Block, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, edit
1,174
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 2:
Line 2: + + + + + + Line 14:
Line 20: − The magazine's most notorious period was from 1954-1958, when the publication was sued for [[criminal libel]] by the Los Angeles District Attorney and the then-California Attorney General [[Pat Brown]], who then ran for and became [[Governor]] of [[California]]. The trial was ultimately a mistrial, and featured testimony against Publisher Harrison by former Editor Rushmore. There were allegations that jurors were being bribed.<ref>"Map New Confidential Case Action, Mistrial is Declared", Valley News, Oct 3, 1957, Page 52 | https://www.newspapers.com/image/30324078/</ref>+ Line 20:
Line 26: + + + + + + + + + + + − + + + + +
no edit summary
The magazine was notable for [[investigative journalism]] about public figures in politics and Hollywood. Publisher [[Robert Harrison]] brought on former Communist [[Howard Rushmore]] to help cover and expose Communist agents in the government. In time, Harrison also found readers enjoyed reading the real-life stories of famous celebrities.
The magazine was notable for [[investigative journalism]] about public figures in politics and Hollywood. Publisher [[Robert Harrison]] brought on former Communist [[Howard Rushmore]] to help cover and expose Communist agents in the government. In time, Harrison also found readers enjoyed reading the real-life stories of famous celebrities.
==USPS Refuses to Distribute==
In August 1955, the [[Postmaster General]] refused to distribute the magazine on the grounds of obscenity. This caused the magazine to adapt its business model to be produced and printed with regional printshops, and then distributed directly to newsstands, bypassing the mails altogether. Even though the magazine was regularly derided for being disinformation, the magazine was scrupulous about fact-checking and having attorneys review its stories prior to publication.
In August 1955, the [[Postmaster General]] refused to distribute the magazine on the grounds of obscenity. This caused the magazine to adapt its business model to be produced and printed with regional printshops, and then distributed directly to newsstands, bypassing the mails altogether. Even though the magazine was regularly derided for being disinformation, the magazine was scrupulous about fact-checking and having attorneys review its stories prior to publication.
==Developing Lawfare Defense==
The publication developed an ingenious method for preventing harassment [[lawfare]] [[libel]] lawsuits. The magazine would print a story, but purposefully tone down the story so that it would be less salacious. In this way, if the offended party were to sue, they would face the negative consequence of the full story becoming public knowledge.
The publication developed an ingenious method for preventing harassment [[lawfare]] [[libel]] lawsuits. The magazine would print a story, but purposefully tone down the story so that it would be less salacious. In this way, if the offended party were to sue, they would face the negative consequence of the full story becoming public knowledge.
==Key Exposes==
Confidential was the first national outlet to report:
Confidential was the first national outlet to report:
* Actor [[Errol Flynn]] had a two-way mirror on a ceiling installed so that he could watch his guests sleep and make love. Flynn filed a multi-million dollar libel lawsuit against the magazine for publishing this story. Later, after Flynn had died, his widow admitted the story was true when she sold the home.<ref>"Errol Flynn's 1m Funhouse", Evening Standard, Jan 12, 1978, Page 13 | https://www.newspapers.com/image/721841963/</ref>
* Actor [[Errol Flynn]] had a two-way mirror on a ceiling installed so that he could watch his guests sleep and make love. Flynn filed a multi-million dollar libel lawsuit against the magazine for publishing this story. Later, after Flynn had died, his widow admitted the story was true when she sold the home.<ref>"Errol Flynn's 1m Funhouse", Evening Standard, Jan 12, 1978, Page 13 | https://www.newspapers.com/image/721841963/</ref>
==Hollywood Fights Back with Propaganda==
Hollywood fought back against Confidential with an anti-Confidential propaganda film, ''Slander'' (1956). In the movie, the Publisher is killed by his own mother. Hollywood again featured a clone of Confidential in 1997's "L.A. Confidential" where the name of the publication is featured as "''Hush Hush''."
Hollywood fought back against Confidential with an anti-Confidential propaganda film, ''Slander'' (1956). In the movie, the Publisher is killed by his own mother. Hollywood again featured a clone of Confidential in 1997's "L.A. Confidential" where the name of the publication is featured as "''Hush Hush''."
Mike Wallace interviewed Confidential's Private Investigator Fred Otash in 1957.<ref>"
Mike Wallace interviewed Confidential's Private Investigator Fred Otash in 1957.<ref>"
Interview with Fred Otash", August 25, 1957, | https://hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15878coll90/id/25/rec/28</ref>
Interview with Fred Otash", August 25, 1957, | https://hrc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15878coll90/id/25/rec/28</ref>
==California Criminal Libel Trial==
In 1957, the publication was charged in California with [[criminal libel]]. This came in the wake of the magazine's most notorious period, from 1954-1958. The suit for [[criminal libel]] was filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney and the then-California Attorney General [[Pat Brown]], who then ran for and became [[Governor]] of [[California]]. The testimony featured former editor [[Howard Rushmore]] testifying against his former employer.
The case ended in a mistrial, with the jury deadlocked 7-5 for conviction.<ref>"MISTRIAL VERDICT FOR CONFIDENTIAL: Foreman Tells Judge Jury Is Hopelessly Split 7 to 5 in Libel Conspiracy Case Oct. 10 Set for Hearing Freedom of Press Cited", New York, N.Y: New York Times Company, The New York Times, October 2, 1957, p.18</ref> There were allegations that jurors were being bribed.<ref>"Map New Confidential Case Action, Mistrial is Declared", Valley News, Oct 3, 1957, Page 52 | https://www.newspapers.com/image/30324078/</ref>
Instead of being retried, Publisher Harrison declared that Confidential would no longer do exposes. The government then relented and declined to refile the charges against Confidential.
==Slow Decline==
By 1958, Harrison sold his interest in the magazine. The magazine would go through a slow decline and ultimately close in 1978.
In the late 60's through the 1970's, the magazine's editor was Tracy Cabot (d.2020), who later became an author and worked for the [[National Enquirer]].<ref>https://obits.staradvertiser.com/2020/09/04/tracy-cabot-whitfield-04092020/</ref>
In the late 60's through the 1970's, the magazine's editor was Tracy Cabot (d.2020), who later became an author and worked for the [[National Enquirer]].<ref>https://obits.staradvertiser.com/2020/09/04/tracy-cabot-whitfield-04092020/</ref>
== Books ==
==Legacy==
Confidential pioneered a new kind of journalism that was punchy and direct to the reader. The articles and content within were designed for the masses, and during its peak period, was striking directly at the powerful and the power structure. Confidential combined pop culture reporting with incisive revelation of facts against powerful politicians that made it sell magazines, but also incurred the wrath of the unified elites. Creating a feedback loop on the notoriety, it was only a matter of time before the publication was brought down either by defamation, regulation, litigation, harassment, lawfare, or the like.
==Books==
* Barbas, Samantha (2018). Confidential Confidential: The Inside Story of Hollywood's Notorious Scandal Magazine.
* Barbas, Samantha (2018). Confidential Confidential: The Inside Story of Hollywood's Notorious Scandal Magazine.
* Bernstein, Samuel (2006). Mr. Confidential: The Man, His Magazine & The Movieland Massacre That Changed Hollywood Forever. Walford Press.
* Bernstein, Samuel (2006). Mr. Confidential: The Man, His Magazine & The Movieland Massacre That Changed Hollywood Forever. Walford Press.