William Gaines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Gaines |
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| Born | William Maxwell Gaines March 1, 1922 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | June 3, 1992 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor, Publisher |
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Notable works
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Mad EC Comics "Master Race" |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (1990) |
William Maxwell "Bill" Gaines (born March 1, 1922 – died June 3, 1992) was an important American publisher. He was known for his comic books and for creating Mad, a popular satirical magazine. Bill Gaines helped change the world of comics. He published many influential comics for grown-ups through his company, EC Comics. He also published Mad magazine for over 40 years.
After he passed away, Bill Gaines was honored in the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1993. He was also inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2012, he joined the Ghastly Awards' Hall of Fame. These halls of fame recognize people who made big contributions to comic books.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Bill Gaines was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Max Gaines, was also a very important person in the history of comics. Max Gaines helped start the idea of selling comic books in stores in 1933. He also approved the creation of Wonder Woman, one of the first successful female superheroes, in 1941.
Joining the Military
When World War II started, Bill Gaines tried to join the military. He was not accepted by the Army, Coast Guard, or Navy at first. So, he asked his local draft board to draft him. He trained to be a photographer for the U.S. Army Air Corps in Denver. However, he ended up working in the kitchen for a long time. He said he enjoyed this job because he liked good food. He left the military in 1946.
Taking Over the Family Business
After the war, Bill Gaines went to college to study chemistry. He wanted to become a chemistry teacher. But in 1947, his father died in a boating accident. Bill Gaines then decided to take over his family's comic book business, EC Comics. This changed his path from teaching to publishing.
Career as a Publisher
Bill Gaines became famous for publishing unique and often controversial comics. His company, EC Comics, created many popular titles. These included horror, crime, and science fiction comics.
Facing Questions from the Government
In 1954, Bill Gaines had to speak before a special group of senators. This group was called the United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. They were looking into whether comic books were bad for young people. People were worried that some comics were too violent or scary.
During his testimony, Gaines was asked if there was anything he would not put in his magazines. He said his only limit was "good taste." He believed that children would not be harmed by what they read or saw in his comics. A senator showed him a comic cover with a scary image. Gaines defended it, saying it was in "good taste" for a horror comic cover. This discussion showed the different ideas people had about what was appropriate for comics.
Changing Mad Magazine
Because of the concerns about comic books, new rules were created for the industry. To avoid these strict rules, Gaines changed Mad from a comic book into a magazine in 1955. This allowed Mad to continue publishing its unique content without being limited by the new rules.
Harvey Kurtzman was the first editor of Mad magazine. He left a year later. Al Feldstein then became the editor and stayed for many years, until 1986. Under Feldstein, Mad became very popular.
Gaines's Personality and Management Style
Bill Gaines was known for being both very generous and also careful with money. He once took his entire staff to Haiti to celebrate Mad magazine reaching one million readers. Even though he was generous, he would sometimes question small expenses. One editor, Nick Meglin, called Gaines a "living contradiction." He said Gaines was "the cheapest man in the world, and the most generous." Gaines liked good conversations and good food more than giving raises.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1961, Gaines sold Mad magazine to another company. But he remained the publisher until he died. He acted as a link between the magazine's creative team and the company that owned it. He often saw the magazine's content just before it was printed. Gaines believed his main job was to create a good atmosphere for his staff. He said, "My staff and contributors create the magazine. What I create is the atmosphere."
Over the years, Mad magazine was sold to different companies, including Warner Brothers in 1969. Bill Gaines continued to lead Mad through all these changes. He passed away in 1992, leaving behind a big impact on the world of comics and satire.
Personal Life
Bill Gaines was married three times. His first marriage was to Hazel Grieb. He later married Nancy Siegel in 1955. They had three children: Cathy (born 1958), Wendy (born 1959), and Christopher (born 1961). They divorced in 1971. In 1987, he married Anne Griffiths. They were married until his death in 1992.
Gaines did not believe in God. He once joked that his home was probably the only one where children were taught to believe in Santa Claus, but not in God.
