Post by captainjapan on Sept 7, 2022 10:19:57 GMT -6
One spring night, at four in the morning, I received a telegram from Henry Bodenstedt. Henry was the distribution center for S&T (we would airmail the magazines to his home in Adelphia, NJ, and he would mail them, take in subscription money, etc. We had sent off the sixth issue to him a week or ten days before, and had just put the copy for the seventh issue to bed (publisher's talk for sending it to the printers). Henry's message was to the effect that this issue would not be distributed until the Siege of Bodenberg was reprinted to read Siege of Bodenburgh-the correct German spelling.
Henry and I were old play by mail opponents, and since we needed an address in the United States from which to mail individual copies and accept subscriptions, he agreed to help in return for 10% of the profits when and if. We also needed someone with expertise in the games with miniatures and he met that qual fication too. Henry wrote for us in exchange for advertising space for Continental Hobby Supplies (which also ran out of his home. Of course, his games were designed around items that Continental could supply, and Henry did all right with that. His material was excellent, and he is responsible for the selection of Strategy & Tactics as the name of the magazine. (S&T appeared on Henry's portion of a list of possible names we requested from all concerned. We made the choice from that list).
But this fit of artistic temper, although quite justified (he was right, we were wrong) attempted to extract a punishment far ex ceeding the crime. After waking Gene Smethers, we assessed the situation and deter mined that reprinting would put us out of business. We answered Henry's telegram to that effect, and then brought the matter to the Judge Advocates Office to see where we legally stood. We could force distribution if necessary. Henry apparently found that out independently and did, finally, send out the magazine. But he insisted that he no longer be associated directly with us, and demanded some sort of compensation for his 10% of the non existent action.
Because Henry held the complete back issue stocks, the bank account, and the mailing list we raised additional money and reached agreement with him to turn over those key items to us for $300, Which he did. If one of my children were kidnapped, I'd pay the ransom.
Henry now owns a Hobby Shop in Freehold N.J., fulfilling a lifetime ambition. He also holds the unique distinction of being the only one ever to make any money on Strategy & Tactics. There's a lesson there somewhere.
Who distributed S&T thereafter? My mother. You gotta trust somebody.
-Christopher Wagner, original publisher of Strategy & Tactics Magazine, writing in 1972
Henry and I were old play by mail opponents, and since we needed an address in the United States from which to mail individual copies and accept subscriptions, he agreed to help in return for 10% of the profits when and if. We also needed someone with expertise in the games with miniatures and he met that qual fication too. Henry wrote for us in exchange for advertising space for Continental Hobby Supplies (which also ran out of his home. Of course, his games were designed around items that Continental could supply, and Henry did all right with that. His material was excellent, and he is responsible for the selection of Strategy & Tactics as the name of the magazine. (S&T appeared on Henry's portion of a list of possible names we requested from all concerned. We made the choice from that list).
But this fit of artistic temper, although quite justified (he was right, we were wrong) attempted to extract a punishment far ex ceeding the crime. After waking Gene Smethers, we assessed the situation and deter mined that reprinting would put us out of business. We answered Henry's telegram to that effect, and then brought the matter to the Judge Advocates Office to see where we legally stood. We could force distribution if necessary. Henry apparently found that out independently and did, finally, send out the magazine. But he insisted that he no longer be associated directly with us, and demanded some sort of compensation for his 10% of the non existent action.
Because Henry held the complete back issue stocks, the bank account, and the mailing list we raised additional money and reached agreement with him to turn over those key items to us for $300, Which he did. If one of my children were kidnapped, I'd pay the ransom.
Henry now owns a Hobby Shop in Freehold N.J., fulfilling a lifetime ambition. He also holds the unique distinction of being the only one ever to make any money on Strategy & Tactics. There's a lesson there somewhere.
Who distributed S&T thereafter? My mother. You gotta trust somebody.
-Christopher Wagner, original publisher of Strategy & Tactics Magazine, writing in 1972
