).

Wherever possible, information here should cite references, even if only to a thread on a mailing list on a particular day.

Holyoke

Et-Es-Go Magazines

Frank Motler provided the following on the GCD list on April 15 2008:

  • Et-Es-Go was based on Frank Z. Temerson's sisters' names (believed to be Etta, Esther & Goldie).
  • Shares the publishing address of 220 West 42nd St., New York, NY with Holyoke Publishing Co., Inc. as listed in Foodini Comics #2.
  • ComicBook Marketplace #30 has an article covering L. B. Cole, Rae Hemann and Frank Temerson which may provide related information.


Michael Feldman responded later that day with:

Holyoke Mass was an early center for paper products, everything from wrapping paper, cardboard, to magazines. Sherman Bowles, owner of the prominent Springfield (Mass) Republican newspaper, inherited and greatly expanded his vast family holdings. He personally had controlling interest in many business, related and unrelated to publishing. Among them were a string of publishing operations producing low-budget high profit publications, everything from pulps, to girlie mags to comic lines.

The nominal publishers and their companies, functioned as divisions of what we would now call a consortium. The newspaper Sunday Comics color presses did the comic books, their Canadian paper mills supplied the raw material, and dedicated engraving plants provided production services. etc. People like Temerson, though given titles and responsibilities, had maybe minority interests in their businesses, acting mainly as partially autonomous content providers and packagers.

During the war, all sorts of subterfuges were activated to circumvent paper allotment restrictions, including fronted publishing companies. It's doubtful we will ever know fully who really owned what. I suspect most of these Holyoke connected companies were Bowles subsidiaries.

Sparkling Stars

Steven Rowe, in response to the Et-Es-Go conversation referenced above, points out that Sparkling Stars looks nothing like the other comics: "It doesnt even use the same artists (and as already mentioned - had a different editorial office). it is possible that Holyoke used two editorial offices ... but sorta unlikely...." He goes on to speculate that Temerson and Holyoke are not the same company, and that Temerson lost control of some of his titles at an unknown time and for unknown reasons.

Michael Feldman responds with: I have their names somewhere, but recall the people behind SPARKLING STARS did other non-comics stuff, and were unconnected to the Holyoke gang of Temerson, Lake and Palmer, or whoever. The town of Holyoke was a hotbed of trashy publishing activity, some just using their controlling printer-partner's address.

Admitted big problem with some publishers, they might start independent, be gradually overtake as debtors to printers or distributors, but still keep their names in the publication. As time passes, often companies are sold outright, or partially, and integrated with others. This most often a problem with smaller lines where actual ownership is not always clear-cut.

Morse is just one example, initially pretty much a Kable functionary, who eventually strikes out on his own.

Frank Motler then contributes: Just to add to the confusion, all of the "Holyoke" titles that LB Cole ended up packaging were coded for PDC distribution (publishers Distributing Corp). Sparkling Stars issues were unidentified or distributed by Kable News. PDC are important in the equation here.

With regard to proto Morse comics, Wolverton in his interview (Graphic Story Magazine #12 & 14) refers to batting out comics for a small artist driven consortium. This kinda indicates a second early company, as these ended up in Weird Tales of the Future, unconnected to Mr Pubs (Andru/Esposito). regards, frank m.