Macfadden Communications Group is a publisher of business magazines. It has a historical link with a company started in 1898 by

Bernarr Macfadden Bernarr Macfadden (born Bernard Adolphus McFadden, August 16, 1868 – October 12, 1955) was an American proponent of physical culture, a combination of bodybuilding with nutritional and health theories. He founded the long-running magazine pu ...

that was one of the largest magazine publishers of the twentieth century.

History

Macfadden Publications

''Physical Culture'', Bernarr Macfadden's first magazine, was based on Macfadden's interest in

bodybuilding Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses ...

. The launch of '' True Story'' in 1919 made the company very successful. Other well-known magazines, such as '' Photoplay'' and ''

True Detective ''True Detective'' is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. The series, broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States, premiered on January 12, 2014. Each season of the ...

'', soon followed. Macfadden also launched the tabloid ''

New York Evening Graphic The ''New York Evening Graphic'' (not to be confused with the earlier '' Daily Graphic)'' was a tabloid newspaper published from 1924 to 1932 by Bernarr Macfadden. Exploitative and mendacious in its short life, the ''Graphic'' exemplified tablo ...

''. Bernarr Macfadden withdrew from his leadership roles with the company in 1941.

Macfadden/Bartell

In 1961, the

Bartell Broadcasting Corporation The Bartell Group, later known as Bartell Broadcasters, Bartell Family Radio, Macfadden-Bartell, and the Bartell Media Corporation, was a family-owned company that owned a number of radio stations in the United States during the 1940s through the 1 ...

bought a controlling share in Macfadden and merged with the company, forming Macfadden/Bartell. Bartell owned

WADO WADO (1280 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to New York City. It is owned and operated by Uforia Audio Network, a subsidiary of Univision. It broadcasts a Spanish-language sports radio format. By day, WADO is powered at 50,000 wat ...

New York,

WOKY WOKY (920 AM, "The Big 920") is a commercial radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a sports format affiliated with Fox Sports Radio. Its studios and offices, which became the ...

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee ...

, and

KCBQ KCBQ (1170 AM "The Answer") is a commercial radio station in San Diego, California. It is owned by Salem Media Group and airs a conservative talk radio format. Studios and offices are on Towne Center Drive in San Diego's University City are ...

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

. A share in Bartell was acquired by Downe Communications in 1967, with full control in 1969. Between 1969 and 1974 Downe was acquired by

Charter Company The Charter Company of Jacksonville, Florida was a conglomerate with more than 180 subsidiaries that was in the ''Fortune'' 500 for 11 years beginning in 1974 and ranked 61st in 1984. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in late 1984, ...

. Bartell was fully acquired by Downe in 1976, and Downe was fully acquired by Charter in 1978. Downe purchased the newspaper supplement ''

Family Weekly ''USA Weekend'' was an American weekend newspaper magazine owned by the Gannett Company. Structured as a sister publication to Gannett's flagship newspaper ''USA Today'' and distributed in the Sunday editions of participating local newspapers, ...

'' in 1966, and the '' Ladies' Home Journal'' and ''

The American Home ''The American Home'' was a monthly magazine published in the United States from 1928 to 1977. Its subjects included domestic architecture, interior design, landscape design and gardening."American Home", Library of Congress Catalog. History and ...

'' from the

Curtis Publishing Company The Curtis Publishing Company, founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became one of the largest and most influential publishers in the United States during the early 20th century. The company's publications included the ''Ladies' Home Jour ...

in 1968.

Macfadden Group

Macfadden's

women's magazine This is a list of women's magazines from around the world. These are magazines that have been published primarily for a readership of women. Currently published *'' 10 Magazine'' (UK - distributed worldwide) *''Al Jamila'' (Saudi Arabia) *'' All ...

s were spun off in 1975, and sold to the unit president, Peter J. Callahan. These magazines were: * ''True Story'' * ''Photoplay'' * ''TV-Radio Mirror'' * ''True Confessions'' * ''Motion Picture'' * ''True Romance'' * ''True Experience'' * ''True Love'' '' Us'' was purchased in 1980, and sold in 1986. In the mid-eighties, Macfadden bought the Ideal Publishing Company, which published ''

Teen Beat ''Teen Beat'' is an American magazine geared towards teenaged readers, published from 1967–c. 2007. Over its history, the magazine had multiple teen idols on its cover, including John Travolta, David Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Menudo, Michael J. ...

'' and other fan magazines, from

Filmways Filmways, Inc. (also known as Filmways Pictures and Filmways Television) was a television and film production company founded by American film executive Martin Ransohoff and Edwin Kasper in 1952. It is probably best remembered as the production c ...

. MacFadden acquired a stake in what would become

American Media Mass media in the United States consist of several types of media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and web sites. The U.S. also has a strong music industry. New York City, Manhattan in particular, and to a lesser extent ...

in 1989 when it bought a stake in the ''

National Enquirer The ''National Enquirer'' is an American tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1926, the newspaper has undergone a number of changes over the years. The ''National Enquirer'' openly acknowledges that it pays sources for tips, a common practice in tabl ...

''.

Sterling/Macfadden

In 1991, the Macfadden consumer magazines were spun off and merged with Sterling's Magazines. Sterling's published fan magazines such as ''

Tiger Beat ''Tiger Beat'' is an American internet teen fan magazine originally published by The Laufer Company, and marketed primarily to adolescent girls. The magazine had a paper edition that was sold at stores until December 2018. History and profile ...

'', as well as the music magazine ''

Metal Edge ''Metal Edge'' was a magazine covering heavy metal music published by Zenbu Media. The magazine was founded in the summer of 1985, during the height of glam metal's success. Zenbu Media acquired ''Metal Edge'' in February 2007. Both ''Metal Edg ...

''. The merger was finalized in October 1992. In 1998, the conglomerate's line of youth music publications was sold off to

Primedia Primedia is a South African media group, headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg. History Primedia was established in 1994 and its listing on the JSE Securities Exchange was completed in April 1995. Primedia remained listed on the JSE until 1 O ...

; the rest were bought by

Dorchester Media Dorchester Publishing was a publisher of mass market paperback books. Although mostly known for romance, Dorchester also published horror, thriller and Western titles. Publication lines Dorchester was the original publisher of the ''Hard Case ...

in 2004.

Teen Magazines

*'' Right On! '' *''

'' *''

16 Magazine ''16'' was a fan magazine published in New York City. Origins Founded in 1956, the first issue of ''16'' hit the newsstands in May 1957, with Elvis Presley on the cover. However, its longtime editor-in-chief, former fashion model and subscrip ...

'' *''

Teen Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the te ...

Macfadden Holdings

The trade magazines ''

Chief Executive A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

'' and ''Discount Merchandiser'', as well as the company's stake in

, remained a separate company. American Media was sold in 1999 to the investment group

Evercore Partners Evercore Inc., formerly known as Evercore Partners, is a global independent investment banking advisory firm founded in 1995 by Roger Altman, David Offensend, and Austin Beutner. The firm has advised on over $4.7 trillion of merger, acquisition, ...

. The Macfadden trade titles were sold to VNU the same year.

Present day

The executives of Macfadden Business Communications started a new company using the Macfadden name. It is a publisher of business-to-business magazines.

Historical publications

Magazines

*''Physical Culture'' *'' True Story'' (1919–2004) *''Brain Power'' (1922–24) (also titled ''National Pictorial Brain Power Magazine'') *''True Experiences'' (1922- *''True Romances'' (1923- *''Love and Romance'' (1923- *''Muscle Builder'' (1924- *''

'' (1924–1971) *''Master Detective'' (1930- *''Famous Detective Cases'' *''True Love'' *''True Love Stories'' (1924- *''True Marriage Stories'' (1924- *''Modern Marriage'' *''Own Your Own Home'' *''Your Faith'' *''Your Home'' *''Dream World'' (also titled ''Dream World: Love and Romance'') *''Ghost Stories'' (1926–32) (under

Harold Hersey Harold Brainerd Hersey (April 11, 1893March 1956) was an American pulp editor and publisher, publishing several volumes of poetry. His pulp industry observations were published in hardback as ''Pulpwood Editor'' (1937). Early life He was born o ...

's control 1930-32) *'' Macfadden's Fiction Lovers' Magazine'' *''Midnight'' (also titled ''Midnight Mysteries'') *''The Dance Magazine'' *''Climax: Exciting Stories for Men'' *'' Photoplay'' (1934–1980) *''Secrets'' (1936- *''Personal Romances'' (1937- *''Movie Mirror'' *''Radio Mirror'' ( -1948) *''Saga: Adventure Stories for Men'' (195x-198x) *'' TV Radio Mirror'' (1949–1977) *'' True Confessions'' (1963–1992) *'' Motion Picture'' (1911–1977) *''

Sport Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...

'' (1946–1975) *''Intimate Stories'' (1948- *''Revealing Romances'' (1949- *'' Pageant'' (1961–1977) *''

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

'' (1931–1950) *''Home Furnishings News'' (2006-2014) also known as ''HFN'' *''

Dance Magazine ''Dance Magazine'' is an American trade publication for dance published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as ''The American Dancer''. ''Dance Magazine'' has multiple sister publications, including '' Point ...

'' (2001-2016) *''Dance Spirit'' (2006-2016)Lifestyle Media Inc. merged with Macfadden Dance Magazine, LLC
*''Dance Teacher'' (2006-2016) *''

Pointe Pointe technique ( ) is the part of classical ballet technique that concerns ''pointe work'', in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes. A dancer is said to be ''en pointe'' () wh ...

'' (2006-2016) *''Dance Retailer News'' (2006-2016) *''Grocery Headquarters'' (2004-2017)

Newspapers

*'' New York Graphic'' (1924–1932) *'' Philadelphia Daily News'' (1925–1932) *''Detroit Daily'' *''

Detroit Mirror The ''Detroit Mirror'' was a daily morning tabloid newspaper published in Detroit, Michigan. It ceased publication in August 1932 without warning, only giving a week of severance pay to its employees. At that time it had a circulation of 170,000 ...

'' (? – 1931)

Teck Publishing Corporation (1931–1938)

*''

Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...

'' *''

Radio News News broadcasting is the medium of broadcasting various news events and other information via television, radio, or the internet in the field of broadcast journalism. The content is usually either produced locally in a radio studio or telev ...

'' *''Wild West Stories & Complete Novel Magazine''

Bartholomew House imprint

Macfadden also published a few hardcover books through the years, under the imprint Bartholomew House. Initially a way to group together stories from Macfadden's magazines into a book (as in ''Great Western Heroes'', ''Great Pioneer Heroes''), the imprint expanded into first editions of new material after the purchase by the

Bartell Group The Bartell Group, later known as Bartell Broadcasters, Bartell Family Radio, Macfadden-Bartell, and the Bartell Media Corporation, was a family-owned company that owned a number of radio stations in the United States during the 1940s through the 1 ...

('' Coffee, Tea or Me?'', ''"Say ... Didn’t You Used to Be George Murphy?"''). * 1950 - ''Magic Cook Book; the Key to Kitchen Economy, prepared by the Food Editors of True Story Magazine'' * 1957 - ''Great Western Heroes; Six True Stories of the Men Who Tamed the West'', edited by Rafer Brent * 1958 - ''Great Pioneer Heroes; True Stories of the Men Who Made America'', edited by Rafer Brent * 1967 - '' Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses'' by Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones (in reality Donald Bain) * 1968 - ''The CanniBal$: a Novel About Television's Savage Chieftains'' by

Keefe Brasselle Keefe Brasselle (born Henry Keefe Brasselle February 7, 1923 – July 7, 1981) was an American film actor, television actor/producer and author. He is best remembered for the starring role in '' The Eddie Cantor Story'' (1953). Early years a ...

* 1969 - ''Mannequin: My Life as a Model'' by Carolyn Kenmore (ghost written by

William Dufty William Francis Dufty (February 2, 1916 – June 28, 2002) was an American writer, musician, and activist. Dufty was a supporter of trade unionism and was an organizer for the United Auto Workers, wrote speeches for former UAW President Walter ...

) * 1970 - ''"Say ... Didn’t You Used to Be George Murphy?"'' by

George Murphy George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992) was an American dancer, actor, and politician. Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild fro ...

(with Victor Lasky)

Current publications

*''Pet Business'' (purchased in 2000)

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.macfad.com
The True Story of Bernarr Macfadden
Magazine publishing companies of the United States Privately held companies based in New York (state) Companies based in New York City Publishing companies established in 1898