The Press: Scandal in Circulation

Not once in a blue moon does any large publishing firm pad its circulation figures—the basis on which its advertising is sold—but last week it became evident that one of the largest had done so. The publisher was MacFadden Publications, Inc. (True Story, Physical Culture, Liberty, True Romances and seven others) of which 73-year-old Bernarr MacFadden relinquished control three months ago. The story became known when the new management began cleaning house.

Since Publisher MacFadden retired the MacFadden magazines have been managed by a group of executives headed by Orr Jay Elder, who started as assistant advertising manager of Physical Culture 38...