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=== Decline and sell-offs ===
=== Decline and sell-offs ===
The Williams line of publishers didn't turn a profit for Warner Communications,{{cn}} and before long the company decided to forego the periodical publishing business in Europe. In 1974 it began closing and selling off the various branches, completing the process by 1979. The flagship U.K. branch was acquired by [[W. H. Allen & Co.]] in 1977, going defunct by 1979.<ref>Skinn, Dez. [https://dezskinn.com/warner-williams-4/ "The End of HoH,"] DezSkinn.com.</ref>
The Williams line of publishers didn't turn a profit for Warner Communications,{{cn|date=June 2021}} and before long the company decided to forego the periodical publishing business in Europe. In 1974 it began closing and selling off the various branches, completing the process by 1979. The flagship U.K. branch was acquired by [[W. H. Allen & Co.]] in 1977, going defunct by 1979.<ref>Skinn, Dez. [https://dezskinn.com/warner-williams-4/ "The End of HoH,"] DezSkinn.com.</ref>


Although many of the Williams divisions — in France, Italy, and Norway — went defunct, a few continued publishing under new owners. In West Germany, the Williams branch was acquired by editor [[Klaus Recht]] in 1974, with his family keeping the Williams name in various forms until 1991 (with the publisher itself lasting until 1995). In 1975, the Swedish branch was acquired by [[Semic Press]],{{efn|Former Williams employees in Sweden immediately formed [[Atlantic Förlags AB]].<ref>[https://www.comics.org/publisher/1079/ Atlantic Förlags], Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 22, 2021.</ref>}} which was the dominant comics publisher in Sweden through the mid-1990s. The Danish branch was acquired by [[Interpresse]] in the summer of 1976; Interpresse was the dominant comics publisher in Denmark into the mid-1980s. The Dutch branch of Williams was acquired in 1979 by the publisher [[Kontekst]], which continued a few titles, but which itself only lasted until {{circa}} 1984.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/publisher/6661/ Kontekst], Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 23, 2021.</ref>
Although many of the Williams divisions — in France, Italy, and Norway — went defunct, a few continued publishing under new owners. In West Germany, the Williams branch was acquired by editor [[Klaus Recht]] in 1974, with his family keeping the Williams name in various forms until 1991 (with the publisher itself lasting until 1995). In 1975, the Swedish branch was acquired by [[Semic Press]],{{efn|Former Williams employees in Sweden immediately formed [[Atlantic Förlags AB]].<ref>[https://www.comics.org/publisher/1079/ Atlantic Förlags], Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 22, 2021.</ref>}} which was the dominant comics publisher in Sweden through the mid-1990s. The Danish branch was acquired by [[Interpresse]] in the summer of 1976; Interpresse was the dominant comics publisher in Denmark into the mid-1980s. The Dutch branch of Williams was acquired in 1979 by the publisher [[Kontekst]], which continued a few titles, but which itself only lasted until {{circa}} 1984.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/publisher/6661/ Kontekst], Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 23, 2021.</ref>

Revision as of 17:26, 23 June 2021

Williams Publishing
IndustryPublishing
GenreFiction, Humor
Founded1971; 53 years ago (1971)
FateDefunct, c. 1979
HeadquartersColumbia-Warner House
London
United Kingdom
Number of locations
9
Area served
Europe
ProductsComics, magazines
ParentWarner Communications
Divisions
  • Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd. (U.K.)
  • Edizioni Williams Inteuropa (Italy)
  • Kustannus Oy Williams (Finland)
  • Williams (Denmark)
  • Williams (Netherlands)
  • Williams (West Germany)
  • Williams France
  • Williams Forlag (Norway)
  • Williams Förlag AB (Sweden)

Williams Publishing was the short-lived European comics and magazines publishing division of Warner Communications in the 1970s. Headquartered at the Columbia-Warner House in London,[1] Williams had European-language divisions in Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and West Germany. Comics titles were for the most part translations of American publications — many of them Warner properties — as well as some U.K. and European titles. Initiated in 1971, most of the Williams publishing divisions were closed or sold off in the period 1974–1979.

History

Williams evolved from Gilberton World-Wide Publications, the European-language branches of Gilberton, publisher of Classics Illustrated. In the period 1956–1957, at the height of Classics Illustrated's popularity, Gilberton established a number of Northern European branch companies — in Denmark (I.K. [Illustrerede klassikere]), the Netherlands (Classics), Norway (Illustrerte Klassikere), Sweden (Illustrerade Klassiker), and West Germany (Internationale Klassiker) — to translate Classics Illustrated into their languages.

In 1959, Gilberton acquired the British publisher Thorpe & Porter, ostensibly for the same purpose.[2] In 1962, the production of new issues of Classics Illustrated shifted from Gilberton's New York offices to Thorpe & Porter in London, with the founder/publisher's son, William E. "Bill" Kanter, overseeing everything beginning in 1963.[2][a]

The first use of the Williams name began in 1965, when Gilberton's Swedish branch, Illustrerade Klassiker, was reorganized into Williams Förlag AB.[3] (One theory is that the name Williams Publishing was derived from William Kanter.)[3]

In West Germany, Internationale Klassiker became Bildschriftverlag (BSV). BSV was acquired by National Periodical Publications (DC Comics) in 1966. That same year, Thorpe & Porter, after going bankrupt, was bought by the company which became Warner Communications.[4] In 1971, Warner's international distribution operations merged with Columbia Pictures to form Columbia-Warner Distributors. As now part of Warner Communications, the Thorpe & Porter U.K. brand was mostly replaced by Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd.. At this point, in the summer of 1971, the Williams name took over the former Gilberton branches in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, with new Williams branches being founded in Finland, Italy, and shortly, in France.

Comics

The various Williams divisions produced very little original comics, mostly focusing on translations of Warner and DC Comics — owned by Warner — properties like Mad magazine, Superman, Tarzan and Korak comics, and western and war comics; as well as Larry Harmon's Laurel & Hardy, an original British comic. There was some variation in each country depending on the tastes of the various European audiences.

The flagship U.K. branch of Williams, however, had some creative energy in the period 1976–1978. Comics editor Dez Skinn came to the company from IPC, taking over editing MAD UK, Tarzan, Korak, and Larry Harmon Laurel & Hardy. He revived Monster Mag and launched the horror magazine House of Hammer.[5] Skinn's comics were mostly published under the Top Sellers imprint.

Magazines

The U.K. Williams also published a line of softcore pornography magazines with titles like Sex International News, True Love Stories,[4] Cinema X, Cinema Blue, Parade, Game, Blade, Voi, and Sensuous.[1] Many copies of those magazines were seized and forfeited in a series of British police raids in 1972 and again in 1975.[4] In response, in 1976 Williams created the General Books Distribution (G.B.D. Ltd.) imprint for its "mature" comics and adults-only magazines.[1]

Decline and sell-offs

The Williams line of publishers didn't turn a profit for Warner Communications,[citation needed] and before long the company decided to forego the periodical publishing business in Europe. In 1974 it began closing and selling off the various branches, completing the process by 1979. The flagship U.K. branch was acquired by W. H. Allen & Co. in 1977, going defunct by 1979.[6]

Although many of the Williams divisions — in France, Italy, and Norway — went defunct, a few continued publishing under new owners. In West Germany, the Williams branch was acquired by editor Klaus Recht in 1974, with his family keeping the Williams name in various forms until 1991 (with the publisher itself lasting until 1995). In 1975, the Swedish branch was acquired by Semic Press,[b] which was the dominant comics publisher in Sweden through the mid-1990s. The Danish branch was acquired by Interpresse in the summer of 1976; Interpresse was the dominant comics publisher in Denmark into the mid-1980s. The Dutch branch of Williams was acquired in 1979 by the publisher Kontekst, which continued a few titles, but which itself only lasted until c. 1984.[8]

Williams' European branches

Country Williams name Years of operation (as Williams) Original name (year founded) Popular comics Fate
Denmark Williams 1971–1976 I.K. (Illustrerede klassikere)[9] (1956) Classics Illustrated, Laurel & Hardy, Mad, romance, Starlet (girls' comic), Superman, Tarzan/Korak, Western Acquired by Interpresse in the summer of 1976
Finland Kustannus Oy Williams 1971–1976 — Rin Tin Tin Acquired by the Swedish Semic Group; became Kustannus Oy Semic
France Williams France 1973–1974 — Autocat and Motormouse, Benjie (European children's comic), Calimero, Classics Illustrated, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines, Laurel & Hardy, Pellefant Went defunct
Italy Edizioni Williams Inteuropa 1971–1974 — Superman Went defunct
Netherlands Williams c. 1971–c. 1979 Classics[10] (1956) Adventure comics, Batman, Classics Illustrated, fairy tales, HIP Comics (Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four), Laurel & Hardy, Mad, Superman, Tarzan/Korak, Tex Willer, war, Western Acquired by Kontekst; lasted until 1982
Norway Williams Forlag c. 1971–1977 Illustrerte Klassikere[11] (1957) Classics Illustrated, Junior Adventures, Laurel & Hardy, Superman, Tarzan/Korak, war, Western Went defunct
Sweden Williams Förlag AB 1965–1975 Illustrerade Klassiker (1956)[12] Classics Illustrated, Starlet, Laurel & Hardy, Mad, My Horse, Pellefant, Superman, Tarzan/Korak, war Acquired by Semic Press
United Kingdom Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd. 1971–c. 1978 Thorpe & Porter (1946) Benjy and His Friends, Fox and Crow, Golden Hours, Fun-In (featuring Motormouse and Autocat), House of Hammer, horror, romance, Tarzan/Korak, Toytown, war, Western, Yogi and His Toy / Hanna-Barbera's Fun Time Acquired by W. H. Allen & Co. in 1977 and went defunct shortly thereafter
West Germany Williams 1971–1974 Internationale Klassiker[13] (1956) The Avengers, Classics Illustrated, fairy tales, Fantastic Four, Hit Comics (Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four), horror, Laurel & Hardy, Mad, Spider-Man, Tarzan/Korak, Western Acquired by Klaus Recht;[c] publisher lasted until 1995

Notes

  1. ^ Bill Kanter had became an editor at Gilberton in 1946.[2] He was instrumental in getting Classics Illustrated distributed nationally in the U.S. through Curtis Circulation, alongside magazines like The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, Holiday, The Atlantic, and Esquire.[2]
  2. ^ Former Williams employees in Sweden immediately formed Atlantic Förlags AB.[7]
  3. ^ Publisher names under Klaus Recht:
    • Bildschriftenverlag / Williams Department (until Sept. 1973)
    • Williams Verlag (Oct. 1973–Sept. 1974)
    • Klaus Recht Verlag (Oct. 1974-June 1975)
    • Williams Verlag (July 1975–June 1989)
    • Delta Williams Recht Verlag (July 1989–Nov. 1991)[13]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Skinn, Dez. "Warner Bros. (Williams)," DezSkinn.com. Retrieved Dec. 19, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Jones Jr., William B. Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, 2d ed. (McFarland & Company, 2017).
  3. ^ a b Williams Förlag AB, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Chibnall, Steve. "The Sign of the Tee Pee: The Story of Thorpe & Porter," Paperback, Pulp and Comic Collector Vol. 1: "SF Crime Horror Westerns & Comics" (Wilts, UK: Zeon Publishing / Zardoz Books, 1993), pp. 16–29. Archived at Box.com. Retrieved Dec. 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Dakin, John. "'Marvel Revolution' in England," The Comics Journal #45 (Mar. 1979), p. 14.
  6. ^ Skinn, Dez. "The End of HoH," DezSkinn.com.
  7. ^ Atlantic Förlags, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Kontekst, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  9. ^ I.K. [Illustrerede klassikere], Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021.
  10. ^ Classics/Williams (Netherlands) at the Grand Comics Database.
  11. ^ Illustrerte Klassikere, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Illustrerade klassiker, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2021.
  13. ^ a b BSV - Williams, Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2021.

Sources

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