Western
- Publishing Began:
- 1907
- Comics Publishing Began:
- 1922
- Publishing Ended:
- 2001
- Comics Publishing Ended:
- 1993
- Country:
- United States
- Indicia / Colophon Publishers:
- 14
- Brand Groups:
- 5
- Brand Emblems in Use:
- 12
- Total Number of Series:
- 675
- Total Number of Issues:
- 6311
- Show Covers by Month:
- using on-sale date or using publication date
- Show Issues by Month:
- using on-sale date or using publication date
- Creator Checklist:
- via linked story records
- Notes:
- In 1907, Edward Henry (E.H) and Al Wadewitz bought West Side Printing Co. of Racine, Wisc. They incorporated the new company in 1910 as Western Printing & Lithographic Co. In 1916, they acquired the assets of the failed publisher Hamming-Whitman Publishing Co., which they made a subsidiary of Western under the name Whitman Publishing Co.
Under the Whitman publishing wing, Western produced Big Little Books beginning in 1932 and Little Golden Books beginning in 1938. Over these years Western began to acquire the licenses to produce publications featuring the stars of the Disney, Warner Bros., M-G-M, and Walter Lantz studios.
Around 1936, Western began to work with Dell, printing their established comics titles like The Funnies and Popular Comics at Western's Poughkeepsie, New York printing plant. Not long after starting to produce comics of their own, such as Super Comics and Crackajack Funnies, Western also assumed complete production duties over these Dell titles in 1939. In 1944 Dell and Western formalized their partnership to produce a line of standard newsstand comic books with Dell generally providing the financing and distribution, while Western produced the contents and printed the comics. Many of these comics featured the characters licensed by Western. Some of these licensed comics, however, were wholly produced and financed separately from Dell by K. K. Publications, Inc. When licensing agent Kay Kamen sold Western a licensing deal with Disney, he arranged a special partnership agreement that resulted in the formation of this publisher. These comics were produced and printed by Western and distributed by Dell, but technically published by K. K. Publications. Since K. K. Publications' titles Red Ryder and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories are commonly thought of as Dell comics due to the Dell logo on the covers after 1948, these comics can be found in this database under the Dell master publisher. This arrangement between Western and Dell lasted until 1962.
During this period, Western also produced without Dell other products not distributed through newsstands, but rather through the book market or as giveaways distributed through retail outlets. These items can be found under this master publisher.
In 1958 Western entered into a joint publishing effort with Pocket Books under the name Golden Press, Inc. Just a few years later, Western bought out Pocket Books' interest and made Golden Press one of their primary divisions. Many of Western's comic products were packaged for the book market under this Golden Press division.
After ending their arrangement with Dell in 1962, Western began their own line of newsstand comics, again utilizing their many licences, under the brand name Gold Key. Gold Key's New York office had two editors in 1968, one of whom was Paul Kuhn. The 2nd editor from 1966 to 1970 isn't known. Del Connell was editor at the LA office during this period. In 1971, Western began distributing versions of their newsstand comics exclusively for the book market under the brand Whitman. Western discontinued their Gold Key line in 1980, but continued their Whitman line into 1984.
In and about 1977, Western's Golden Press division also published under the "Golden All Star Books" brand. These books were illustrated text stories that were bound like comic books and are sometimes referred to as comic books. They were often written and illustrated by creators who were also working on their regular comic book series.
Behind the scenes in those later years, Western was sold to Mattel in 1979, and then sold again at the end of 1983 to a private investor. Over the next several years the various assets of Western were reorganized or re-sold several times before a final bankruptcy auction in 2001.
(Some of the information for the above from Funnybooks: The Improbable Glories of the Best American Comic Books by Michael Barrier and Mark Evanier's "News from Me" blog [http://www.newsfromme.com/iaq/iaq07/])
******* 'Canadian' price variants of 1968 *******
Doug Sulipa, a comics dealer in Manitoba, Canada since 1970, has confirmed that about 90% of all 63 titles of Gold Key Canadian titles are confirmed to exist with cover dates from April 1968 through August 1968 for both 15 cent covers and 12 cent covers.
Joe Torcivia, a comics collector and professional, has confirmed that at least several titles were sold in Flushing, Queens, New York with 15 cent covers while sold elsewhere with 12 cent covers. A few months later (September or November issues, depending on dating), ALL Gold Key Comics carried the 15-cent cover price and no further 12 cent issues were sold again.
These issues do not have a currency qualifier on the covers, so it is not certain whether they were priced in Canadian or United States currency, or both.
These issues appear to meet comics researcher John McClure's definition of Type 1a variants: “Cover Price Variants intended for foreign distribution with limited regional distribution, published simultaneously with standard or regular editions." However, in addition to foreign distribution, they appear to have also been sold as a test market for an impending price increase in the United States.
******* "© Robert S. Callender" Explained *******
When Western Printing produced comic book content that was not a licensed property, it was copyrighted in the name of Robert S. Callender (or, sometimes, Oskar Lebeck, e.g. Animal Comics, a Lebeck project). Callender was not the writer. He was Western Printing's copyright holder.
Robert S. (Bob) Callender, b. 1913, youngest child of Gene Callender of Racine, Wisconsin society, was an executive at Western Printing. On Oct. 9, 1937 Mr. Callender married Wynnefred Wadewitz, b. 1916, daughter of Edward H. Wadewitz.
Robert S. Callender's father-in-law, Edward H. Wadewitz, had risen by initiative to be the secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Western Printing & Lithographing Company: he was a moving spirit in the development, enlargement and control of that undertaking.
Robert S. Callender (Mr. Wadewitz's son-in-law) was the Managing Editor and Business Manager for Whitman Publishing Co., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., owned by Western Printing and Lithographing Company of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Editing
| Series | Year | Issues | Covers | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ain't It a Grand and Glorious Feeling? | 1922 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1922 |
| Mr. and Mrs. [b] | 1922 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1922 |
| Buttons and Fatty in the Funnies [m] | 1927 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Have 1 (Need 1) | 1927 |
| A Lot of Ballyhoo [b] | 1933 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1933 |
| Mickey Mouse | 1933 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1933 |
| The Captain and the Kids [A Famous 'Comics' Cartoon Book] [b] | 1934 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1934 |
| Captain Easy and Wash Tubbs [A Famous 'Comics' Cartoon Book] [b] | 1934 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1934 |
| Ella Cinders [A Famous 'Comics' Cartoon Book] [b] | 1934 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1934 |
| Famous Comics | 1934 | 3 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1934 - 1934 |
| Freckles and His Friends [A Famous 'Comics' Cartoon Book] [b] | 1934 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1934 |
| Tim McCoy, Police Car 17 | 1934 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | [January] 1934 |
| Mickey Mouse Magazine [m] | 1935 | 60 issues (14 indexed) | Gallery | June-August [Summer] 1935 - September 1940 |
| 40 Big Pages of Mickey Mouse [m] | 1936 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1936 |
| Chester Gump Finds the Hidden Treasure | 1936 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1936 |
| Knock Knock [m] | 1936 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1936 |
| Dan Dunn Secret Operative 48 [b] | 1937 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1937 |
| King of the Royal Mounted in Arctic Law [b] | 1937 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1937 |
| Little Orphan Annie and the Big Town Gunmen [b] | 1937 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Have 1 (Need 1) | 1937 |
| Smokey Stover Fire Fighter of Foo [b] | 1937 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1937 |
| Crackajack Funnies [m] | 1938 | 43 issues (43 indexed) | Gallery | June 1938 - January 1942 |
| Donald Duck [m] | 1938 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1938 |
| Mammoth Comics | 1938 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Have 1 (Need 1) | 1938 |
| Smilin' Jack [shoe store giveaway] [m] | 1938 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1938? |
| Super Comics [m] | 1938 | 65 issues (65 indexed) | Gallery | May 1938 - October 1943 |
| Terry and the Pirates [shoe store giveaway] [m] | 1938 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1938 |
| Crackajack Funnies [m] | 1939 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | [1939] |
| Dick Tracy [shoe store giveaway] [m] | 1939 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1939? |
| Merry Christmas from Mickey Mouse | 1939 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1939 |
| The Owl [m] | 1940 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1940 |
| Santa Claus Funnies [m] | 1940 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1940 |
| Dick Tracy [Buster Brown giveaway] [m] | 1941 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1941? |
| Magic Morro [m] | 1941 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1941 |
| Red Ryder [Buster Brown giveaway] [m] | 1941 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1941? |
| Smilin' Jack [Buster Brown giveaway] [m] | 1941 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Add | 1941? |
| Terry and the Pirates [Buster Brown giveaway] [m] | 1941 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1941? |
| Walt Disney's Dumbo [m] | 1941 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1941 |
| Camp Comics [m] | 1942 | 3 issues (3 indexed) | Gallery | February 1942 - April 1942 |
| Famous Fairy Tales [m] | 1942 | 3 issues (3 indexed) | Have 3 (Need 1) | 1942 - 1944 |
| Porky's Book of Tricks [m] | 1942 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1942 |
| Stories of Christmas [m] | 1942 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1942 |
| Super Book of Comics [Pan-Am Oil Co.] [m] | 1942 | 21 issues (3 indexed) | Have 22 (Need 6) | 1942 - 1943 |
| Uncle Wiggily [m] | 1942 | 0 issues (0 indexed) | No Covers | 1942 |
| Uncle Wiggily Comics [m] | 1942 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1942 |
| Andy Panda All Picture Comics [Tall Comic Book] [b] | 1943 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1943 |
| Bugs Bunny All Picture Comics [Tall Comic Book] [b] | 1943 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1943 |
| Draftie of the U.S. Army [All Picture Comics] | 1943 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1943 |
| Mickey's Dog Pluto All Picture Comics [Tall Comic Book] [b] | 1943 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1943 |
| Walt Disney's Comics and Stories [Christmas Giveaway] | 1943 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | December 1943 |
| Donald Duck | 1944 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1944 |
| Omar Super-Book of Comics [m] | 1944 | 30 issues (20 indexed) | Gallery | [September 30,] 1944] - 1947 |
| Boys' and Girls' March of Comics [m] | 1946 | 488 issues (429 indexed) | Have 1612 (Need 104) | [1946] - April 1982 |
| Santa's Toys [m] | 1947 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1947 |
| Super-Book of Comics [Hancock Oil Co.] [m] | 1947 | 31 issues (2 indexed) | Have 12 (Need 21) | 1947 - 1948 |
| Walt Disney's Comics - Cheerios Set W [m] | 1947 | 4 issues (4 indexed) | Gallery | 1947 - 1947 |
| Walt Disney's Comics - Cheerios Set X [m] | 1947 | 4 issues (4 indexed) | Gallery | 1947 - 1947 |
| Walt Disney's Comics - Cheerios Set Y [m] | 1947 | 4 issues (4 indexed) | Gallery | 1947 - 1947 |
| Walt Disney's Comics - Cheerios Set Z [m] | 1947 | 4 issues (4 indexed) | Gallery | 1947 - 1947 |
| Donald Duck and the Red Feather | 1948 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1948 |
| Donald Duck's Surprise Party | 1948 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1948 |
| A Merry Christmas | 1948 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1948 |
| The Adventures of M-G-M.'s Lassie Presented by Red Heart Dog Food [m] | 1949 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | [December 20, 1949] |
| Bugs Bunny [Quaker Puffed Rice/Wheat - A Series] [m] | 1949 | 5 issues (5 indexed) | Gallery | 1949 - 1949 |
| Bugs Bunny [Quaker Puffed Rice/Wheat - B Series] [m] | 1949 | 5 issues (5 indexed) | Gallery | 1949 - 1949 |
| Bugs Bunny [Quaker Puffed Rice/Wheat - C Series] [m] | 1949 | 5 issues (5 indexed) | Gallery | 1949 - 1949 |
| A Christmas Dream [m] | 1949 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1949 |
| Dick Tracy Sheds Light On the Mole [m] | 1949 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1949 |
| Santa's Workshop [m] | 1949 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1949 |
| Alice in Wonderland Meets Santa | 1950 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1950? |
| Dick Tracy's Hatfull o' Fun! [m] | 1950 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1950 ? |
| Gene Autry [Quaker Oats giveaway] | 1950 | 5 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | [19 December] 1950 - [19 December] 1950 |
| Red Ryder | 1950 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1950 |
| Red Ryder: Penney's Corral [m] | 1950 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1950 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Wheaties Set A | 1950 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1950 - 1950 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Wheaties Set B | 1950 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1950 - 1950 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Wheaties Set C | 1951 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1951 - 1951 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Wheaties Set D | 1951 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1951 - 1951 |
| Woolworth's Jolly Christmas Book [m] | 1951 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Have 1 (Need 1) | 1951 |
| Andy Hardy and the New Automatic Gas Clothes Dryer | 1952 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 |
| Captain Ray-O-Vac's Adventure and Game Book | 1952 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 |
| Flash Gordon Coloring Book [m] | 1952 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1952 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 |
| Texcel Tex [m] | 1952 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 |
| Walt Disney's Robin Hood | 1952 | 2 issues (2 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 - 1952 |
| Woolworth's Happy Time Christmas Book [m] | 1952 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1952 |
| Christmas Story Book [m] | 1953 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1953 |
| New Adventures of Walt Disney's Peter Pan | 1953 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1953 |
| Pinocchio Learns About Kites | 1953 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1953 |
| The Story of Christmas Carol and Peppmint [m] | 1953 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1953 |
| Woody Woodpecker Meets Scotty MacTape [m] | 1953 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1953 |
| Christmas at the Rotunda [m] | 1954 | 4 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 - 1956 |
| Donald Duck Tells About Kites | 1954 | 3 issues (3 indexed) | Have 3 (Need 1) | November 1954 - November 1954 |
| The Lone Ranger "How to Be a Lone Ranger Health and Safety Scout" | 1954 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 |
| The Lone Ranger [Cheerios giveaway] | 1954 | 2 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 - 1954 |
| Roy Rogers and the Man from Dodge City [m] | 1954 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Cheerios Set 1 | 1954 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 - 1954 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Cheerios Set 2 | 1954 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 - 1954 |
| Walt Disney's Comics- Cheerios Set 3 | 1954 | 8 issues (8 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 - 1954 |
| Woody Woodpecker in Chevrolet Wonderland [m] | 1954 | 1 issues (0 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 |
| Woolworth's New Christmas Book [m] | 1954 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1954 |
| Adventure in Disneyland [m] | 1955 | 1 issues (1 indexed) | Gallery | 1955 |
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