Confidential - May 1960 - Adam Clayton and 50 similar items

Measures 8-17/32" X 10-13/16", 68 pp including covers, b w and two-tone photos and illustrations, Volume 8, Number 4 (May 31, 1960), published by By-Line Publications (NY). Group 23-3382 "Why," you might ask "is the upper 1/3 of the front cover missing from this issue?" Well, gather round, children, for a short history lesson, regarding the subtle war between magazine book distributors, versus newsstands and book retailers: Magazines, comic books and some paperback books have shelf expiration dates, after which the "out-of-date" stock is rotated out, and replaced by new stock. Before approximately the mid-1970s, distributors had arranged an easy deal by which retailers could be partially refunded for unsold periodicals, without overweight returns paid by the distributor: all that was necessary was to cut off the top third of the front cover of the magazine, comic book or paperback, as long as the title and date (if applicable) were clearly visible, return those to the distributor; in addition, the retailers were to destroy the remainder of the magazines, comics books. But some retailers figured out a way to have it BOTH ways -- cut off the title section to return to the distributor for a refund, but RESELL the magazine, comic book and paperback at 1/4 to 1/2 the cover price, sometimes in a bagged "bargain" lot. The distributors finally wised up; and now the ENTIRE front cover of magazines paperbacks must be returned. Comic books are largely under a separate distribution system now, allowing NO returns; although some major bookstores still order their comic books from magazine distributors, which demand full front cover returns. Contents: Front Cover -- FIDEL CASTRO, MARITA LORENZ, LUCILLE BALL, DESI ARNAZ, ADAM CLAYTON POWELL Confidentially Speaking (No-names gossip about the rich and famous) Letters, We Get Letters (letters from readers) Heard The Latest About The LUCILLE BALL-DESI ARNAZ Split? (also with photo of BOB OSBOURNE) -- by VICTORIA THORN GALEN DRAKE's Falsies -- by EVIN F. RANGER America's Most Profitable Industry : Stealing From The Boss -- by TIM WILKINS "FIDEL CASTRO Raped My Daughter" (with photos of MARITA LORENZ ; ALICE J. LORENZ ; HENRY CABOT LODGE ; Captain JESUS YANEZ PELLETIER) -- by ALICE J. LORENZ Should We Kick The Cars Out Of Town? -- by O. L. GOFORTH Jr. You Can Win At Poker -- by J. HOYT CUMMINGS Arthritis Sufferers : Beware Of Quacks -- by BYRON GORDON How Congressman ADAM CLAYTON POWELL Hoodwinks Harlem (also with photo of REUBEN PATTON ; WILLIE CLOWERS ; FRED WEAVER ; HARRY TRUMAN) -- by FRED WEAVER Why Your Washers, Dryers, Toasters, Vacuums And Irons Breakdown In The Kitchen -- by LEIGH KEITH How Movie Stars Beat The Tax Collector (with photos of DORIS DAY ; WILLIAM HOLDEN ; YUL BRYNNER ; AUDREY HEPBURN ; SOPHIA LOREN ; GENE AUTRY ; KIRK DOUGLAS etc) -- by CASSIUS STONE They'll Gyp You Every Time -- by JACK LASCO Gripe Of The Month (readers vent in letters) Shipping charges include postage (including USPS Tracking on domestic shipments), packaging materials, labor fuel (the nearest post office is 14 MILES away!); but I do combine shipping charges on multiple items -- so fill up that cart NOW an' save some $$$!