Crain Adventure

The Crain Adventure tells the story behind the rise of Crain Communications as one of the world's premier business publishing companies. Written to celebrate the 75th anniversary year of Crain Communications, Inc., this book traces - through the career of its founder G. D. Crain, Jr. - the Company's early, formative years. From G. D. Crain's arrival in Chicago in 1916 with, "only a few thousand dollars in capital and a great deal of optimism," this book chronicles Crain's first successes in trade magazine publishing, building up to the birth of what was to become the Company's flagship publication, Advertising Age. From the launch of Ad Age at the onset of the Depression, through the stormy years of World War II, and into the postwar economic boom, this book shows how, buoyed by G. D. Crain's boundless enthusiasm and sound business acumen, the magazine survived and prospered to become the international newspaper of marketing. This book portrays how, with the encouragement and direction of Gertrude Crain, sons Rance and Keith continued the family tradition of success. Author Robert Goldsborough intertwines in his history the personalities of those who built the Company. Highlighting Crain's landmark successes - among them Business Insurance, Automotive News, Pensions & Investments, and Crain's regional business newspapers - this book is an inspiring portrayal of the making of a vibrant, growing publishing company.