Weird NJ

Last updated
Weird N.J.
Weird NJ cover.jpg
Cover of issue #17
Publisher/Editor Mark Sceurman
Mark Moran
Senior EditorJoanne Austin
Staff writers
  • Wheeler Antabanez
  • Ryan Doan
  • Jon Grove
  • Cheryl Ann Marino
  • Kate Philbrick
  • Jesse P. Pollack
  • Keith Seminerio
Photographer
  • Ryan Doan
  • Jennifer Rose
  • Rusty Tagliareni
  • Christina Mathews
Categories Guidebook, Local interests
FrequencyBiannually
PublisherWeird NJ, LLC
Founder Mark Sceurman
Mark Moran
Founded1989 (1989)
First issue1992 (1992)
CountryUnited States
Based in Bloomfield, NJ
LanguageEnglish
Website www.weirdnj.com
ISSN 2159-2993
OCLC 27875028

Weird NJ (sometimes abbreviated WNJ) is a semi-annual magazine that chronicles local legends, purported hauntings, ghost stories, folklore, unusual places or events, and other peculiarities in New Jersey. The magazine originated in 1989 as a newsletter sent to friends by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, but as it grew in popularity, it became a public magazine published twice a year. It spawned a series of books called Weird US , which chronicle oddities from individual states in the United States aside from New Jersey, which in turn led to a television series that aired on the History Channel.

Contents

History

Weird NJ began in 1989 as a personal newsletter sent to friends by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman. Gradually it evolved from a fanzine into a public magazine published twice a year in May and October. Abandoned places, eerie experiences, unique people, and strange landmarks were and still are common subjects for the magazine. Past issues have covered everything from the Jersey Devil and UFO sightings to abandoned Nike missile silos, the legend of the "Hookerman" Lights and the life of Zippy the Pinhead. Subjects covered include the Evil Clown of Middletown, Midgetville, "Gates of Hell", Shades of Death Road, Clinton Road, [1] [2] Demon Alley, and the Devil's Tower. The painting of a grinning face named Tillie from the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park has appeared in several Weird NJ publications and on the magazine covers. [3] [4]

In 2003 a Weird NJ book, made up of content from earlier issues, was published. The next year saw the follow-up Weird US, covering sites and stories across the country. That led to a series of Weird US books for other states and areas, including Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, California and New England, and a TV series, Weird U.S. , on the History Channel. [5] [6] The popularity of the magazine has inspired a community of fans of Moran and Sceurman's work. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinton Road (New Jersey)</span> Road in West Milford Township associated with strange events

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Mark Moran is a co-creator of the Weird N.J. magazine and website. Moran, along with co-creator Mark Sceurman, started Weird N.J. as a homemade newsletter, passed out to family and friends. It was produced as an annual issue. The "zine" as they called it, contains articles, facts, and legends about weird places to visit in New Jersey.

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<i>Weird U.S.</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Weird U.S. is a reality television series based on the book series of the same name. The program aired on The History Channel and starred Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, founders of the magazine Weird NJ, as they hunt the United States looking for weird history, hauntings, and legends because, as they say, "history is full of weirdos." It is produced by Kralyevich Productions. It is also a series of paranormal travel guides edited by the same two individuals.

Mark Sceurman is a graphic artist and co-creator and publisher with Mark Moran of Weird NJ magazine and a state-by-state series of books. With Moran he co-hosted the spin-off television series Weird U.S. on the History Channel.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil's Tree</span> Oak in New Jersey, United States

The Devil's Tree is a solitary oak tree, with some dead limbs, growing in an undeveloped field on Mountain Road in the Martinsville section of Bernards Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, across from a private housing development. Local legend suggests the tree is cursed: those who damage or disrespect the tree will soon thereafter come to some sort of harm, often in the form of a car accident or major breakdown as they leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Jeannette DePalma</span> American unsolved case

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References

  1. Kurczewski, Nick (May 23, 2014). "Clinton Road, New Jersey: The scariest and strangest road in the U.S." New York Daily News . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  2. Brodesser-Akner, Taffy (October 27, 2015). "Highway to Hell: A Journey Down America's Most Haunted Road". Atlas Obscura . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  3. Silbert, Jack (September 28, 2003). "Weirdest of All, the Magazine Has Caught On". The New York Times . Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Copeland, Libby (June 30, 2004). "Weird N.J., Celebrating The Odd State of Mind". The Washington Post . No. Page C01. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  5. Day, Dan (January 26, 2004). "'Weird NJ' Book Flying Off the Shelves."". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  6. Beale, Lewis (February 20, 2005). "That's just Weird". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 8, 2015.

Further reading