Computing News (partially found early computer magazine/newsletter; 1950s-1960s)
The cover for Issue #216 of Computing News.
Status: Partially Found
Computing News was one of the earliest magazines or newsletters that focused on the growing world of computers. It was produced twice a month on the 1st and 15th day of that month.[1] Based on this schedule, it is believed that the first issue was released on March 15th, 1953. The latest issue that is currently known to have been produced was issue 217 on March 15th, 1962.[2] It is unknown when the last issue was produced. The magazine/newsletter was produced out of Thousand Oaks, California. The publisher and editor are listed as Jackson W. Granholm. The Circulation Manager is listed as Lois K. Fraser. The Business Manager is listed as D.E. Granholm, probably a family member of Jackson Granholm. The Production Manager was Ian Dunn, and the publishing information noted that the facilities of a company called Dunn Enterprises were used for the production.[1]
Format
The few currently surviving issues from 1962 show that most of the content consisted of true stories from the world of computing. For example, in issue #217, we can see an article discussing a demonstration by the UNIVAC division of the Rand Sperry Corporation that they called "Computer Library". Essentially, UNIVAC asked some of the famous authors of the time to provide their thoughts on various topics. This data was then entered into the computer. A user at the event could then use the computer to call up the stored information.[2]
However, each of the surviving issues also has a humourous fictional story, written by a "Dr. P.Y. Reebe". For example, in issue #216, we get a story called "Glitch Gets Five Aces". In this story, a man named Henry Glitch brings the fictional LDZ-40 computer to the fictional "Star Bust Casino", which is a play on the real "Star Dust Casino". He feeds information into the computer and has it tell him what moves to make in a game of five-hand poker for him. However, he ends up losing.[1] The surviving issues contain artwork to go with these fictional stories, but the signature is unclear, and the illustrator is never credited elsewhere. Issue #217 contains a comic from Ron Coleman, and the front page tagline of "Coleman Returns" suggests that he was a regular contributor.[2]
Lost Media Status
Only issue #216 (Volume 10, Number 5, from March 1st, 1962) and issue #217 (Volume 10, Number 6, from March 15th, 1962) have resurfaced. While it appears that at least 217 issues were produced, it is not known if there were any more after that. Also, the mailing address for the Business Manager still exists in Thousand Oaks, California. However, it contains a family home that was built in 1959, and it was sold most recently in 1996. Given that the dates and schedule suggest that the magazine/newsletter debuted on March 15th, 1953, it is likely that the address was different in releases prior to 1959. Also, it is likely that the original owners who worked on the magazine/newsletter have moved away.[3]
The virtual card catalogue for the U.S. Copyright Office contains a set of ten catalogue cards that were filed in relation to Computing News. The earliest known card pertains to overall issue #36 from September 1st, 1954. This card also shows that the magazine/newsletter was originally copyrighted by a single person, Fred Joseph Gruenberger. However, two later cards show that the copyright claimant was changed to Computing News itself. The very last card confirms the date of issue #147 as April 15, 1959. The set of cards list the dates for the following complete ranges of issues: #36, #55, #85, #87, #93-#96, #98-#119, and #122-#147. When someone is registering copyright via the U.S. Copyright Office, it is standard practice to submit a reference copy of the document that is being copyrighted. It is unknown whether the U.S. Copyright Office retains reference copies of those Computing News issues, but they do not distribute reference copies. [4]
Issue List
| Issue Number (Overall) | Volume Number | Issue Number (for a given volume) | Approx. Release Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 1 | 1 | Mar 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #2 | 1 | 2 | Apr 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #3 | 1 | 3 | Apr 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #4 | 1 | 4 | May 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #5 | 1 | 5 | May 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #6 | 1 | 6 | Jun 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #7 | 1 | 7 | Jun 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #8 | 1 | 8 | Jul 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #9 | 1 | 9 | Jul 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #10 | 1 | 10 | Aug 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #11 | 1 | 11 | Aug 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #12 | 1 | 12 | Sep 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #13 | 1 | 13 | Sep 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #14 | 1 | 14 | Oct 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #15 | 1 | 15 | Oct 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #16 | 1 | 16 | Nov 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #17 | 1 | 17 | Nov 15th, 1953 | Lost |
| #18 | 1 | 18 | Dec 1st, 1953 | Lost |
| #19 | 1 | 19 | Dec 15, 1953 | Lost |
| #20 | 2 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #21 | 2 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #22 | 2 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #23 | 2 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #24 | 2 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #25 | 2 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #26 | 2 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #27 | 2 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #28 | 2 | 9 | May 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #29 | 2 | 10 | May 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #30 | 2 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #31 | 2 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #32 | 2 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #33 | 2 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #34 | 2 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #35 | 2 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #36 | 2 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #37 | 2 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #38 | 2 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #39 | 2 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #40 | 2 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #41 | 2 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #42 | 2 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1954 | Lost |
| #43 | 2 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1954 | Lost |
| #44 | 3 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #45 | 3 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #46 | 3 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #47 | 3 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #48 | 3 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #49 | 3 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #50 | 3 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #51 | 3 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #52 | 3 | 9 | May 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #53 | 3 | 10 | May 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #54 | 3 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #55 | 3 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #56 | 3 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #57 | 3 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #58 | 3 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #59 | 3 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #60 | 3 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #61 | 3 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #62 | 3 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #63 | 3 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #64 | 3 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #65 | 3 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #66 | 3 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1955 | Lost |
| #67 | 3 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1955 | Lost |
| #68 | 4 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #69 | 4 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #70 | 4 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #71 | 4 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #72 | 4 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #73 | 4 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #74 | 4 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #75 | 4 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #76 | 4 | 9 | May 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #77 | 4 | 10 | May 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #78 | 4 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #79 | 4 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #80 | 4 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #81 | 4 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #82 | 4 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #83 | 4 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #84 | 4 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #85 | 4 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #86 | 4 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #87 | 4 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #88 | 4 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #89 | 4 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #90 | 4 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1956 | Lost |
| #91 | 4 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1956 | Lost |
| #92 | 5 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #93 | 5 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #94 | 5 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #95 | 5 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #96 | 5 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #97 | 5 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #98 | 5 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #99 | 5 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #100 | 5 | 9 | May 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #101 | 5 | 10 | May 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #102 | 5 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #103 | 5 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #104 | 5 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #105 | 5 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #106 | 5 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #107 | 5 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #108 | 5 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #109 | 5 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #110 | 5 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #111 | 5 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #112 | 5 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #113 | 5 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #114 | 5 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1957 | Lost |
| #115 | 5 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1957 | Lost |
| #116 | 6 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #117 | 6 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #118 | 6 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #119 | 6 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #120 | 6 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #121 | 6 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #122 | 6 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #123 | 6 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #124 | 6 | 9 | May 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #125 | 6 | 10 | May 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #126 | 6 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #127 | 6 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #128 | 6 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #129 | 6 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #130 | 6 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #131 | 6 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #132 | 6 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #133 | 6 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #134 | 6 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #135 | 6 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #136 | 6 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #137 | 6 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #138 | 6 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1958 | Lost |
| #139 | 6 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1958 | Lost |
| #140 | 7 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #141 | 7 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #142 | 7 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #143 | 7 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #144 | 7 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #145 | 7 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #146 | 7 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #147 | 7 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #148 | 7 | 9 | May 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #149 | 7 | 10 | May 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #150 | 7 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #151 | 7 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #152 | 7 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #153 | 7 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #154 | 7 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #155 | 7 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #156 | 7 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #157 | 7 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #158 | 7 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #159 | 7 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #160 | 7 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #161 | 7 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #162 | 7 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1959 | Lost |
| #163 | 7 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1959 | Lost |
| #164 | 8 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #165 | 8 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #166 | 8 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #167 | 8 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #168 | 8 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #169 | 8 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #170 | 8 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #171 | 8 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #172 | 8 | 9 | May 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #173 | 8 | 10 | May 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #174 | 8 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #175 | 8 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #176 | 8 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #177 | 8 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #178 | 8 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #179 | 8 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #180 | 8 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #181 | 8 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #182 | 8 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #183 | 8 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #184 | 8 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #185 | 8 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1960 | Lost |
| #186 | 8 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1960 | Lost |
| #187 | 8 | 24 | Dec 15t, 1960 | Lost |
| #188 | 9 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #189 | 9 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #190 | 9 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #191 | 9 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #192 | 9 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #193 | 9 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #194 | 9 | 7 | Apr 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #195 | 9 | 8 | Apr 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #196 | 9 | 9 | May 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #197 | 9 | 10 | May 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #198 | 9 | 11 | Jun 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #199 | 9 | 12 | Jun 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #200 | 9 | 13 | Jul 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #201 | 9 | 14 | Jul 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #202 | 9 | 15 | Aug 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #203 | 9 | 16 | Aug 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #204 | 9 | 17 | Sep 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #205 | 9 | 18 | Sep 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #206 | 9 | 19 | Oct 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #207 | 9 | 20 | Oct 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #208 | 9 | 21 | Nov 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #209 | 9 | 22 | Nov 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #210 | 9 | 23 | Dec 1st, 1961 | Lost |
| #211 | 9 | 24 | Dec 15th, 1961 | Lost |
| #212 | 10 | 1 | Jan 1st, 1962 | Lost |
| #213 | 10 | 2 | Jan 15th, 1962 | Lost |
| #214 | 10 | 3 | Feb 1st, 1962 | Lost |
| #215 | 10 | 4 | Feb 15th, 1962 | Lost |
| #216 | 10 | 5 | Mar 1st, 1962 | Found |
| #217 | 10 | 6 | Mar 15th, 1962 | Found |
Gallery
U.S. Copyright Office Catalog Cards
This is the earliest known record in the U.S. Copyright Office for "Computing News", which specifically covers overall issue #36.
This is a U.S. Copyright Office cross-reference card relevant to "Computing News". This shows the change in claimant from an individual (Fred Joseph Gruenberger) to a group (Computing News)
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issue #55 of "Computing News".
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #85 and #87 of "Computing News".
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #102 through #111 of "Computing News".
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #112 through #119 of "Computing News".
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #93 through #101 of "Computing News", except for #97. It is unknown why that issue was excluded from this card.
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #122 through #127 of "Computing News".
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #128 through #140 of "Computing News".
This is a U.S. Copyright Office record referencing overall issues #141 through #147 of "Computing News".
Covers and Illustrations
The cover for Issue #217 of Computing News.
Comic produced by illustrator Ron Coleman for Computing News issue #217.
Comic produced by an unknown illustrator for Computing News issue #216.
Comic produced by an unknown illustrator for Computing News issue #217.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Computing News issue #216, which provides the release schedule. Retrieved 09 Apr '21
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Computing News Issue #217. Retrieved 09 Apr '21
- ↑ Realtor.com listing for the only address given for Computing News. Retrieved 09 Apr '21
- ↑ The functional Proof-of-Concept for the U.S. Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, which contains cards for Computing News. There is currently no way to make perma-links to specific cards, so the card images are in the article gallery. Retrieved 12 Feb '22