Police Gazette

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This article is about the American magazine The National Police Gazette. For other uses, see Police Gazette (disambiguation).

A publication in the United States by this name was officially The National Police Gazette, although commonly referred to as simply the Police Gazette. It was founded in 1845 by George Wilkes, a journalist and sometime transcontinental railroad booster.^[1] The editor for most of the 19th century was Richard K. Fox, an immigrant from Ireland. Ostensibly devoted to matters of interest to the police, it was more often a tabloid-like publication, with lurid coverage of murders, Wild West outlaws, and sport. It was well known for its engravings and photographs of scantily clad strippers, burlesque dancers, and prostitutes, often skirting on the edge of what was legally considered obscenity. The National Police Gazette enjoyed considerable popularity in the late 19th century and early decades of the 20th century; but its popularity decreased during the Great Depression. [1] It continued publishing until 1982. [2]

Musician Dan Hicks has claimed that he derived inspiration for some of his witty, satiric lyrics by stories he had read in The Police Gazette.

The website, www.policegazette.us[3], mimics the Police Gazette style in coverage of current events and contains some archival materials from the original publication that give a taste of its late 19th century flavor.

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