Above: The cover of THE WESTERNER, Number 94, January 1966: A little girl looks in awe at the towering array of Dell Comics, Whitman coloring books, paper doll and activity books starring Magilla Gorilla, Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, Tom and Jerry, Uncle Scrooge, Hayley Mills, Woody Woodpecker, Barbie, Pebbles and Bamm Bamm, the Gingerbread Man and many more.
THE WESTERNER was not about Westerns. It was the in-house publication for one of the largest producers of childrens' publications, Whitman/Western Publishing Company. If you were a kid growing up in the 1960s or 70s, chances are you owned some or a lot of their comics, sticker books, coloring books, Big Little Books, etc.
From Joakim Gunnarsson's Sekvenskonst blog (Sequential Art) here are some scans from issue 194, January 1966. This is their "Golden Anniversary Issue."
As Gunnar says after scanning and putting up 7 of that issue's 36 pages:
"If you are interested in the history of this legendary publishing company this is something for you. The issue is 36 pages. More?"
Yes, please!
This is an exciting find and THE WESTERNER is a publication I hadn't heard of til now. To get the official company version of their organization would be a treat.
EDIT: Joalim has posted more here: "Once Upon a Time"
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