Mind you, there are no duplicate titles in here, save for one magazine, RANCH ROMANCES. That's because RANCH ROMANCES was the longest running of all pulps, lasting until 1971. (In the last year it was retitled RANCH ROMANCES AND ADVENTURES.) In honor of its longevity, I have included three of its covers throughout the years.
So tell us, which cover is your favorite? And which title?
Fighting Romances from the East and West, November 1925
Ranch Romances, August Number Two, 1931
Far West Romances, April 1932
Thrilling Ranch Stories, November 1933
Romantic Range, June 1937
Cowboy Romances, August 1937
Romantic Western, January 1938
Romance Roundup, May 1938
Rangeland Romances, May 1939
Ranch Romances, December 1941
North West Romances, Summer 1942
Lariat, January 1946
Rodeo Romances, April 1947
Golden West Romances, December 1949
Western Love Romances, February 1950
Romance Western, June 1950
Two Western Romances, Winter 1950
Romance Western Roundup, February 1951
Rangeland Love Stories, August 1951
Real Western Romances, December 1951
Fifteen Range Romances, September 1954
Ranch Romances, May 1966
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11 comments:
It's ironic that love pulps were probably the biggest sellers of all the pulps because of teenage girls and young women, yet hardly anyone is interested in seriously collecting them nowadays. I know a couple collectors who pick up issues but the vast majority of magazine collectors have no real interest in them.
A couple of the titles that Laurie has posted were not really love oriented at all but used the romance word to indicate adventure, especially Northwest Romances and Lariet. All the covers are of interest especially Fighting Romances. I just wish the stories were readable and not so locked into the girl/boy love formula! Of course that's exactly what young women wanted in the 1920-1950 period. I'm looking forward to the posting on the mainstream love pulps, especially the all time circulation leader, LOVE STORIES.
If I had to pick just one favorite then it would have to be North West Romances due to the Norman Saunders art. As a big fan of logo styles I like the one on Romantic Range although to my eye it has a comic book look to it. The Romantic Western cover looks a bit like a Spicy Western cover if the heroine's clothing was a bit more skimpy. I find it very interesting the The Lone Ranger Magazine morphed into Romantic Western.
I tend to pick up copies of the Romance Pulps from time to time if the cover catched my eye. Gloria Stoll did some real beauties for the pulps.
I will be looking forward to your posting on Daisy Bacon.
Walker, where did you see that picture of Daisy Bacon in the editorial offices?
I'm torn between Romantic Western (from the Spicy & Hollywood Detective line), Lariat (because this artwork once graced a cover of OWLHOOT) and Rodeo Romances (because it features a Johnston McCulley story).
Barry, the great photo of Daisy Bacon in the Street & Smith editorial offices is in her book, LOVE STORY WRITER, available from several sellers on abebooks.com.
I'm still hoping Laurie will do a big blow up of it when she discusses Daisy and the mainstream love pulps.
Walker, if it's the photo with her feet up on the desk, it's in the book too.
I don't know, the more I get into these and learn more about Daisy Bacon's life, the more interested I get - and thinking about doing something more substantial on her. I don't know if that's good or bad, because I'm hitting a wall when it comes to information about her. That's why I haven't posted a bio on her yet. I don't want to just rely on the Fiction Factory book, because even she called that book "a disgrace."
I think my favorite of these titles is "Fighting Romances from the East and West". Just brings up so many possibilities! As far as art work, there are so many that make me smile it's hard to pick one.
Romance Western Roundup, February 1951 looks like the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans issue. :-)
This is awesome, Laurie. I like the Cowboy Romances, 1937, the best. Your project sounds really interesting.
Thanks, Jake! By coincidence, I just gave your color noir series a plug in my latest post.
Laurie, I just read a couple pages on Daisy Bacon in John Locke's PULPWOOD DAYS VOLUME ONE. It's from Author and Journalist, september 1929, titled "Editors You Want to Know: Daisy Bacon". Calls her "Queen of the woodpulps" and deals with her life and career at Street & Smith. I came across her obit in NY Times but it's the exact same wording as the one I sent you from Antiquarian Bookman.
Walker, funny - I just found that book on Amazon. I'm going to get it. I also think I'll email Will Murry who I hear has a lot of knowledge about Street & Smith.
Thanks for reminding me about Pulpwood Days.
I have to say my favorite cover is the Rangeland Romance cover, if only because it was my favorite western pulp magazine back when I bought them every month as a teenager in the '50's. My sister and I couldn't wait till the next one came out on the news stand at the local drug store.
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