{{short description|American publisher}} {{Infobox publisher | image = | parent = | status = | founded = {{start date and age|1898}} | founder = Bernarr Macfadden | successor = | country = United States | headquarters = New York City, New York, U.S. | distribution = | keypeople = | publications = Magazines | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | numemployees = | nasdaq = | url = {{URL|http://www.macfad.com}} }} '''Macfadden Communications Group''' is a publisher of business magazines. It has a historical link with a company started in 1898 by Bernarr Macfadden that was one of the largest magazine publishers of the twentieth century.
== History ==
=== Macfadden Publications<!--'Macfadden Publications' redirects here--> === ''Physical Culture'', Bernarr Macfadden's first magazine though the company '''Macfadden Publications'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> (originally '''The Macfadden Company, Inc.'''<ref>{{cite book |first=Bernarr A. |last=Macfadden |title=Physical Training |publisher=The Macfadden Company, Inc. |location=New York |year=1900 |oclc=1049613805 |url=https://archive.org/details/macfaddensphysic00macf/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |quote=Published by The Macfadden Company, Inc. 1123 Broadway, New York City, U.S.A.<!--- quote from book confirming The Macfadden Company, Inc. ---> |url-access=limited |via=Internet Archive text collection}}</ref>), was based on Macfadden's interest in bodybuilding. The launch of ''True Story'' in 1919 made the company very successful. Other well-known magazines, such as ''Photoplay'' and ''True Detective'', soon followed. Macfadden also launched the tabloid ''New York Evening Graphic''. Bernarr Macfadden withdrew from his leadership roles with the company in 1941.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}
=== Macfadden-Bartell<!--'Macfadden-Bartell' redirects here--> === In 1961, the Bartell Broadcasting Corporation bought a controlling share in Macfadden and merged with the company, forming '''Macfadden-Bartell'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = Macfadden Wins Merger Approval| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2017-12-05| date = 1962-02-10| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1962/02/10/archives/macfadden-wins-merger-approval.html}}</ref> Bartell owned WADO New York, WOKY Milwaukee, and KCBQ San Diego. A share in Bartell was acquired by Downe Communications in 1967, with full control in 1969.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = Chase Seeks U.S. Leasing Unit:; Share Exchange Is Set COMPANIES TAKE MERGER ACTIONS| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2017-12-05| date = 1969-10-30| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1969/10/30/archives/chase-seeks-us-leasing-unit-share-exchange-is-set-companies-take.html}}</ref> Between 1969 and 1974 Downe was acquired by Charter Company. Bartell was fully acquired by Downe in 1976, and Downe was fully acquired by Charter in 1978.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}<!-- some of these dates and history seem a bit off -->
Downe purchased the newspaper supplement ''Family Weekly'' in 1966, and the ''Ladies' Home Journal'' and ''The American Home'' from the Curtis Publishing Company in 1968.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}
=== Macfadden Group === Macfadden's women's magazines 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''<!--- name shortened before 1975 ---> * ''True Romance'' * ''True Experience'' * ''True Love''
''Us''<!--- not renamed Us Weekly until 2000, when it became a weekly publication ---> was purchased in 1980, and sold in 1986. In the mid-eighties, Macfadden bought the '''Ideal Publishing Company''', which published ''Teen Beat'' and other fan magazines, from Filmways. MacFadden acquired a stake in what would become American Media in 1989 when it bought a stake in the ''National Enquirer''.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}
=== 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'', as well as the music magazine ''Metal Edge''. The merger was finalized in October 1992.<ref>"Macfadden magazines merge with Sterling's - Sterling's/Macfadden Partnership", ''Folio: the Magazine for Magazine Management'' (Oct. 1992).</ref> In 1998, the conglomerate's line of youth music publications was sold to Primedia (now Rent Group);<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://adage.com/article/news/primedia-buys-teen-mag-publishers/24329/ | title=Primedia buys teen mag publishers | work=Ad Age | date=December 16, 1998}}</ref> the rest were bought by Dorchester Media in 2004.
==== Teen Magazines ==== *''Right On! '' *''Teen Beat'' *''16 Magazine'' *''Tiger Beat'' *''Teen''
=== Macfadden Holdings === The trade magazines ''Chief Executive'' and ''Discount Merchandiser'', as well as the company's stake in American Media, remained a separate company. American Media was sold in 1999 to the investment group Evercore Partners. The Macfadden trade titles were sold to VNU the same year.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}
=== 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.{{Cn|date=March 2025}}
No publications of Macfadden Communications Group have updated since early January, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Business |first=Pet |date=2025-01-06 |title=petbusiness.com {{!}} The most trusted name in the pet industry. |url=https://www.petbusiness.com/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Pet Business |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=PetProductNews.com |title=petproductnews.com |url=https://www.petproductnews.com/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=PetProductNews.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Historical publications==
=== Magazines === Sources:<ref name="KetuMac">{{cite web|title=Macfadden|url=http://ketupa.net/macfadden.htm|publisher=Ketupa.net|access-date=1 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009202734/http://ketupa.net/macfadden.htm|archive-date=9 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Time092136">{{cite journal|title=Press: Macfadden's Family|journal=Time Magazine|date=Sep 21, 1936|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756679,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215085858/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756679,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 15, 2008}}</ref><ref name="wrhBl">{{cite book|last=Hunt|first=William R. |title=Body love: the amazing career of Bernarr Macfadden|year=1989|publisher=Popular Press}}</ref> {{colbegin}} *''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- *''True Detective'' (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's control 1930–32) *''Macfadden's Fiction Lovers' Magazine'' (1923–1925) ** known as ''Metropolitan Magazine'' (1895–1923) before purchase by Macfadden *''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'' (19xx-1948) ** renamed ''Radio and Television Mirror'' by no later than January 1941<ref>{{cite magazine |editor-first=Fred R. |editor-last=Sammis |title=Table of Contents |magazine=Radio and Television Mirror |date=January 1941 |volume=15 |issue=3 |p=2 |publisher=Macfadden Publications Inc. |location=Dunellen, New Jersey |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Mirror/41/Mirror-1941-Jan.pdf |access-date=2025-07-15}}</ref> ** renamed ''TV Radio Mirror'' (1949–1977) *''Saga: Adventure Stories for Men'' (195x-198x) *''True Confessions'' (1963–1992) *''Motion Picture Magazine'' (1911–1977) *''Sport'' (1946–1975) *''Intimate Stories'' (1948- *''Revealing Romances'' (1949- *''Pageant'' (1961–1977) *''Liberty'' (1931–1950) *''Home Furnishings News'' (2006–2014)<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25603562_ITM | work=Business Wire | title=Macfadden Communications Group Acquires Home Furnishings News | date=14 November 2006}}</ref> also known as ''HFN''<ref>[http://www.hfnmag.com/about-hfn "About HFN"] company webpage. Retrieved 2013-02-18.</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Why PBM's Small Addition Will Have a Large Impact On Its Business - M and A and Finance @ FolioMag.com | access-date = 2014-11-11 | url = http://www.foliomag.com/2014/why-pbm-s-small-addition-will-have-large-impact-its-business#.VGGlW8nimQ4 }}</ref> *''Dance Magazine'' (2001–2016)<ref name="dancemag">{{Cite web| title = Dance Magazine Announces New Ownership| work = dancemagazine| access-date = 2017-12-05| date = 2016-09-19| url = http://www.dancemagazine.com/dance-magazine-announces-new-ownership-2307033917.html}}</ref> *''Dance Spirit'' (2006–2016)<ref name="Lifestyle">[http://mandasoft.com/1/11221/lifestyle_media_inc_merged_with_macfadden_dance_magazine_llc Lifestyle Media Inc. merged with Macfadden Dance Magazine, LLC] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002606/http://mandasoft.com/1/11221/lifestyle_media_inc_merged_with_macfadden_dance_magazine_llc |date=December 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="dancemag"/> *''Dance Teacher'' (2006–2016)<ref name="Lifestyle"/><ref name="dancemag"/> *''Pointe'' (2006–2016)<ref name="Lifestyle"/><ref name="dancemag"/> *''Dance Retailer News'' (2006–2016)<ref name="Lifestyle"/><ref name="dancemag"/> *''Grocery Headquarters'' (2004–2017) <ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8542654_ITM | work=Min's B to B | title=Supermarket Publishing Veteran Acquires Grocery Headquarters.(McFadden Communications Group LLC) | date=30 August 2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Winsight LLC acquires the B2B magazine Grocery Headquarters from Macfadden Comm.| work = Talking New Media| access-date = 2017-12-05| date = 2017-06-01| url = http://www.talkingnewmedia.com/2017/06/01/winsight-llc-acquires-the-b2b-magazine-grocery-headquarters-from-macfadden-comm/}}</ref> {{colend}}
=== Newspapers === *''New York Graphic'' (1924–1932) *''Philadelphia Daily News'' (1925–1932) *''Detroit Daily'' *''Detroit Mirror'' (? – 1931)
=== Teck Publishing Corporation (1931–1938) === *''Amazing Stories'' *''Radio News'' *''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''),<ref name=SixGuns>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlH9AqkCu0oC&q=rafer+brent&pg=PA81 |title=Six-Guns and Saddle Leather: A Bibliography of Books and Pamphlets on Western Outlaws and Gunmen |first=Ramon Frederick |last=(compiled by) Adams |publisher=Dover Publications |location=Mineola, New York |quote=These stories first appeared in men's magazines... |page=81 |orig-year=1969 |date=1998 |isbn=9780486400358 |edition=2 |access-date=2020-08-21}}</ref> the imprint expanded into first editions of new material after the purchase by the Bartell Group (''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''<ref>{{cite book |title=Magic Cook Book: The Key to Kitchen Economy, prepared by the Food Editors of True Story Magazine |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |date=1950 |lccn=50011967 }}</ref> * 1957 - ''Great Western Heroes: Six True Stories of the Men Who Tamed the West'', edited by Rafer Brent<ref name=SixGuns/> * 1958 - ''Great Pioneer Heroes: True Stories of the Men Who Made America'', edited by Rafer Brent<ref>{{cite book |title=Great Pioneer Heroes: True Stories of the Men Who Made America |editor-first=Rafer |editor-last=Brent |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |date=1958 |lccn=58007883 }}</ref> * 1966 - ''Ecstasy and Me: My Life as a Woman'' by Hedy Lamarr (ghostwritten by Leo Guild and Cy Rice)<ref>{{cite book |title=Ecstasy and Me: My Life as a Woman |first=Hedy |last=Lamarr |author-link=Hedy Lamarr |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |date=1966 |lccn=66025426 }}</ref> * 1967 - ''Coffee, Tea or Me?: The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses'' by Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones (ghostwritten by Donald Bain)<ref>{{cite book |title=Coffee, Tea or Me?: The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses |first1=Trudy |last1=Baker |first2=Rachel |last2=Jones |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |date=1969 |lccn=67017141 }}</ref> * 1968 - ''The CanniBal$: a Novel About Television's Savage Chieftains'' by Keefe Brasselle<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=atYCAAAAMBAJ&q=the+cannibals+book&pg=PA59 |title=An UnaBRidgEd Yarn<!--- caps as published ---> |work=New York |first=Dick |last=Schapp |date=1968-09-09 |access-date=2020-08-21 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The CanniBal$: a Novel About Television's Savage Chieftains |first=Keefe |last=Brasselle |author-link=Keefe Brasselle |publisher=Bartholomew House |date=1968 |oclc=700338229 }}</ref> * 1969 - ''Mannequin: My Life as a Model'' by Carolyn Kenmore (ghostwritten by William Dufty)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/12/19/archives/carolyn-a-kenmore-married-to-dentist.html |title=Carolyn A. Kenmore Married to Dentist |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1976-12-19 |page=FS-65 |access-date=2020-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Mannequin: My Life as a Model |first=Carolyn |last=Kenmore |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |date=1969 |lccn=79079434 }}</ref> * 1970 - ''"Say ... Didn’t You Used to Be George Murphy?"'' by George Murphy (with Victor Lasky)<ref>{{cite book |title=Say ... Didn't You Used to Be George Murphy? |first1=George |last1=Murphy |author-link1=George Murphy |first2=Victor |last2=(with) Lasky |author-link2=Victor Lasky |publisher=Bartholomew House |location=New York |date=1970 |oclc=1089565784 }}</ref>
==Current publications== *''Pet Business'' (purchased in 2000)<ref name="accessmylibrary.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-27813266_ITM | work=Business Publisher | title=Macfadden Acquires Assets In Two Separate Deals | date=17 April 2000}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.macfad.com}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070219181215/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1981/1/1981_1_22.shtml The True Story of Bernarr Macfadden]
Category:Magazine publishing companies of the United States Category:Privately held companies based in New York (state) Category:Companies based in New York City Category:Publishing companies established in 1898