Curtis Circulation Explained

Curtis Circulation should not be confused with Curtis Publishing Company.

Curtis Circulation Company
Type:Subsidiary
Location City:New Milford, New Jersey
Location Country:U.S.
Area Served:United States
Key People:Joseph M. Walsh
Industry:Magazines
Services:Distribution
Retail marketing
Publisher support services
Parent:Curtis Publishing Company (1946–1969)
Perfect Film & Chemical Corporation (1969–1973)
Cadence Industries (1973–1986)
Hachette Distribution Services (1986–2019)
Comag Marketing Group (2019–present)

Curtis Circulation Company, LLC (abbreviated as CC[1]) 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 Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, and Holiday; Curtis Circulation became a subsidiary in 1946.[2]

Besides the publishing company's own magazines, other titles distributed by Curtis Circulation included The Atlantic and Esquire. One of Curtis' most notable clients in the 1950s was Classics Illustrated, which Curtis distributed, starting first in Canada in 1948, and then nationally in the U.S. beginning in 1951.[3]

In 1969, Perfect Film & Chemical Corporation, later Cadence Industries, purchased Curtis Circulation from the Curtis Publishing Company.[4] Beginning in 1969 (and lasting until 1995), Curtis became the distributor of Marvel Comics[5] (Perfect Film had bought out publisher Martin Goodman—owner of Magazine Management Company, the parent of Marvel Comics in 1968).

Joseph M. Walsh (1944–2016) became president of Curtis Circulation in 1970 (he also held high-ranking titles at its parent company, Cadence Industries).

In 1973, Perfect Film renamed itself Cadence Industries.[6] In 1978, CC was the U.S.'s largest magazine distributor.[7]

In 1982, Joseph M. Walsh became Chairman and CEO of Curtis, acquiring an ownership stake.[8]

Cadence Industries was liquidated in 1986, selling Curtis Circulation to Hachette Distribution Services (a division of the Lagardère Group); Walsh retained his ownership stake.[9] [2] [10]

Comag Marketing Group (CMG) acquired Curtis Circulation Company, effective October 1, 2019 [11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://comicbookhistorians.com/the-1957-atlas-implosions-effect-on-marvels-silver-age/ "The 1957 Atlas Implosion's effect on Marvel's Silver Age" by Alex Grand
  2. News: Curtis Circulation Company, LLC: Private Company Information . 23 August 2011 . . August 23, 2011 . October 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121015114809/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4761928.
  3. Jones Jr., William B. Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, 2d ed. (McFarland & Company, 2017).
  4. News: Welles. Chris. Post-Mortem. 5 August 2011. . February 10, 1969. 32–36.
  5. Book: Duin. Steve. Richardson. Mike. Mike Richardson (publisher). Comics Between the Panels. Capital City. 1998. Dark Horse Publishing. Milwaukie, Oregon. 69. 1-56971-344-8.
  6. Web site: Nadel . Nick . The Strange Business History of Marvel Comics . August 31, 2009 . Comics Alliance . 4 May 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319053209/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2009/08/31/the-strange-business-history-of-marvel-comics/ . 19 March 2012 .
  7. https://dezskinn.com/warner-williams-3/ "House of Hammer Volume Two,"
  8. Joseph M. Walsh obituary, The Journal News (Jan. 17, 2016). Archived at Lohud (Legacy.com). Retrieved Apr. 19, 2021.
  9. Wise, Deborah. "INTERNATIONAL REPORT; Hachette: From Zola To a $3 Billion Giant," New York Times (March 21, 1988).
  10. News: Joseph Walsh: Executive Profile & Biography . August 23, 2011. Business Week. August 23, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121015114801/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=1151043&privcapId=36198523&previousCapId=4761928&previousTitle=Curtis%20Circulation%20Company,%20LLC. dead. October 15, 2012.
  11. Web site: CMG Acquires Curtis Circulation Company . 31 August 2019 .