Weird Tales was a pulp magazine that was published from 1923 to 1954. It was one of the most famous and influential pulp magazines of the time, and it is considered a classic of the horror and fantasy genres. Weird Tales featured a wide range of stories, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the supernatural. It was known for its lurid and sensational subject matter, and it was a popular source of entertainment for many readers.
Weird Tales was founded by J.C. Henneberger and J.M. Lansinger, and it was initially published by the Rural Publishing Corporation. The magazine struggled in its early years, but it found success after it was purchased by Popular Fiction Publishing Company in 1924. Under the new ownership, Weird Tales became known for its high-quality stories and artwork, and it attracted many well-known authors and artists.
Some of the most famous stories that were published in Weird Tales include H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu” and Robert E. Howard’s “The Tower of the Elephant.” The magazine was also home to many other notable authors, including Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch, and Ray Bradbury. In addition to its fiction, Weird Tales was also known for its striking cover art, which was created by artists such as Margaret Brundage and Virgil Finlay.
Overall, Weird Tales was a significant force in the pulp magazine industry, and it helped to establish many of the conventions and tropes that are still found in horror and fantasy fiction today. It remains a beloved and influential publication, and its legacy can still be seen in many forms of popular entertainment.