Hugo Gernsback was one of the pioneers of publishing, producing one of the first science fiction magazines, Amazing Stories, and many publications devoted to radio and electronics. Along the way, he also published pulp magazines (Pirate Stories), comics (Superworld), and, of course, the controversial but probably informative digest Sexology. He was also known for his poor treatment of writers, and for his early science fiction novel Ralph 124C 41+, essentially a list of fictional inventions couched in clumsy prose.

Starting in 1934, he sent out a small magazine called Forecast as a Christmas bonus to his subscribers. It was officially published by Radio-Electronics, and contained 32 pages of scientific articles and predictions. It was never sold, and I suppose copies are rare nowadays. This 1965 edition contained articles on the first satellite photos of the moon, medical electronics, flying saucers, the possibility of picturephones, the difficulties of manned space flight, multiplex televisions, and changing tastes in science fiction–all written by Gernsback.

And here’s a drawing of his proposed multiplex television. No more families squabbling over the channel in the wonderful world of the future!

(Posted by Doug Skinner)