From: [C--hi--t] at [aol.com] Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1998 18:44:17 EST To: [comixschl list] at [socolow.com] Subject: Re: Re: Query: DC Management In a message dated 11/15/98 6:54:43 PM, Paul Gravett wrote: <> Russ Maheras, over at the Grand Comics Database reflector posted his research at the Audit Bureau of Circulation on that reflector. Following is the posts I saved and the information he gave. It is lenghty so be forwarned...all research is copyrighted by Russ...the data is copyrighted by ABC... -Ray Bottorff Jr < Russ Maheras wrote: >Bob >The article below is a perfect example of a glaring circulation error in >understanding by whoever wrote this back in 1950: > >>"1950 (July): COMIC SALES CLIMB >Newest Tabulation by ABC ID Leaders >In Same Top Four Positions of S-M Box Score > >>The strength of Independently-distributed comics is reflected in the current >S-M News Co's BOX SCORE, an authoritative and reliable guide for display of >periodicals. The Audit Buerau of Circulations (popularly known as "ABC") >which compiles the sales performances of magazines so accurately, also shows >that 14 of 22 comics publishers reporting sales are from the >Independently-distributed family. >Those titles with the ID symbol accounted for a total of 3,881,519 average >newsstand sales per issue during the last six months of 1949. The gain in >average sales per issue over the same period of 1948 was 906,129 (though one >publisher was unreported in the 1948 period). This is certainly an >excellent showing and one in which every dealer must be keenly aware."<< >Whoever wrote this, did not understand what he was looking at. The number >"3,881,519 average newstand sales per issue" should actually say "per >month." These numbers are for the entire GROUP, per month, and have been >misconstrued as a single issue number. It ISN'T, and if you looked at as >many of the ABC pamphlets on microfiche as I did, you'd understand. This >guy is assuming he's looking at a single magazine, like Time or Reader's >Digest. But comics and pulp magazines usually were lumped together in a >group. "Famous Funnies" was one of the few exceptions. Occasionally, >another single title would pop up, as did "Captain Marvel Adventures" in >1944, mainly due to the fact that its circulation had by then consistently >jumped over the 1 million mark each and every month. But single comic book >titles with their own ABC listing were NOT the norm. That article is a big >time error in fact! Actually, what the distribution fellow who wrote the COMICS SALES CLIMB article for the July 1950 NEWSDEALER has one do is divide the number 3,881,519 by 6 since it is a 6 month's accumulated number. That is how i interpret the paragraph. One gets an average monthly number of 646,920 that way for all comics published using that number. Is this closer to what you show from ABC records? Back in 1950, when these numbers were "new", there most likely were more of them to use for statistical purposes. Now, 50 years later, all we have are ABC, Avery's, and a few other sources which all have to be taken with a few grains of salt before we use any as gospel. However, your take on the numbers game might be entirely correct. Me, I just want the "truth" for my book as near as we can collectively figure out. I surely appreciate you sending me all that ABC circulation info you spent the time to transcribe. Bob Klein had already done the Avery's numbers so that saved me a lot of work digging those out. Do you have those numbers? I (or Bob Klein) could send them onto you you if you need them. Maybe in the near future we will get that much closer to a partial reality. >Regarding this info you provided: >"Superman-DC Publications, we can say with full authority, sold 26,264,000 >copies in the first four months of 1945 . . . and 34,020,000 copies in the >same period od 1946 - a gain of 29 per cent!" > >Superman-DC Publications means EVERY title DC puts out. That is exactly what the NEWSDEALER writer was saying. Group sales. >Divide the first >number by four, and you get a publishing house monthly sales average of >6,566,000. In 1945, how many titles was DC publishing? If you only count >the 11 they had ABC tally in 1944, you get an average monthly circulation >per individual title of about 597,000. That's very, very consistent with >the data I've dug up. And by 1946, I'll bet my paycheck DC's total number of >monthly titles was 20 or more, pumping up the group's total circulation even >though INDIVIDUAL titles' circulations may have been dropping. >Russ Maheras Here is the list of titles used for this article as DC listed them back then in this ad trying to show circulations were OK and actually growing. Of course any company wants to bend statistics to make them in the most favorable light possible. Action Adventure All-American All-Flash All-Funny All-Star Batman Boy Commandos Buzzy Comic Cavalcade Detective Flash Funny Folk Funny Stuff Green Lantern Leading More Fun Mutt & Jeff Real Fact Real Screen Sensation Star Spangled Superman Wonder Woman World's Finest A total of 25 altogether. Obviously, SUPERMAN and a few others were much higher than the average norm. Maybe books like the 25 cent COMIC CAVALCADE or MORE FUN were lower. These are a year or two before the radical format changes from super heroes to funny animals, war and western - or cancelation. Robert Beerbohm I dug out my notebook to transcribe the Audit Bureau of Circulations circulation data that was not published in CAPA-alpha 399, and after thumbing through the pages, it looks like there's more data left than I realized. This may take several more installments. If a title or company is not listed in this data or the previous data I sent out, then it was not an ABC member during that time frame, and thus, no ABC circulation data exists. Remaining 1937 data: Dell Comics Group: This two title group consists of "The Funnies" and "Popular Comics." The numbers below are the monthly circulation totals for both titles put together. So obviously, average monthly circulation for one title would be approximately half. Jul 1937 - 463,262 Aug 1937 - 544,981 Sep 1937 - 562,411 Oct 1937 - 557,599 Nov 1937 - 471,724 Dec 1937 - 460,154 Jan 1938 - 486,936 Feb 1938 - 503,688 Mar 1938 - 465,838 Apr 1938 - 410,804 May 1938 - 328,401 Jun 1938 - 278,661 Feature Funnies: Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jan 1938 - 240,014 Feb 1938 - 250,432 Mar 1938 - 231,555 Apr 1938 - 227,622 May 1938 - 221,928 Jun 1938 - 245,757 Mickey Mouse Magazine: 10 cents per copy. Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jan 1937 - 109,685 Feb 1937 - 95,663 Mar 1937 - 94,782 Apr 1937 - 95,508 May 1937 - 95,936 Jun 1937 - 85,395 Jul 1937 - 91,474 Aug 1937 - 111,355 Sep 1937 - 106,800 Oct 1937 - 91,169 Nov 1937 - 95,069 Dec 1937 - 112,436 Tip Top Comics: Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jan 1937 - 308,083 Feb 1937 - 320,366 Mar 1937 - 297,684 Apr 1937 - 286,310 May 1937 - 287,258 Jun 1937 - 269,938 Jul 1937 -- 351,196 Aug 1937 - 381,762 Sep 1937 - 404,793 Oct 1937 - 358,464 Nov 1937 - 379,834 Dec 1937 - 364,756 Remaining 1938 data: Comics on Parade: Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Apr 1938 - 194,358 (first issue) May 1938 - 153,164 Jun 1938 - 160,361 Jul 1938 - 189,362 Aug 1938 - 219,642 Sep 1938 - 236,052 Oct 1938 - 189,265 Nov 1938 - 177,173 Dec 1938 - 203,100 Dell Super Comics Group (Apparently, I did not transcribe this group from the microfilm for the 1938 year - can't remember why - so I don't have any data available) Feature Comics: Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jul 1938 - 248,622 Aug 1938 - 272,131 Sep 1938 - 324,134 Oct 1938 - 299,688 Nov 1938 - 253,757 Dec 1938 - 302,106 Jan 1939 - 304,798 Feb 1939 - 323,532 Mar 1939 - 316,196 Apr 1939 - 282,337 May 1939 - 284,645 Jun 1939 - 280,169 Popular Publications -- Note: this is for the pulp magazine group, consisting of 26 titles. To figure approximate average circulation for one title (which is about all you can do under this group lump sum format), divide the numbers below by 26. I'm not going to list all the pulps in this group, but they include stuff like Adventure, The Spider, Dime Mystery, Terror Tales, Rangeland Romances, Captain Satan, etc. If you REALLY have to know, e-mail me separately. Jan 1938 - 1,836,466 Feb 1938 - 1,845,240 Mar 1938 - 1,809,954 Apr 1938 - 1,544,651 May 1938 - 1,447,181 Jun 1938 - 1,362,691 Jul 1938 - 1,326,365 Aug 1938 - 1,382,064 Sep 1938 - 1,409,193 Oct 1938 - 1,503,569 Nov 1938 - 1,503,096 Dec 1938 - 1,468,209 Tip Top Comics: Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jan 1938 - 354,822 Feb 1938 - 354,432 Mar 1938 - 347,751 Apr 1938 - 324,717 May 1938 - 322,364 Jun 1938 - 265,336 Jul 1938 - 316,315 Aug 1938 - 366,104 Sep 1938 - 424,781 Oct 1938 - 333,340 Nov 1938 - 318,812 Dec 1938 - 320,556 That's it for this installment. More to follow. Hope some of you find this data useful. Russ Maheras Here's even more historical comic book circulation data from the microfilm rolls of the Audit Bureau of Circulations in Schaumburg, Ill. If a title or company is not listed in this or previous data, then it was not an ABC member during that time frames listed, and thus, no ABC circulation data exists. Remaining 1939 data: Comics on Parade: Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jan 1939 - 195,849 Feb 1939 - 206,395 Mar 1939 - 204,154 Apr 1939 - 200,402 May 1939 - 182,910 Jun 1939 - 164,320 Jul 1939 - 192,180 Aug 1939 - 273,128 Sep 1939 - 271,383 Oct 1939 - 197,510 Nov 1939 - 217,154 Dec 1939 - 196,237 Dell Super Comics Group. This group consisted of four titles: The Funnies, Popular Comics, Crackajack Funnies, and Super Comics. I don't know what this means, but the circulation for this group is broken down by "Dell," "Whitman," and "total" each month. (D) denotes Dell; (W) denotes Whitman; and (T) denotes total. A "---" denotes that there was no tally in that category for that month. Jan 1939 - (D) 312,736; (W) 391,943; (T) 704,679 Feb 1939 - (D) 343,533; (W) --- ; (T) 343,533 Mar 1939 - (D) --- ; (W) 355,170; (T) 355,170 Apr 1939 - (D) 294,072; (W) 319,799; (T) 613,871 May 1939 - (D) 319,125; (W) 331,380; (T) 650,505 Jun 1939 - (D) 278,997; (W) 300,337; (T) 579,334 Jul 1939 - (D) 350,832; (W) 328,609; (T) 679,441 Aug 1939 - (D) 413,016; (W) 409,123; (T) 822,139 Sep 1939 - (D) 463,568; (W) 406,253; (T) 869,821 Oct 1939 - (D) 410,774; (W) 388,963; (T) 799,737 Nov 1939 - (D) 348,739; (W) 370,442; (T) 719,181 Dec 1939 - (D) 356,125; (W) 311,098; (T) 667,223 Feature Comics. Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jul 1939 - 310,910 Aug 1939 - 327,483 Sep 1939 - 387,914 Oct 1939 - 355,660 Nov 1939 - 305,721 Dec 1939 - 320,961 Jan 1940 - 312,567 Feb 1940 - 339,588 Mar 1940 - 284,220 Apr 1940 - 258,072 May 1940 - 227,463 Jun 1940 - 184,045 Fox Comics Group. Consists of the following three titles: Fantastic Comics, Mystery Comics, and Wonderworld Comics. To find average monthly circulation of a single title in the group, divide the monthly amount by three. Jul 1939 - 227,533 Aug 1939 - 418,597 Sep 1939 - 628,529 Oct 1939 - 683,698 Nov 1939 - 657,364 Dec 1939 - 890,701 Tip Top Comics. Note that this is a single title entry, making the monthly circulation easy to track. Jan 1939 - 354,845 Feb 1939 - 341,378 Mar 1939 - 386,103 Apr 1939 - 347,569 May 1939 - 342,227 Jun 1939 - 326,893 Jul 1939 - 351,794 Aug 1939 - 420,351 Sep 1939 - 441,618 Oct 1939 - 409,269 Nov 1939 - 333,833 Dec 1939 - 348,630 That's it for now. More to follow. Russ Maheras Deja vu all over again. Here's even more historical comic book circulation data from the microfilm rolls of the Audit Bureau of Circulations in Schaumburg, Ill. If a title or company is not listed in this or previous data, then it was not an ABC member during that time frames listed, and thus, no ABC circulation data exists. Remaining 1940 data (some '41 data mixed in): Fox Comics Group: During the reporting period, the Fox group consisted of the following 11 titles - Fantastic Comics, Mystery Men Comics, Wonderworld Comics, Science Comics, Weird Comics, The Blue Beetle, The Flame, The Green Mask, Samson, Rex Darter, and Big 3. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title in the group, divide the numbers below by 11. Sorry, that's the best that can be done under ABC's lump sum format. Jan 1940 - 990,171 Feb 1940 - 1,372,230 Mar 1940 - 1,123,279 Apr 1940 - 1,136,476 May 1940 - 1,412,872 Jun 1940 - 862,878 Jul 1940 - 1,164,251 Aug 1940 - 965,441 Sep 1940 - 1,121,828 Oct 1940 - 959,991 Nov 1940 - 1,008,529 Dec 1940 - 1,077,887 Quality Comics Group: During the reporting period, the Quality group consisted of the following eight titles - Feature Comics, Smash Comics, Crack Comics, Hit Comics, National Comics, Police Comics, The Doll Man Quarterly, and Uncle Sam Quarterly. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title in the group, divide the numbers below by eight. I'm not sure which months the quarterly issues were published. This info is in the ABC pamphlet, but I did not have time to copy down all the additional detailed data. Jul 1940 - 773,361 Aug 1940 - 854,238 Sep 1940 -- 1,064,712 Oct 1940 - 1,117,508 Nov 1940 - 1,014,636 Dec 1940 - 1,055,832 Jan 1941 - 1,114,935 Feb 1941 - 1,202,213 Mar 1941 - 1,070,922 Apr 1941 - 1,007,391 May 1941 - 939,261 Jun 1941 - 774,450 Jul 1941 - 1,195,820 Aug 1941 - 1,286,912 Sep 1941 - 1,810,589 Oct 1941 - 1,276,592 Nov 1941 - 1,096,423 Dec 1941 - 1,130,534 United Feature Comics Group: During the reporting period, the United Feature group consisted of the following five titles - Comics on Parade, Okay Comics, Sparkler Comics, Tip Top Comics, and United Comics. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title in the group, divide the numbers below by five. I do not know why there was a spike in circulation during the months of July and August 1940. Jan 1940 - 503,187 Feb 1940 - 593,926 Mar 1940 - 435,624 Apr 1940 - 512,717 May 1940 - 376,679 Jun 1940 - 336,986 Jul 1940 - 862,860 Aug 1940 - 796,664 Sep 1940 - 498,048 Oct 1940 - 291,048 Nov 1940 - 250,454 Dec 1940 - 275,316 Remaining 1941 data All American Comics Group (JR Publishing Company): This group had to be a subsidiary of DC/National, otherwise they were later bought out by them. The All American group consisted of the following two titles - All American Comics and Flash Comics. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title in the group, divide the numbers below by two. Jan 1941 - 523,973 Feb 1941 - 646, 720 Mar 1941 - 540,587 Apr 1941 - 550,854 May 1941 - 505,896 Jun 1941 - 446,891 Jul 1941 - 460,034 Aug 1941 - 477,177 Sep 1941 - 529,259 Oct 1941 - 510,076 Nov 1941 - 451,769 Dec 1941 - 423,242 Quality Comics Group: During the reporting period, the Quality group consisted of the following nine titles - Feature Comics, Smash Comics, Crack Comics, Hit Comics, National Comics, Police Comics, Military Comics, The Doll Man Quarterly, and Uncle Sam Quarterly. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title in the group, divide the numbers below by nine. I'm not sure which months the quarterly issues were published. This info is in the ABC pamphlet, but I did not have time to copy down all the additional detailed data. Jul 1940 - 773,361 Aug 1940 - 854,238 Sep 1940 - 1,064,712 Oct 1940 - 1,117,508 Nov 1940 - 1,014,636 Dec 1940 - 1,055,832 Jan 1941 - 1,114,935 Feb 1941 - 1,202,213 Mar 1941 - 1,070,922 Apr 1941 - 1,007,391 May 1941 - 939,261 Jun 1941 - 774,450 Jul 1941 - 1,195,820 Aug 1941 - 1,286,912 Sep 1941 - 1,810,589 Oct 1941 - 1,276,592 Nov 1941 - 1,096,423 Dec 1941 - 1,130,534 Th-th-th that's all, folks! More to follow... Here's the fifth chunk of data I gleaned from the microfilm files of the Audit Bureau of Circulations in Schaumburg, Ill. Remaining data from 1941 through 1943 United Features Comics group: Consisted of the following titles - Tip Top Comics (monthly), Comics on Parade (quarterly), and Sparkler Comics (monthly). Since the numbers below are the sum total of the circulations of all three titles combined, and Comics on Parade is a quarterly, it's easy to see from the data that COP was probably published in January, April, July, and October of 1941. I'm not sure why December's numbers are so large, however. Jan 1941 - 657,095 Feb 1941 - 314,720 Mar 1941 - 311,102 Apr 1941 - 668,811 May 1941 - 295,312 Jun 1941 - 253,433 Jul 1941 - 776,090 Aug, 1941 - 513,701 Sep, 1941 - 545,863 Oct 1941 - 853,058 Nov 1941 - 269,992 Dec 1941 - 779,410 Street & Smith Comics Group: The S&S group consisted of the following eight titles - Army and Navy Comics, Bill Barnes American Ace Comics, Doc Savage Comics, Pioneer Picture Stories, Shadow Comics, Sports Comics (later True Sports Picture Stories), Super Magician Comics, and Trail Blazer Comics (later Trail Blazer Picture Stories). I'm not sure why the circulation data for the group below is reported only on a quarterly basis, unless these were all quarterly titles. If they ARE all quarterlies, then to calculate the average circulation of any one title, divide the figures below by eight. Otherwise, go punt - because I don't have a clue how to guesstimate the individual circulations at this point. Third quarter 1941 - 1,082,466 Fourth quarter 1941 - 1,405,278 All American Comics Group: The All American group consisted of the following three titles (one more than in last year's reporting period) - All American Comics, Flash Comics, and Sensation Comics. To estimate the average monthly circulation of any one title, divide the numbers below by three. Jan 1942 -- 607,025 Feb 1942 -- 649,188 Mar 1942 -- 629,683 Apr 1942 -- 589,121 May 1942 -- 641,492 Jun 1942 -- 596,154 Jul 1942 - 627,290 Aug 1942 - 691,572 Sep 1942 - 806,603 Oct 1942 - 889,803 Nov 1942 - 929,709 Dec 1942 - 970,744 Comic House Group: The Comic House Group consisted of the following three bimonthly titles - Boy Comics, Crime Does Not Pay, and Daredevil. To figure out the average bimonthly circulation totals for any one title, divide the total by three. Jan-Feb 1943 - 767,929 Mar-Apr 1943 - 838,491 May-Jun 1943 - 923,991 Famous Funnies/Heroic Comics Group. When this ABC reporting period started, the only title being tracked was Famous Funnies. Part-way through the reporting period, the publisher added another title to the tracking process, in effect making a group of two titles. And from the looks of the numbers, Heroic comics must have started out as a bimonthly. Jul 1942 - 205,493 (FF only) Aug 1942 - 226,995 (FF only) Sep 1942 - 279,705 (FF only) Oct 1942 - 237,332 (FF only) Nov 1942 - 234,611 (FF only) Dec 1942 - 407,395 Jan 1943 - 265,717 Feb 1943 - 407,165 Mar 1943 - 266,753 Apr 1943 - 469,819 May 1943 - 273,623 Jun 1943 - 524,723 National Comics Group (Quarterly Unit): National's quarterly unit was separate from their monthly unit, and consisted of the following seven titles - All-Star Comics (BM), Comic Cavalcade (Q), All-Flash Comics (BM), Wonder Woman (BM), Boy Commandos (Q), Leading Comics (Q), and World's Finest Comics (Q). What really makes these numbers difficult to make individual title circulation assumptions from is the fact that there are bimonthly titles mixed with quarterlies in the final circulation tallies. I think the best way to guess an individual title's average unit circulation is to divide each quarterly total below by 10. This is assuming the three bimonthly titles would have two issues published in any quarterly period. Hence, quarterlies (4) + bimonthlies (3x2=6) gives you a total of 10 equivalent units per quarter. (BM) denotes bimonthly; (Q) denotes quarterly. First quarter 1943 - 3,707,593 Second quarter 1943 - 4,752,155 Quality Comics Group: The Quality group consisted of the following nine titles - Feature Comics, Doll Man Quarterly, Smash Comics, Crack Comics, Hit Comics, Military Comics, National Comics, Police Comics, and Uncle Sam Quarterly. The ABC pamphlets break down which month the quarterly issues are published, unfortunately, I did not have time to copy all that info down. Keep in mind the numbers below are the cumulative totals of ALL titles published in that month. Jan 1942 - 1,117,696 Feb 1942 - 1,243,309 Mar 1942 - 865,696 Apr 1942 - 765,426 May 1942 - 711,809 Jun 1942 - 964,086 Jul 1942 - 1,006,411 Aug 1942 - 913,406 Sep 1942 - 1,419,546 Oct 1942 - 1,702,093 Nov 1942 - 1,327,729 Dec 1942 - 1,863,778 Street & Smith Comics Group: The S&S group consists of the following titles (Due to a little confusion in my notes on my part, I'm placing question marks in the two places I'm not sure about) - Army and Navy Comics (becomes Supersnipe???), Bill Barnes America's Ace Comics, Doc Savage Comics, Pioneer Picture Stories, Shadow Comics, Super Magician Comics, Trail Blazers Picture Stories (becomes Red Dragon???), and True Sport Picture Stories. Again, I don't know if these are all quarterly titles or not, it's just that they were only reported by ABC on a quarterly basis. The numbers below are cumulative totals of all books in the group. First quarter 1942 - 1,247,032 Second quarter 1942 -- 1,541,438 Third quarter 1942 - 1,912,254 Fourth quarter 1942 - 2,263,605 True Comics: This is one title, making the actual monthly circulation a no-brainer. July 1942 - 272,866 Aug 1942 - 304,088 Sep 1942 - 344,466 Oct 1942 - 346,636 Nov 1942 - 337,841 Dec 1942 - 324,303 That's it for this time around -- there's more to follow. Any help that can be obtained from possible older DC archives would be appreciated. I have been conducting an intensive examination of the scope and breadth of the entire comics field. *********************************** Detective Comics Group consisting of Action, Adventure, Detective and More Fun Comics extrapolating figures Russ obtained from Audit Bureau of Circulation and other information I have gotten from Mike Uslan. Maybe Mike has more info. Unless I missed something in Russ's posts, we only have A.B.C. sales figures from July 1938 onwards. Anything earlier? TOTAL SALES ACTION SALES DIFFERENCE AVERAGE OF for all four titles OTHER THREE #1 130,000 * Jul 38 494,136 #2 136,000 358,136 119,379 Aug 38 596,480 #3 159,000 437,480 145,827 Sep 38 639,027 #4 190,000 449,027 149,675 Oct 38 647,599 #5 197,000 450,599 150,200 Nov 38 604,671 #6 195,000 409,671 136,557 Dec 38 667,166 #7 222,000 * 445,166 148,389 Jan 39 709,879 #8 227,000 482,880 160,960 Feb 39 751,549 #9 263,000 488,549 162,850 Mar 39 795,029 10 316,000 * 479,029 159,676 Apr 39 830,163 11 340,000 490,163 163,388 May 39 895,866 12 375,000 520,866 173,622 Jun 39 955,203 13 415,000 * 540,203 180,068 Jul 39 1,081,564 14 445,000 636,564 212,188 Aug 39 1,299,364 15 550,000 * 749,364 249,788 Sep 39 1,393,010 16 625,000 768,010 256,003 Asterisk (*) denotes Superman cover. What this doesn't take into account is when DC listed SUPERMAN #1 (Summer) which appeared for sale in June 1939 with the following history: #1 FIRST PRINT 500,000 #1 2ND PRINT 250,000 #1 3RD PRINT 150,000 TOTAL 900,000 *************************** We need to figure out when SUPERMAN #2 2nd and 3rd printings came out to factor the numbers plus SUPERMAN #2 appeared towards the end of 1939: #2 FIRST PRINT 850,000 #2 2ND PRINT 150,000 TOTAL 1,000,000 to be worked upon yet: Oct 39 1,432,218 Nov 39 1,406,917 Dec 39 1,465,712 Jan 40 1,585,654 Feb 40 1,828,124 plus NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR 1939 figures into the mix for the above numbers. We need a reporting date if it was ever reported at all. *************************************** Here are Russ's other ABC circ numbers for DC Comics so I can keep this archive nice & tidy. Mar 40 1,823, 896 Apr 40 1,810,849 May 40 1,808,054 Jun 40 1,594,200 Jul 40 1,627,640 Aug 40 1,861,608 Sep 40 1,900,028 Oct 40 1,898,962 Nov 40 1,880,820 Dec 40 1,755,773 Jan 41 1,928,672 Feb 41 2,068,866 Mar 41 1,749,874 Apr 41 1,728,487 May 41 1,685,821 Jun 41 1,318,985 Jul 41 1,332,540 Aug 41 1,403,395 Sep 41 1,549,118 Oct 41 1,381,544 Nov 41 1,181,324 Dec 41 1,233,261 Note: Beginning with January 1942, Star Spangled Comics has been added to the Detective Comics group's circulation totals, making a total of five titles in the group. Jan 42 1,363,886 Feb 42 1,364,307 Mar 42 1,509,812 Apr 42 1,360,771 May 42 1,347,487 Jun 42 1,338,917 Jul 42 1,462,750 Aug 42 1,505,136 Sep 42 1,839,439 Oct 42 1,966,019 Nov 42 2,013,468 Dec 42 1,847,213 All American Comics Group: The All American group consisted of the following three titles (one more than in last year's reporting period) - All American Comics, Flash Comics, and Sensation Comics. To estimate the average monthly circulation of any one title, divide the numbers below by three. Jan 1942 -- 607,025 Feb 1942 -- 649,188 Mar 1942 -- 629,683 Apr 1942 -- 589,121 May 1942 -- 641,492 Jun 1942 -- 596,154 Jul 1942 -- 627,290 Aug 1942 -- 691,572 Sep 1942 -- 806,603 Oct 1942 -- 889,803 Nov 1942-- 929,709 Dec 1942 -- 970,744 Note: Beginning with January 1943, Detective Comics Group was redesignated National Comics Group, incorporating 11 titles from four "different" companies. Detective Comics, Inc., included Action, Adventure, Batman, Detective, More Fun, and Star-Spangled Comics; JoLaine Publications, Inc., published Green Lantern Comics; J.R. Publishing Co., included All-American, Flash, and Sensation Comics; and Superman, Inc., published Superman Comics. This clumping of titles makes it more difficult to guesstimate individual title circulations. Jan 43 4,772,559 Feb 43 5,170,229 Mar 43 4,780,450 Apr 43 4,134,302 May 43 4,191,653 Jun 43 3,898,392 Note: Some comics historians have speculated that there was a surge in comic sales during World War II due to the fact that many servicemembers supposedly read comics in great numbers. A note in the ABC circulation pamphlet for average sales for the six months ending June 30, 1943 casts serious doubt on that theory. The note read as follows: "Net single copy sales to Men in Service averaging 3,261 copies per group (per month), representing copies sold in bulk to War Department." The reason the note says "per group" is because also included in the pamphlet were the circulation figures for National's "Quarterly Unit," which I haven't included in this 'zine. In any case, an average of only 3,261 copies of National's comics per month went directly to the War Department's PXs in 1943. The rest of the average circulation per month (4,226,613) were sold by newsdealers. So direct sales of National's comics to the War Department was really just a paltry drop in the bucket. This is not to say that GIs didn't buy comics at their local Walgreens or something and carry them to places overseas. But there was apparently nothing like the equivalent government sponsored paperback program for the comics industry - at least not in 1943. National Comics Group (Quarterly Unit): National's quarterly unit was separate from their monthly unit, and consisted of the following seven titles - All-Star Comics (BM), Comic Cavalcade (Q), All-Flash Comics (BM), Wonder Woman (BM), Boy Commandos (Q), Leading Comics (Q), and World's Finest Comics (Q). What really makes these numbers difficult to make individual title circulation assumptions from is the fact that there are bimonthly titles mixed with quarterlies in the final circulation tallies. I think the best way to guess an individual title's average unit circulation is to divide each quarterly total below by 10. This is assuming the three bimonthly titles would have two issues published in any quarterly period. Hence, quarterlies (4) + bimonthlies (3x2=6) gives you a total of 10 equivalent units per quarter. (BM) denotes bimonthly; (Q) denotes quarterly. First quarter 1943 - 3,707,593 Second quarter 1943 - 4,752,155 Note: Data from Jul 43 through Jun 44 not transcribed. Circulation data below is still based on the 11 National Comics Group titles listed earlier. Jul 44 4,738,317 Aug 44 4,945,727 Sep 44 5,269,861 Oct 44 5,362,669 Nov 44 5,328,510 Dec 44 5,019,734 Jan 45 5,144,925 Feb 45 5,401,673 Mar 45 5,317,467 Apr 45 4,925,711 May 45 4,540,463 Jun 45 4,518,967 Note: Data from Jul 45 through Jun 49 not transcribed. Circulation data below is for National Comics' Blue Unit, which consists of the following 19 titles: Action, Star Spangled, Sensation, All American Western, Batman, Date With Judy, Leave it to Binky, Funny Folks, Real Screen, Superboy, Mr. District Attorney, Wonder Woman, World's Finest, Buzzy, Animal Antics, Alan Ladd, Jimmy Wakely, Peter Porkchops, and Miss Melody Lane. Jul 49 3,372,786 Aug 49 4,065,464 Sep 49 4,421,716 Oct 49 4,091,799 Nov 49 4,181,928 Dec 49 3,917,153 Jan 50 3,854,656 Feb 50 4,334,984 Mar 50 3,913,729 Apr 50 4,010,162 May 50 3,448,955 Jun 50 3,729,116 Note: Circulation data below is for National Comics' Red Unit, which consists of the following 20 titles: Detective, Adventure, Funny Stuff, Mutt & Jeff, Gangbusters, All Star, Comic Cavalcade, Leading, Scribbly, Ozzie & Harriet, Superman, Dale Evans, Miss Beverly Hills, Romance Trail, Western, Boy Commandos, Real Facts, Bob Hope, Peter Porkchops (Transferred from Blue Group Jan/Feb 50), and Feature Films. Jul 49 3,758,229 Aug 49 3,546,216 Sep 49 4,521,347 Oct 49 3,899,713 Nov 49 3,696,278 Dec 49 3,556,656 Jan 50 3,585,858 Feb 50 4,225,909 Mar 50 4,004,854 Apr 50 3,943,393 May 50 3,379,022 Jun 50 3,589,073 There is more, but I cut it here. This is to give you an idea of part of what I am up to. Many moons ago when you and Mike Uslan were intern cubs, the DC archives contained a wealth of older corporate records. It would be a shame if that early history were actually gone. Best, Robert Beerbohm Here's the sixth chunk of data I gleaned from the microfilm files of the Audit Bureau of Circulations in Schaumburg, Ill. One more straggler listing from 1942... United Features Comics Group: The United Features group consists of the following three titles - Tip Top Comics, Comics on Parade, and Sparkler Comics Note: after this point, I started skipping ahead, because I knew I was running out of time (I had to finish up and be out of ABC by 3 p.m. - their rules). But between 1937 and the last listing, I went through every single periodical listed in the ABC microfilm. So if you didn't see a company or group of titles whose circulation you were curious about, ABC didn't track it during those six years. Sorry. 1944-45 listings Famous Funnies-Heroic Comics (Group). This group consisted of the two titles listed in the name of the croup. Again, judging by the numbers below, I'd hazard a guess that one of the two titles is a bimonthly. Jul 1944 - 422,715 Aug 1944 - 823,680 Sep 1944 - 455,392 Oct 1944 - 866,734 Nov 1944 - 451,832 Dec 1944 - 865,134 Jan 1945 - 452,654 Feb 1945 - 862,359 Mar 1945 - 450,044 Apr 1945 - 927,337 May 1945 - 477,405 Jun 1945 - 934,996 4Most Comics: This is a single title, so circulation calculations are easy Fall 1944 - 403,999 Winter 1944 - 401,679 Magazine House Group: the Magazine House Group consisted of the following three titles - Boy Comics, Crime Does Not Pay, and Daredevil. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title, divide the numbers below by three. I'm assuming all three titles are bimonthly, of course. Aug/Sep 1944 - 1,854,000 Oct/Nov 1944 - 1,882,397 Dec 1944/Jan 1945 - 1,856,624 Feb/Mar 1945 - 1,980,553 Apr/May 1945 - 1,968,834 National Comics Group Quarterly Unit: I have previously given the figures for the monthly National titles, but here are the quarterly unit figures. The quarterly group consisted of the following 12 titles (note: as I mentioned in my previous National quarterly figures, some of these titles are actually bimonthly. Unfortunately, for these figures, I did not copy down which ones. But that shouldn't be too hard to figure out, based on my previous quarterly listing) -- All Star, Funny Stuff, Buzzy, Real Screen Funnies, Comic Cavalcade, Mutt & Jeff, All Flash, All Funny, Wonder Woman, Boy Commandos, Leading, and World's Finest. Remember that the numbers below are a cumulative sales total of all 12 titles published during a quarter. Third quarter 1944 - 5,008,843 Fourth quarter 1944 -- 5,137,887 First quarter 1945 - 5,224,594 Second quarter 1945 - 6,214,952 Premium Group of Comics: The Premium group consisted of the following two titles - Target Comics and Blue Bolt Comics. To calculate the average monthly sales of one title, divide the numbers below by two. Note: It looks as if these titles started out as bimonthlies when the reporting period started, and then changed to monthlies in November 1944. Jul/Aug 1944 - 799,871 Sep/Oct 1944 - 797,027 Nov 1944 - 799,598 Dec 1944 - 791,749 Quality Comics Group: The Quality group consisted of the following seven titles - Feature Comics, Smash Comics, Crack Comics, Hit Comics, Military Comics, National Comics, and Police Comics. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title, divide the numbers below by seven. Jan 1944 -- 1,746,482 Feb 1944 - 1,701,442 Mar 1944 - 1,668,297 Apr 1944 - 2,143,548 May 1944 - 1,675,992 Jun 1944 - 887,967 Jul 1944 - 1,084,051 Aug 1944 - 1,684,062 Sep 1944 - 1,591,434 Oct 1944 - 1,689,975 Nov 1944 - 1,094,863 Dec 1944 - 1,489,323 Street & Smith Comics Group: The S&S group consisted of the following five titles - Air Ace, Shadow, Super Magician, Supersnipe, and True Sport Picture Stories. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title, divide the numbers below by five. Jul 1944 -- 1,134,367 Aug 1944 - 1,025,702 Sep 1944 - 1,217,059 Oct 1944 - 1,066,329 Nov 1944 - 1,202,431 Dec 1944 - 1,094,595 Jan 1945 - 1,204,098 Feb 1945 - 1,051,740 Mar 1945 - 1,214,056 Apr 1945 - 1,067,254 May 1945 - 1,242,365 Jun 1945 - 1,107,556 Thrilling Comics Group: The Thrilling group consisted of the following 10 titles - Exciting, Startling, Thrilling, America's Best, Black Terror, Coo Coo, Fighting Yank, Goofy, Happy, and Real Life. To calculate the average monthly circulation of any one title, divide the numbers below by 10. Jul 1944 - 2,183,048 Aug 1944 - 1,750,112 Sep 1944 - 1,823,727 Oct 1944 - 1,804,086 Nov 1944 - 1,873,539 Dec 1944 - 1,809,092 Jan 1945 - 2,363,437 Feb 1945 - 1,957,032 Mar 1945 - 1,925,547 Apr 1945 - 1,959,213 May 1945 - 2,772,260 Jun 1945 - 2,135,579 True Comics: This is a single title. Note: The data below for Sep/Oct is correct. This is precisely how it was listed in the ABC pamphlet. Jan 1944 - 475,607 Feb 1944 - 534,614 Mar 1944 - 528,557 Apr 1944 - 506,829 May 1944 - 506,289 Jun 1944 -- 500,087 Jul 1944 - 490,439 Aug 1944 - 505,831 Sep/Oct 1944 - 530,851 Nov 1944 - 559,625 Dec 1944 - 546,040 (Skipped the United Features Comic Group listing for 1944) That's it for now. The next listing will jump to 1949-50 Russ Maheras>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To leave this list, send mail to [comixschl list request] at [socolow.com] or [comixschl digest list request] at [socolow.com] with the message UNSUBSCRIBE