Murder Casebook Magazine Issue 58 24 April 1990 William Desmond Taylor Thelma Todd (1501)

Original vintage Murder Casebook – Issue 58, from Marshall Cavendish’s weekly Investigations into the Ultimate Crime true-crime series. This issue is titled “Murder in Hollywood” and examines the mysterious deaths of William Desmond Taylor and Thelma Todd, two prominent figures from early Hollywood. Issue 58 is specifically catalogued under these two cases.

Magazine Details

Publication: Murder Casebook Magazine
Issue: 58
Full Date: 24 April 1990
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Series: Investigations into the Ultimate Crime
Main Feature: Murder in Hollywood
Featured Cases: William Desmond Taylor & Thelma Todd
Original UK Price: £1.50
SKU: 1501

About This Issue

The cover uses the distinctive black, cream and green Murder Casebook design and features two vintage portrait photographs representing the issue's Hollywood theme.

The headline reads:

“Murder in Hollywood”

with the cover identifying William Desmond Taylor and Thelma Todd as “two leading lights – a director and a screen idol – whose deaths shook Tinseltown.”

William Desmond Taylor was a major silent-film-era director whose death became one of early Hollywood’s most enduring murder mysteries, while actress and comedian Thelma Todd’s death also became the subject of long-running speculation. This issue brings both stories together as a historical true-crime examination of Hollywood’s darker side.

The issue forms part of the consecutive Murder Casebook run, coming directly after Issue 57 – The Modern Bluebeard: Henri Désiré Landru and before Issue 59 – Passion for Poison: Graham Young.

Collector Interest

A particularly appealing issue for collectors interested in:

• Vintage true-crime publications
• Early Hollywood history
• Silent film
• William Desmond Taylor
• Thelma Todd
• Unsolved and controversial deaths
• Marshall Cavendish partworks
• Murder Casebook magazine collections

The period portrait photography and strong Hollywood crime theme make this one of the more distinctive issues in the series.

Condition

Pre-owned vintage condition with visible age and handling wear.

From the supplied image:

• Front cover remains complete and generally well presented.
• Noticeable light surface scratching and rubbing across the black areas.
• Some small white/scuffed marks are visible from normal storage and handling.
• Left/spine edge shows rubbing and light wear, particularly toward the lower section.
• Top edge has mild handling wear.
• Top-right corner shows noticeable creasing/bending and edge wear.
• Bottom corners show light softening and rubbing.
• Lower edge remains generally sound with some age-related wear.
• Cover colours and typography remain strong and highly legible.
• Both central portrait photographs remain clear.
• No obvious writing, labels or ownership marks visible on the front.
• No major front-cover tears are apparent from the supplied photograph.

Only the front cover is shown, so the internal page condition and completeness cannot be fully assessed from the available image.

SKU: 1501