THE RIVAL OF WEIRD TALES (DAY 2)

STRANGE TALES (OF MYSTERY AND TERROR)
Vol. 1 No. 1
September 1931
The Clayton Magazines, Inc.
Publisher: W.M. Clayton
Editor: Harry Bates
Cover: H.W. Wesso (Hans Wessolowski)
Pages: 144
Cover price: 25 cents

Pulp critics and historians widely agree that STRANGE TALES was WEIRD TALES' closest competitor, with some claiming it was better in some instances. The editorial focus on the stories was action instead of "weirdness", but editor Harry Bates called ST a "weird fiction" magazine on the introductory page of the issue, a direct shot over the bow at WT.

Originally, publisher Clayton wanted to use the title, STRANGE STORIES, but McFadden had already published a magazine with the title of TRUE STRANGE STORIES  two years before, in 1929, and forced the change.

Bates paid two cents a word, double the rate of Farnsworth Wright's WEIRD TALES. Bates seemed to have had more of an editor's guiding hand with at least some of the stories, asking for changes that better suited the style that he wanted for the magazine.