Monday, 4 August 2025

Retitled Harlequins Part VIII

Between 1949 and 1959 Toronto mass market paperback publisher Harlequin published 455 titles that are new editions of books published earlier. Here I listed the 89 for which Harlequin retitled their edition. 

Here are two publishers with three retitled Harlequins each. The E. V. Timms titles are from Angus & Robertson, an Australian publisher. The Raymond Marshall (pseudonym of James Hadley Chase) titles are from British publisher Jarrolds. Harlequin also published 13 Jarrolds and one Angus & Robertson with the title unchanged. Original title is in square brackets.

  • Timms, E.V. The Violent Years [Forever to Remain]
  • Timms, E.V. Convict Town [The Beckoning Shore]
  • Timms, E.V. Woman in Chains [The Pathway of the Sun]
  • Marshall, Raymond The Pick-Up [But a Short Time To Live]
  • Marshall, Raymond Ruthless [Trusted Like the Fox]
  • Marshall, Raymond Never Trust A Woman  [In a Vain Shadow]

Harlequin 290 April 1954

Harlequin 330 March 1955

Harlequin 331 March 1955

Harlequin 340 July 1955

Harlequin 341 July 1955

Harlequin 382 March 1957

Friday, 1 August 2025

Retitled Harlequins Part VII

 Between 1949 and 1959 Toronto mass market paperback publisher Harlequin published 455 titles that are new editions of books published earlier. Here I listed the 89 for which Harlequin retitled their edition. 

There are seven retitled books from Phoenix Press, a New York publisher from 1936-52. Harlequin also published 21 Phoenix Press books with the title unchanged. Original title is in square brackets.

  • Stone, Thomas Doctor By Day [Doctor Tony]
  • Westland, Lynn Trail Rider [Over the Frontier Trail]
  • Ernenwein, Leslie Savage Justice [Boss of Panamint]
  • Shott, Abel Triggerman [The Renegade Kid]
  • Hopson, William Gunthrower [Gun-thrower]
  • Westland, Lynn Legion Of The Lawless [Texas Red]
  • Cody, Al         Lost Valley [Guns of Lost Valley]
Harlequin 142 November 1951

Harlequin 146 December 1951

Harlequin 171 May1952

Harlequin 194  November 1952

Harlequin 236  July1953

Harlequin 248 September 1953

Harlequin 274 February 1954

Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Retitled Harlequins Part VI

Between 1949 and 1959 Toronto mass market paperback publisher Harlequin published 455 titles that are new editions of books published earlier. Here I listed the 89 for which Harlequin retitled their edition. 

There are five retitled books from Mystery House, a short-lived (1940-48) imprint of New York publisher Arcadia House. Harlequin also published nine Mystery House books with the title unchanged. Original title is in square brackets.

  • Evans, John Weep Not Fair Lady [If You Have Tears]
  • Jerome, Owen Fox A Night At Club Bagdad [The Corpse Awaits]
  • Bogart, William Johnny Saxon [Murder is Forgetful]
  • Roeburt, John Manhattan Underworld [There are Dead Men in Manhattan]
  • Kane, Frank Death About Face [About Face]
Harlequin 49 May 1950

Harlequin 77 September 1950

Harlequin 114 May 1951

Harlequin 115 April 1951

Harlequin 126 August 1951

Marshall McLuhan Part III

"It is observable that the more illusion and falsehood needed to maintain any given state of affairs, the more tyranny is needed to maintain the illusion and falsehood. Today the tyrant rules not by club or fist, but, disguised as a market researcher, he shepherds his flocks in the ways of utility and comfort." 

                                            The Mechanical Bride (Preface), 1951

The Mechanical Bride, McLuhan's first book, is a collection of 59 short (most one or two pages) essays about mid century US media, advertising and culture. It is a book that has aged well and a great read. The topic of six of the essays is comic strips - Blondie, Tarzan, Superman, Li'l Abner, Little Orphan Annie and Bringing Up Father. I imagine that McLuhan enjoyed the Star Weekly Comic section in every Saturday Toronto Star where all of these strips could be found in the 1950s.

Here are the 21 strips in the February 12, 1955 Star Weekly Comic section.

  • Abbie an' Slats
  • Blondie
  • Bringing Up Father
  • Dick Tracy
  • Ella Cinders
  • Flash Gordon
  • Hopalong Cassidy
  • Jane Arden
  • Li'l Abner
  • Little Orphan Annie
  • Mandrake the Magician
  • Moon Mullins
  • Napoleon
  • Popeye
  • Snookums
  • Steve Canyon
  • Superman
  • Tarzan
  • Terry and the Pirates
  • The Captain and the Kids
  • The Lone Ranger


Relaxing at the end of a hard day with a beer and a copy of the Toronto Star. Undated photograph (1970s)

Beacon Press BP 265 1967

Tarzan - Star Weekly February 12, 1955

Blondie - Star Weekly February 12, 1955

Bringing Up Father - Star Weekly February 12, 1955

Li'l Abner - Star Weekly February 12, 1955

Little Orphan Annie - Star Weekly February 12, 1955

Superman - Star Weekly February 12, 1955

Friday, 18 July 2025

Retitled Harlequins Part V

Between 1949 and 1959 Toronto mass market paperback publisher Harlequin published 455 titles that are new editions of books published earlier. Here I listed the 89 for which Harlequin retitled their edition. 

There are five retitled books from Dodge, a short-lived (1937-42) New York publisher. Harlequin also published two Dodge books with the title unchanged. Original title is in square brackets.

  • Grinstead, J.E. Maverick Guns [Guardians of the Range]
  • Cole, Jackson Black Rider [Six-Gun Stampede]
  • Garth, Will  Masked Rider [Lawless Guns]
  • McCulley, Johnston The Outlaw Trail [Reckless Range]
  • Grinstead, J.E. Range King [King of the Rangeland]

Harlequin 75 September 1950

Harlequin 100 February 1951

Harlequin 220 March 1953

Harlequin 260 November 1953

Harlequin 411 January 1958