"Homicide Detective Story Magazine" published only one
issue--September 1956, which had the rather nice contents
that included a John D. MacDonald story and one by William
Campbell Gault.
"Homicide" was published by Everett M. Arnold, Arnold
Magazines, Inc., 1 Appleton Street, Holyoke, Massachusetts;
editorial offices 303 Lexington Avenue, New York 16, New
York. It said it was a bimonthly.
The Holyoke, Mass address rang a bell for me, so I pulled
down the invaluable MONTHLY MURDERS (A Checklist and
Chronological Listing of Fiction In The Digest-Size Mystery
Magazines in the United States and England) compiled by
Michael L. Cook.
And guess what, "Homicide Detective Story Magazine" became
"Killers Mystery Story Magazine" with the same addresses in
Mass. and in NYC. Cook lists the contents for the January
1957 (#3) and March 1957 (#4) issues which makes me think
there was a November 1956 issue (#2) of either "Homicide" or
"Killers."
The contents of the two issues do not equal the first
but includes stories by Talmadge Powell, Edward D. Hoch,
Joseph Commings, Charles Fritch and Henry Slesar.
But now the mystery deepens. There are many magazines that
all list as the publishers address Holyoke, Massachusetts. So
many that I must assume that this was the address of the
distributor or some other logical reason for this. At first I
thought it was a dodge to escape bill collectors. Now I favor
the distributor explanation. I will list the ones I have
spotted thus far and include the editorial offices. Where the
editorial offices are the same, we can assume they were
sister publications.
"Crime and Justice Detective Story Magazine" Four known
issues between September 1956 and March 1957. And the
publisher is our old friend Everett M. Arnold at 1 Appleton
Street, Holyoke, Mass. and the editorial officers were at 303
Lexington Ave. in NYC. Clearly a sister of the others.
"Guilty Detective Story Magazine" A long-lasting digest
starting with the July 1956 issue and lasting until June
1962, the last issue Cook lists. Published by Feature
Publications at the same Holyoke, Mass. address with
editorial offices at 1790 Broadway and later at 32 West 22nd
Street in NYC. This was one of Harlan Ellison's steady
markets as it was for Robert Turner. Talmage Powell and Harry
Whittington were regulars and Lawrence Block and Gil Brewer
also graced its pages.
"Hunted Detective Story Magazine" 12 known issues between the
first December 1954 to October 1956. Published bimonthly by
Star Publications, Inc. 1 Appleton Street, Holyoke, Mass;
editorial office 545 Fifth Avenue, NY 17, NY.
Publisher J.A. Kramer. This was one of the best
"Manhunt" imitations. Robert Turner was often in the magazine
and other names include Stephen Marlowe, John Jakes, Fletcher
Flora, and Talmage Powell.
My eye kept going back to that New York address. It looked
very familiar. I scanned around and when I came to the
listing for "Manhunt" my eyes bugged out. The editorial
offices of the legendary Manhunt were at 545 Fifth Avenue.
Hummm. Of course, that was no doubt a large office building
with plenty of room for both publications. I suppose the
writers and agents benefited from having them in the same
building as a rejection could be recycled on the
elevator.
"Off Beat Detective Stories" Many issues beginning in 1957 or
1958 and lasting until 1963. Published by Pontiac Publishing
Corporation 1 Appleton Street.....Editorial offices first at
1776 Broadway NY 19 NY and later at 1546 Broadway NY 36, NY.
Authors published include Lawrence Block, Henry Slesar, Bryce
Walton, Ed Hoch, Ed Lacy, and the ubiquitous Talmage
Powell.
"Pursuit Detective Story Magazine" 18 known issues from
September 1953 to November 1956. Published by Star
Publications (Editions), Inc., 1 Appleton Street....editorial
offices at 545 Fifth Avenue, NY 17, NY. This was a sister
publication of Hunted and that building on Fifth Avenue must
have been crowded with mystery writers. This mag featured
stories by Frank Kane, Bryce Walton, Evan Hunter, Robert
Turner, Stephen Marlowe, August Derleth, and Steve
Frazee.
"Sure Fire Detective Stories" unknown number of issues from
January 1957 into 1958. Published by Pontiac Publishing
Corp., editorial offices at 1776 Broadway, NY 19, NY. This
was a sister publication of Off Beat. Writers included Harry
Whittington, Larry M. Harris, Robert Turner and that
hardworking Talmage Powell.
"Saturn Web Magazine of Detective Stories" Under various
names this ran from 1957 into 1965. The first five issues
were science fiction and at some point the name changed to
Web Terror Stories. Published by Candar Publishing Company, 1
Appleton Street.....editorial offices 218 W. 48th Street, NY
36, NY. Stories by Richard Deming, Frank Kane, Lawrence
Block, and John Jakes.
"Trapped Detective Story Magazine" Many issues between June
1956 into 1960. Published by Headline Publications, Inc., 1
Appleton Street.....editorial offices at 1790 Broadway, NY
19, NY and later 32 W. 22nd Street, NY 10, NY. Hummm...this
must be a sister publication of "Guilty," unless the two
magazines were separate entities but both moved from 1790
Broadway to 32 West 22nd. Possible, I suppose. Writers
include two of Bill Crider's favorites Harry Whittington and
Milton K. Ozaki as well as Harlan Ellison, Gil Brewer, Robert
Alter, Lawrence Block and, the ever popular Talmage
Powell.
The Columbia Publications digests like Fast Action Detective
and Mystery Stories and Double Action Detective Stories also
eventually listed the publisher's address as that now crowded
address 1 Appleton Street, Holyoke, Mass. even while
maintaining editorial offices at 241 Church Street, NY 13,
NY, which had previously been listed as also the address of
the publisher.
"Terror Detective Story Magazine" Four known issues from
October 1956 to April 1957. Published by Arnold Magazines, 1
Appleton Street....editorial offices 303 Leington Ave. NY 16,
NY. Another sister publication of Homicide, Crime and
Justice, and Killers. Stories by Fredric Brown, John Jakes,
Edward Hoch, Harlan Ellison and Robert Turner.
Whew! This went on longer than I expected and probably longer
than anyone cared to read.
RIchard Moore
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