The Gilberton Company, Inc. () was an American publisher best known for the

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

series ''

Classics Illustrated ''Classics Illustrated'' is an American comic book/magazine series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as '' Les Misérables'', ''Moby-Dick'', ''Hamlet'', and '' The Iliad''. Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication ...

'' featuring adaptations of

literary classics Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, plays, and poems. It includes both print and digital writing. In recent centuries, th ...

. Beginning life as an imprint of the

Elliot Publishing Company The Gilberton Company, Inc. () was an American publisher best known for the comic book series ''Classics Illustrated'' featuring adaptations of literary classics. Beginning life as an imprint of the Elliot Publishing Company, the company became i ...

, the company became independent in 1942, Between 1941 and 1962, domestic sales of Gilberton's publications totaled 200 million. Gilberton was sold to the

Frawley Corporation Patrick Joseph Frawley, Jr. (1923–1998) was a Nicaraguan-American business magnate whose portfolio included Paper Mate, Schick, and Technicolor, Inc. A devout Catholic, he was a leading American conservative figure from the late 1950s onward ...

in 1967. The company ceased publishing in 1971.

History

Russian-born publisher

Albert Lewis Kanter Albert Lewis Kanter (April 11, 1897March 17, 1973) was the creator of ''Classics Illustrated'' and ''Classics Illustrated Junior''. Kanter began creating ''Classic Comics'' with "The Three Musketeers" in October 1941. His renditions of classic no ...

(1897–1973) recognizing the appeal of early comic books, believed he could use the new medium to introduce young and reluctant readers to " great literature". In October 1941, with the backing of two business partners,Jones, Jr., William B
"Albert Lewis Kanter (1897-1973),"
Jack Lake Productions (2004). Accessed July 6, 2010. he created ''

Classic Comics ''Classics Illustrated'' is an American comic book/magazine series featuring adaptations of literary classics such as ''Les Misérables'', ''Moby-Dick'', ''Hamlet'', and ''The Iliad''. Created by Albert Kanter, the series began publication in ...

'' for Elliot Publishing Company, its debut issue being ''

The Three Musketeers ''The Three Musketeers'' () is a French historical adventure novel written and published in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is the first of the author's three d'Artagnan Romances. As with some of his other works, he wrote it in col ...

'', followed by ''

Ivanhoe ''Ivanhoe: A Romance'' ( ) by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in three volumes, in December 1819, as one of the Waverley novels. It marked a shift away from Scott's prior practice of setting stories in Scotland and in the more ...

'' and ''

The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' () is an adventure novel by the French writer Alexandre Dumas. It was serialised from 1844 to 1846, and published in book form in 1846. It is one of his most popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers'' (184 ...

''. In addition to the literary adaptations, the comics featured author profiles, educational fillers, and ads for the coming titles. In later editions, a catalog of titles and a subscription order form appeared on back covers. Ruth Roche created the first

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

Kismet, Man of Fate Kismet, Man of Fate is a superhero published by Elliot Publishing Company in the Golden Age of Comic Books. The series features adventures of an Algerian superhero who was thought lost by the Allies at the end of World War II. The character origin ...

, published in Gilberton's ''Bomber Comics'' #1-4 (1944). By the time of ''Classics Comics'' #4, in 1942, the title outgrew the space it shared with Elliot, and Kanter moved the operation to different offices, changing the corporate identity to the Gilberton Company, Inc. Reprints of previous titles began in 1943. Wartime paper shortages forced Kanter to reduce the 64-page format to 56 pages, and, in 1948, rising paper costs reduced books to 48 pages. With issue #35 in March 1947 (''

The Last Days of Pompeii ''The Last Days of Pompeii'' is a novel written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1834. The novel was inspired by the painting '' The Last Day of Pompeii'' by the Russian painter Karl Briullov, which Bulwer-Lytton had seen in Milan. It culminates in ...

'') the ''Classic Comics'' series' name was changed to ''Classics Illustrated''. In 1946, the founder's son William E. "Bill" Kanter (born 1923) became an editor at Gilberton.Jones Jr., William B. ''Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History'', 2d ed. (McFarland & Company, 2017). Kanter was instrumental in getting ''Classics Illustrated'' distributed nationally in the U.S. through

Curtis Circulation Curtis Circulation Company, LLC (abbreviated as CC) is a magazine distribution company. History Curtis Circulation Company began as the circulation department of the Philadelphia-based Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of ''The Saturday Eveni ...

, alongside magazines like ''

The Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine published six times a year. It was published weekly from 1897 until 1963, and then every other week until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely circulated and influ ...

'', ''

Ladies' Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine that ran until 2016 and was last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th centur ...

'', ''

Holiday A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. ''Public holidays'' are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often ...

'', ''

The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 185 ...

'', and ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...

''. Beginning in 1947, ''Classics Illustrated'' began to be distributed internationally, in English-speaking countries like Australia (Ayers & James, 1947–1953), Canada (via Gilberton, 1948–1951), and the United Kingdom (

Thorpe & Porter Thorpe & Porter (widely known as T & P) was a British publisher, importer, and distributor of magazines and comic books. At first, the company was known for repackaging American comics and pulp magazines for the UK market. Later on, it became a p ...

, 1951–1963). Translated versions of the series became popular in Brazil (Editora Brasil-América Limitada, 1948–1961), Greece (Ekdóseis Pechlivanídi, the period 1951–1990), Mexico (Editora de Periódicos La Prensa, 1951–1973), and Norway (Serieforlaget, 1954–1956, before being taken over by a Gilberton branch). ''Classics Illustrateds success spawned imitators, including ''

Stories by Famous Authors Illustrated Story or stories may refer to: Common uses * Narrative, an account of imaginary or real people and events ** Short story, a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting ** News story, an event or topic reported by a news orga ...

'', published by

Seaboard Publishing Seaboard is a synonym for coastline. It can also refer to: Places * Seaboard, North Carolina, a small town in the United States ** Seaboard Historic District * Seaboard, Virginia, an unincorporated community and coal town in the United States Rai ...

. As detailed on the

Grand Comics Database The Grand Comics Database (GCD) is an Internet-based project to build a database of comic book information through user contributions. The GCD project catalogues information on creator credits, story details, reprints, and other information use ...

: In addition to ''Classics Illustrated'', Gilberton published its spin-offs ''

Classics Illustrated Junior ''Classics Illustrated Junior'' is a comic book series of seventy-seven fairy and folk tale, myth and legend comic book adaptations created by Albert Lewis Kanter as a Spin-off (media), spin-off of his flagship comic book line ''Classics Illustra ...

'' (1953–1962), ''Classics Illustrated Special Issue'' (1955–1964), and ''The World Around Us'' (1958–1961). The publication of new titles ceased in 1962 for various reasons. The company lost its second-class mailing permit; and cheap paperbacks,

CliffsNotes CliffsNotes are a series of student study guides. The guides present and create literary and other works in pamphlet form or online. Detractors of the study guides claim they let students bypass reading the assigned literature. The company clai ...

, and television drew readers away from the series. Gilberton's last new issue was ''Classics Illustrated'' #167 ''

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

'' (August 1962), although other issues had been planned.

Gilberton World-Wide Publications

In the period 1956–1957, when the popularity of ''Classics Illustrated'' was at its height, the company created Gilberton World-Wide Publications, establishing a number of

Northern European The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54°N, or may be based on other geographical factors s ...

branch companies to translate ''Classics Illustrated'' into their languages — in Denmark (Illustrerede Klassikere), the Netherlands (Classics),Classics/Williams
Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021. Norway (Illustrerte Klassikere),Illustrerte Klassikere / Williams Forlag
Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 22, 2021. Sweden (Illustrerade Klassiker),Williams Förlag AB
Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021. and West Germany (Illustrierte Klassiker). (The Norwegian branch took over publishing ''Classics Illustrated'' from Serieforlaget). In 1959, Gilberton acquired the British publisher/distributor

(which had been distributing UK editions of ''Classics Illustrated'' since 1951). In 1962, the production of new issues of ''Classics Illustrated'' shifted from Gilberton's New York offices to Thorpe & Porter, with the publisher's son Bill Kanter overseeing everything beginning in 1963. As a consequence, some of the planned, unpublished issues of the U.S. ''Classics Illustrated'' appeared in some foreign editions. Bill Kanter was very involved with Gilberton World-Wide Productions; in 1965, Gilberton's Swedish branch, Illustrerade Klassiker, was reorganized into Williams Förlag AB — one theory is that the Williams name was derived from William Kanter.Williams Förlag AB
Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021. In 1966, after going bankrupt, Thorpe & Porter was sold off to

National Comics Publications National Comics Publications (NCP; later known as National Periodical Publications Inc. or simply National) was an American comic book publishing company. It was the direct predecessor of modern-day DC Comics. History The corporation was origin ...

(i.e.,

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

);Chibnall, Steve. "The Sign of the Tee Pee: The Story of Thorpe & Porter," ''Paperback, Pulp and Comic Collector'' Vol. 1: "SF Crime Horror Westerns & Comics" (Wilts, UK: Zeon Publishing / Zardoz Books, 1993), pp. 16–29
Archived
at Box.com. Retrieved Dec. 28, 2020. this sale included all the Gilberton World-Wide Productions European branches. A few years later, in 1971, all those branches — now in the hands of

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

— were renamed some variation of Williams Publishing.

1967 sale and demise

In 1967, Kanter sold Gilberton to Catholic business magnate

Patrick Frawley Patrick Joseph Frawley, Jr. (1923–1998) was a Nicaraguan-American business magnate whose portfolio included Paper Mate, Schick, and Technicolor, Inc. A devout Catholic, he was a leading American conservative figure from the late 1950s onwar ...

's Twin Circle Publishing Co., which brought out two more issues of ''Classics Illustrated'' but mainly concentrated on foreign sales and reprinting older titles. After four years, Twin Circle discontinued the line because of poor distribution. By the early 1970s, ''Classics Illustrated'' and ''Junior'' had been discontinued, although the ''Classics Illustrated'' branding would be used on a number of made-for-television films in the period 1978–1982, including ''

The Time Machine ''The Time Machine'' is an 1895 dystopian post-apocalyptic science fiction novella by H. G. Wells about a Victorian scientist known as the Time Traveller who travels to the year 802,701. The work is generally credited with the popularizati ...

'', '' Donner Pass: The Road to Survival'', and ''

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is an 1820 short story by American author Washington Irving contained in his collection of 34 essays and short stories titled '' The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.'' Irving wrote the story while living in Bi ...

''. Since the series' demise, various companies have reprinted its titles.

Imprints

: ''Source'': * Classics Illustrated * Elliot Publishing Company * Famous Authors, Ltd. * Gilberton Company * Gilberton Company (Canada) Limited * Gilberton Company, Inc. * Gilberton Corporation * Gilberton World-Wide Publications, Inc. * Long Island Independent * The Gilberton Publishing Company (Canada) Limited

Titles published

* ''

'' (1941–1947) — Name-changed in March 1947 to ''Classics Illustrated'' with issue #35 (''

''). * ''Bomber Comics'' (1944)Bomber Comics
at ComicVine. Retrieved Apr. 26, 2021. * ''

'' (1947–1967) * ''

'' (1953–1971) * ''Classics Illustrated Special Issue'' (1955–1962) * ''The World Around Us'' (1958–1961)

References

Sources

Elliot
at

Gilberton
at

{{GoldenAge American companies established in 1942 Comic book publishing companies of the United States Companies based in New York City Defunct comics and manga publishing companies Publishing companies established in 1942

History

Gilberton World-Wide Publications

1967 sale and demise

Imprints

Titles published

See also

References

Sources