In 1938, Max Gaines decided to produce his own comics line. He approached Harry Donenfeld, CEO of both National Allied Publications (publisher of Action Comics and other titles) and sister company Detective Comics (publisher of that namesake comic book). Donenfeld agreed to back Gaines, but only if [Detective Comics partner] Jack Liebowitz was taken on a minority owner. Gaines agreed and All-American Publications was formed.
Because of their unusual business relationship, All-American and National freely promoted each other's comics. Each published strips with characters belonging to the other. For example, All-American's All-Star Comics starred the Justice Society of America which consisted of All-American's Atom, Flash, Green Lantern, and Hawkman and National's Doctor Fate, Hourman, Sandman, and Spectre.
Despite constant turmoil between Gaines and Donenfeld, the two companies managed to co-exist until 1944. The conflict between Gaines and Donenfeld reached its breaking point. Gaines bought out Liebowitz and severed all ties to National. All-American releases replaced the National's DC (Detective Comics) logo were replaced by an All-American logo of similar design.
- Retrieved January 23, 2011, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-American_Publications
One Man Severly Injured in Motorboat Crash
Lake Placid- An unnamed man crashed into a dock when he lost control of his motorboat. He was taken to the local hospital in serious condition. No one else was injured in the crash. The police have not released his name.
- The New York Times, August 21, 1947.
Brian Cronin: Comic Book Legends Revealed #76
COMIC LEGEND: Siegel and Schuster once sued DC over the rights to Superboy.
STATUS: True
In 1946, Siegel and Shuster's contract to produce Superman stories was coming to an end. Conflict arose between DC (then known as National Periodicals) and Siegel and Shuster over compensation. Attorney Albert Zugsmith whom Siegel had met during service in the army convinced them to sue. Initially, they had the support of Charlie Gaines and Bob Kane. Kane would sandbag Siegel and Schuster by using to lawsuit to negoiate a new more profiter deal. Gaines withdrew his support after meeting with Zugsmith. According to son, Bill, - 'he found Zugsmith a bit to suspenous'. The case preceded to trial in early 1947. A week in the trial, the presending halted and both parties went into mediation. The records on the trial and mediation were sealed. What is known is DC retained all rights to Superman and Superboy. Siegel and Schuster recieved an undisclosed sum. Rumor has the amount as high as $10 million. But more importantly, each recieved a small percentage of the company. Siegel continued to write Superman until he retired in 1959. He and Shuster also created Funnyman. After the initial Funnyman ended in 1956, Schuster retired to Cleveland.
Speculation on why DC conceded part of company, tends to focus on Zugsmith. He did not represent Siegel and Schuster during the mediation. He voluntearly gave up his New York law liense indefinitly. Two months later, he moved to Los Angeles. According Mark Evanier, an unnamed source at DC told him that there collusion between Zugsmith and DC publisher Harry Donenfeld. Somehow word found it's way to Judge Nathen Armstrong. The judge halted the trial and oversaw the mediation to ensure fairness.
- Retrieved November 10, 2006, from goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/11/9/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-76/