Ned L. Pines (1905–1990) founded Pines Publications in Manhatten in 1928 and remained its president until 1961. Under his direction the company published pulp magazines and other periodicals through a variety of imprints, including Thrilling Publications, Standard Magazines, Beacon Magazines, and Better Publications, until he retired in 1971. The company was best known for its many different "Thrilling" pulp series (including for example, Thrilling Adventures and Thrilling Detective) and other leading magazines such as Future Science Fiction.
Pines added comic books to the mix in 1939 with the publishing imprint Standard Comics, which became in turn the parent company of two comic-book lines - Better Publications and Nedor Publishing. In 1942 he founded the paperback book publisher Popular Library in 1942, remaining its president through 1966 and serving as chairman through until 1968, and in 1952, via his Standard Magazines imprint purchased Silver Screen and Screenland from the Henry Publishing company.