Changes

'''Confidential Magazine''' was a tabloid magazine published from 1952-1978. Some have labelled it a 'scandal' magazine.

'''Confidential Magazine''' was a [[tabloid]] [[magazine]] published from 1952-1978. Some have labelled it a 'scandal' magazine.

Vanity Fair described Confidential as a 'gossip machine' that "redefined celebrity journalism." <ref>"Confidential's Reign of Terror", Vanity Fair, Gabler, Neal, April 2003, https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2003/4/confidentials-reign-of-terror</ref> Novelist [[Tom Wolfe]] referred to Confidential as “the most scandalous scandal magazine in the history of the world.”

[[Vanity Fair]] described Confidential as a 'gossip machine' that "redefined celebrity journalism." <ref>"Confidential's Reign of Terror", Vanity Fair, Gabler, Neal, April 2003, https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/2003/4/confidentials-reign-of-terror</ref> Novelist [[Tom Wolfe]] referred to Confidential as “the most scandalous scandal magazine in the history of the world.”

The magazine was notable for [[Investigative Journalism|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|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==

==USPS Refuses to Distribute==

* 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 Fights Back with Propaganda & Lawsuits==

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==

==California Criminal Libel Trial==

In 1957, the publication was charged in California with [[criminal libel]].<ref>http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/confidential/confidentialaccount.html</ref> 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.

In 1957, the publication was charged in California with [[criminal libel]].<ref>http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/confidential/confidentialaccount.html</ref><ref>https://famous-trials.com/confidentialmagazine/2332-home</ref> 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>

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.

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==

==Slow Decline==

* 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.  

* Scott, Henry E. (2010). Shocking True Story: The Rise and Fall of Confidential, "America's Most Scandalous Scandal Magazine". Pantheon

* Scott, Henry E. (2010). Shocking True Story: The Rise and Fall of Confidential, "America's Most Scandalous Scandal Magazine". Pantheon

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Defunct Media Entities]]

[[Category:Defunct Media Entities]]

[[Category:American Magazines]]

[[Category:American Magazines]]

[[Category:Scandal Magazines]]

[[Category:Scandal Magazines]]

[[Category:Dissident Media]]

[[Category:Dissident Media]]

[[Category:Criminal Libel]]

[[Category:Criminal Libel]]

[[Category:Prosecuted Journalists]]

[[Category:Prosecuted Journalists]]