The Police Gazette

The National Police Gazette, commonly referred to as simply the Police Gazette, was an American magazine founded in 1845. Under publisher Richard K. Fox, it became the forerunner of the men's lifestyle magazine, the illustrated sports weekly, the girlie/pin-up magazine, the celebrity gossip column, Guinness World Records-style competitions, and modern tabloid/sensational journalism.

The magazine was founded by two journalists, Enoch E. Camp, also an attorney, and George Wilkes, a transcontinental railroad booster. It began as a chronicler of crime and criminals, intended for consumption by the general public. In 1866, Wilkes and Camp sold the Gazette to George W. Matsell. The editor and proprietor from 1877 until his death in 1922 was Richard Kyle Fox, an immigrant from Ireland.

Ostensibly devoted to matters of interest to the police, it was a tabloid-like publication, with lurid coverage of murders, Wild West outlaws, and sport. It was well known for its engravings and photographs of scantily clad strippers, burlesque dancers, and prostitutes, often skirting on the edge of what was legally considered obscenity. For decades it was a staple furnishing of barber shops, where men would peruse it while waiting their turn to be shaved.

The National Police Gazette enjoyed considerable popularity in the late 19th century and early decades of the 20th century, but its popularity decreased during the Great Depression. In 1932 the Police Gazette ceased publication, and was sold at auction for a nominal sum. Publication was suspended from Feb. 11, 1932 until Sept. 5, 1933, at which time it was revived under the ownership of the Donenfelds, who placed it in the editorial hands of Mrs. Merle W. Hersey, the ex-wife of Harold Hersey. During this period the paper appeared twice a month and took on more of the flavor of a girlie magazine. The Donenfeld/Hersey regime did not last long and the magazine changed hands again within a year, coming into the possession of Harold H. Roswell and cutting back to a monthly publication schedule in 1935. The National Police Gazette continued on as a monthly publication in Roswell's hands for many years. The Canadian newspaper publisher Joseph Azaria took it over in 1968, and it finally ceased print publication in 1977.

...
Wikipedia