European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse It at the age six the stars Anil stripes has just about completed its conversion from old Soldier to businessman one the greatest occupational hazards encountered by newsstand sales Sirls is the bruising they Lake in the perpetual Rush for comic books. All comics sell out at a rate that raise certain grave doubts about the future american literature. The distribution serve cd however has one cheery Ole to sound. It Points out that Clas sics illustrated which rates As definitely highbrow among the comics is the fastest moving the lot. Among the books the work a stars an stripes alumnus Bui Mauldin s Back Home has had the heaviest Sale Al though it is being Cro vied by Elliott Chaze s the stainless steel with the exception the few Amer ican publications printed in Europe the magazines handled by the distribution j service Are purchased in the slates assembled is new York double wrapped in Waterproof paper and sewn into Bays for shipment to Bremerhaven. From the port the bags arc trans shipped to Ungstad the company s Home jus South Frankfurt where the Maga Zinek Are sorted re bundled Anc expressed to 15 District offices in Germany. Austria and France. Here the final breakdowns Are made and most periodicals Are on the Racks and counters ofic stands no More than 18 Days after their Ion Sale Date in new York. Bernard j. Mcguigan chief the distribution service since the Maga Zines were taken Over from yes likes to think the Enterprise As Triumph business Over both nature and the barriers language. Distribution has to contend with 700 German employees and a smattering other nationals As Well As the tremendous trucking distances and remoteness from inc sources Magazine Supply. But our biggest groan Mcguigan is when we discover frat our stateside magazines have Bee stored aboard ship in some soggy meat locker or under a few tons half Frozen potatoes. Once a shipment came across beneath a Load Corn syrup in Glass jars. Our customers Are pretty under standing people but we thought asking a Little too much for them to accept their favorite Reading material with the pages glued together. You d be surprised Mcguigan confide How Little Corn syrup does for the pin up photos and How much it can slow Down even distribution service looks on itself As a practical businessman in crowd Light headed idealists. Intra mural gags originating in the Garret like offices in which its staff pores continually Over huge complicated volumes sales reports suggest that the other two branches the firm Are a Burden which it supports out sheer sentiment. Mcguigan is Likely in a playful pick up the phone and inform stripes managing editor Zumwalt that the daily s circulation has slumped since the pcs started supplying their own wrap Ping paper again he or one his Hench men is quite Apt to remark to the editor weekend that your Magazine made More Money when you gave it reference is to the Magazine s Early history As a 12-Page sunday supplement the stars and stripes. Awhile after its expansion last summer into a 24-Page weekly Magazine. Week end set up shop in its own offices across the Way from the daily paper inspire caustic comparison weekend s meager origins with its current position As a member the firm distribution service admits it would be reluctant to pass out any its products for d Fike to give things away chief Summers confides but now that we re a peacetime army it s essential that we stand on our own two feel financially. The stars and stripes is a healthy Busi Ness and there s a reason for that. Sol Diers like the Job it does Well enough to support umm rep a h " v for. Fec Vul a ,.f a. A v-5h-jj�. Re -.y. -5r--"v " -v7" m it a & -./g? " Al sixty million words equivalent the encyclopaedia Britannica s 24 volumes plus encyclopedia americana s 24 have crossed assistant managing editor John Livingood desk during his two years with the stars and stripes. Weekend april 17, 1948
