Interurban Press
Encyclopedia
Interurban Press was a small, privately owned American publishing company, specializing in books about streetcar
s, other forms of rail transit
and railroads in North America, from 1943 until 1993. It was based in the Los Angeles
area, and specifically in Glendale
, California
after 1976. Although its primary focus was on books, it also published three magazines starting in the 1980s, along with video
s and calendars
. At its peak, the company employed 10 people and generated about $2 million in business annually.
and anyone interested in streetcars/trolleys
or electric interurban
s as a hobby. Swett initially wrote the newsletter while stationed at Fort MacArthur
as a U.S. Army
Private First Class, and the earliest editions were intended to pass along news about streetcars and interurban railways in the U.S. to American railfan
s stationed overseas during World War II
. Many of his readers became volunteer correspondents, sending news of electric-transit developments in their locales for inclusion in the newsletter. Swett also began publishing book
s—which he called Interurbans "Specials"—on the history of a particular streetcar system or related topic. The first, in 1944, was The “Big Subs”
(big suburban cars), about a group of interurban cars used on a line between San Francisco and San Mateo
from 1907 until 1923. He discontinued the newsletter in December 1948, concentrating thereafter on researching and writing books, which he still called "Specials". Streetcar systems were being abandoned in cities all around North America at that time and over the following two decades, heightening trolley fans' interest in recording systems' histories. Swett wrote about 50 books himself, but he also edited and published manuscripts written by others. The first non-electric railway book published by Interurbans was Seattle Trolley Coaches, in 1971, and the company later published other books about trolley buses
, but most of its titles were about electric rail lines or other types of rail transport
ation.
, who shared Swett's love of electric railways and had worked professionally as a newspaper reporter in Albuquerque and was still working (until 1982) for United Press International
. Sebree reorganized the company as Interurban Press and hired fellow-railfan Jim Walker to be its vice president. After about one year operating out of Sebree's home in Hollywood, they began leasing office space in Glendale
.
Under Mac Sebree's ownership, Interurban Press expanded its output, from typically two hardcover books per year to at least six books per year, eight to ten "in a good year", and also acquired two monthly magazine
s, Pacific News
and Passenger Train Journal
(PTJ) (ISSN 0160-6913). Pacific News (renamed Pacific RailNews
in late 1984; ISSN 8750-8486) was acquired from Chatham Publishing in 1983, and PTJ was acquired from PTJ Publishing in 1987. While keeping its main focus on electric urban transit, the company widened its range to include books about steam trains and non-passenger rail subjects.
In 1981, Interurban acquired the sales rights to the railroad and Western American titles of Trans-Anglo Books, another Glendale-based small-press publisher
. During the 1980s the company also added railfan-oriented video
s and calendars
to its product line, the former being sold under the brand name "Interurban Films". (Before VHS
video-cassette players became commonly in use, Interurban Press had offered a small number of films in Regular-8
or Super 8
format.)
In 1983, sales through general bookstores accounted for about 25% of Interurban's business, and another 15% came from direct mail-order
sales. The balance of 60% was a combination of sales at scale-modelling/hobby shops
and railway museum
gift shops, together with foreign sales. At that time, a typical print run for an Interurban Press book was 3,000 copies, but some titles were much more popular and had larger initial printings or multiple reprintings. The publisher's best-selling title up to 1983, Dinner in the Diner, had sold 30,000 copies so far. In 1992, the two monthly magazines had circulations of about 10,000 each. Private Varnish, a quarterly magazine about privately owned passenger rail cars, had about 3,000 subscribers. Publication of books continued, concurrently. The company had 10 employees at that time, divided between its main office in Glendale and a production office in Waukesha
, Wisconsin
.
In 1992 and 1993, Interurban Press also published the softcover North American Light Rail Annual and User's Guide, about existing and planned light rail
systems in the United States, Canada and Mexico. A third edition was published in 1994 by the company's successor (albeit still edited by Mac Sebree), but that turned out to be the final edition of that annual, which had sold about 10,000 copies per year.
Mac Sebree
retired in 1993 and sold Interurban Press to Pentrex
, which did not continue publishing under the Interurban Press name.
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s, other forms of rail transit
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
and railroads in North America, from 1943 until 1993. It was based in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, and specifically in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
after 1976. Although its primary focus was on books, it also published three magazines starting in the 1980s, along with video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
s and calendars
Wall calendar
A wall calendar is a calendar intended for placement on a wall. Wall calendars can serve as reminders of holidays, important events, and company events. They typically consist of a collection of images on a given subject....
. At its peak, the company employed 10 people and generated about $2 million in business annually.
Origins
Originally named Interurbans, the company developed out of a mimeographed newsletter first distributed by its founder, Ira L. Swett, in 1943. The Interurbans News Letter was for electric railway enthusiastsRailfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
and anyone interested in streetcars/trolleys
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
or electric interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
s as a hobby. Swett initially wrote the newsletter while stationed at Fort MacArthur
Fort MacArthur
Fort MacArthur is a former United States Army installation in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California . The fort is named in honor of Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur...
as a U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Private First Class, and the earliest editions were intended to pass along news about streetcars and interurban railways in the U.S. to American railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
s stationed overseas during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Many of his readers became volunteer correspondents, sending news of electric-transit developments in their locales for inclusion in the newsletter. Swett also began publishing book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s—which he called Interurbans "Specials"—on the history of a particular streetcar system or related topic. The first, in 1944, was The “Big Subs”
(big suburban cars), about a group of interurban cars used on a line between San Francisco and San Mateo
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
from 1907 until 1923. He discontinued the newsletter in December 1948, concentrating thereafter on researching and writing books, which he still called "Specials". Streetcar systems were being abandoned in cities all around North America at that time and over the following two decades, heightening trolley fans' interest in recording systems' histories. Swett wrote about 50 books himself, but he also edited and published manuscripts written by others. The first non-electric railway book published by Interurbans was Seattle Trolley Coaches, in 1971, and the company later published other books about trolley buses
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
, but most of its titles were about electric rail lines or other types of rail transport
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
ation.
Reorganization and growth
When Ira Swett died in 1975, he left the company to his friend and collaborator, G. Mac SebreeMac Sebree
George McClellan Sebree III , better known as Mac Sebree, was an American journalist, writer and publisher whose area of expertise was urban mass transit, particularly urban rail transit. He was also a businessman, being owner and president of the publishing company, Interurban Press, from 1975...
, who shared Swett's love of electric railways and had worked professionally as a newspaper reporter in Albuquerque and was still working (until 1982) for United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
. Sebree reorganized the company as Interurban Press and hired fellow-railfan Jim Walker to be its vice president. After about one year operating out of Sebree's home in Hollywood, they began leasing office space in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Under Mac Sebree's ownership, Interurban Press expanded its output, from typically two hardcover books per year to at least six books per year, eight to ten "in a good year", and also acquired two monthly magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s, Pacific News
Pacific RailNews
Pacific RailNews , originally named Pacific News and later RailNews, was an American monthly magazine about railroads and rail transit, oriented for railfans. It was published from 1961 until 1999...
and Passenger Train Journal
Passenger Train Journal
Passenger Train Journal is an American magazine about passenger rail transport and rail transit, oriented for railfans. Founded in 1968, it was published continuously until 1996, and monthly from 1979 onward, but then ceased publication. After a 10-year absence, it was restarted in 2006 with a...
(PTJ) (ISSN 0160-6913). Pacific News (renamed Pacific RailNews
Pacific RailNews
Pacific RailNews , originally named Pacific News and later RailNews, was an American monthly magazine about railroads and rail transit, oriented for railfans. It was published from 1961 until 1999...
in late 1984; ISSN 8750-8486) was acquired from Chatham Publishing in 1983, and PTJ was acquired from PTJ Publishing in 1987. While keeping its main focus on electric urban transit, the company widened its range to include books about steam trains and non-passenger rail subjects.
In 1981, Interurban acquired the sales rights to the railroad and Western American titles of Trans-Anglo Books, another Glendale-based small-press publisher
Small press
Small press is a term often used to describe publishers with annual sales below a certain level. Commonly, in the United States, this is set at $50 million, after returns and discounts...
. During the 1980s the company also added railfan-oriented video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
s and calendars
Wall calendar
A wall calendar is a calendar intended for placement on a wall. Wall calendars can serve as reminders of holidays, important events, and company events. They typically consist of a collection of images on a given subject....
to its product line, the former being sold under the brand name "Interurban Films". (Before VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
video-cassette players became commonly in use, Interurban Press had offered a small number of films in Regular-8
Standard 8 mm film
Standard 8 mm film, also known as Regular 8 mm film, Double 8 mm film or simply as Standard-8 or Regular-8, is a film format originally developed by the Eastman Kodak company and released onto the market in 1932....
or Super 8
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
format.)
In 1983, sales through general bookstores accounted for about 25% of Interurban's business, and another 15% came from direct mail-order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
sales. The balance of 60% was a combination of sales at scale-modelling/hobby shops
Hobby store
A hobby store sells recreational modelling and craft supplies and specialty magazines for model airplanes , train models, ship models, house and building models. Some hobby shops may also sell dolls, and collectible coins and stamps. A subtype of hobby store is a game store, which sells board...
and railway museum
Railway museum
A railway museum is a museum that explores the history of all aspects of rail related transportation, including: locomotives , railway cars, trams, and railway signalling equipment.See List of railway museums...
gift shops, together with foreign sales. At that time, a typical print run for an Interurban Press book was 3,000 copies, but some titles were much more popular and had larger initial printings or multiple reprintings. The publisher's best-selling title up to 1983, Dinner in the Diner, had sold 30,000 copies so far. In 1992, the two monthly magazines had circulations of about 10,000 each. Private Varnish, a quarterly magazine about privately owned passenger rail cars, had about 3,000 subscribers. Publication of books continued, concurrently. The company had 10 employees at that time, divided between its main office in Glendale and a production office in Waukesha
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
In 1992 and 1993, Interurban Press also published the softcover North American Light Rail Annual and User's Guide, about existing and planned light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
systems in the United States, Canada and Mexico. A third edition was published in 1994 by the company's successor (albeit still edited by Mac Sebree), but that turned out to be the final edition of that annual, which had sold about 10,000 copies per year.
Mac Sebree
Mac Sebree
George McClellan Sebree III , better known as Mac Sebree, was an American journalist, writer and publisher whose area of expertise was urban mass transit, particularly urban rail transit. He was also a businessman, being owner and president of the publishing company, Interurban Press, from 1975...
retired in 1993 and sold Interurban Press to Pentrex
Pentrex
Pentrex Media Group, LLC, is an American producer and seller of railfan-related videos and DVDs, founded in 1984 and currently based in Pasadena, California. The company discontinued the sale of VHS video tapes on July 31, 2009....
, which did not continue publishing under the Interurban Press name.
External links
- Books by ISBN.com list for Interurban Press (a partial list of titles)
- ISBNdb.com list for Interurban Press (incomplete)
- The First 100 Specials of Interurbans. The Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California