There has been some research conducted into the readership
of the pulps, notably Erin A. Smith’s Hard-Boiled:
Working-Class Readers and Pulp Magazines. In that spirit, with tongue firmly
in cheek, I offer you this composite portrait of the readership of Dime Detective, based on the ads I saw
in the magazine during my review of three issues from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
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| A composite image of the audience of Dime Detective, constructed solely from the ads within |
No wonder the pulps died out, if their readers were such basket
cases. I for one was surprised they managed to survive so long and hope the
current readership is of better stock 😊
Another reason that hurt circulations were the readers that were exasperated arguing with newsdealers because they tried to buy DIME DETECTIVE with a dime but the cover cost was 15 or 25 cents.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder the pulps didn't survive, the readers couldn't have :-)
ReplyDelete