Much the way upstart Back Stage eventually edged the 49-year-old actors' newspaper, Show Business, out of business, L.A.'s Back Stage West has proven too formidable a competitor to its 26-year-old rival, Drama-Logue.

Bill Bordy, who founded Drama-Logue in 1972, has agreed to sell the assets of his magazine to Back Stage West. He told news sources, "I'm at a point where I want to simplify my life to unload or sell my worldly goods. What's the sense of working all your life if you can't enjoy it?"

Now BPI, which owns Back Stage and BSW, as well as the Hollywood Reporter, will enjoy Drama-Logue's subscription base and also incorporate the newspaper's casting information and advertising. Paperwork was signed for the acquisition May 13; the first combined issue will be out June 4.

The famed Drama-Logue Awards, begun in 1977, will be discontinued in favor of BSW's recently established "Garland Awards."

Back Stage West editor Rob Kendt was quoted, praising Bordy for building "a paper for actors in a town that offers few resources and little respect for actors. That has also been the mission of Back Stage West, so I'm proud to assume the responsibility for the readership and mission of Bill's paper, as well." According to Back Stage West media representative Stacey Kumagai, the newspaper will be called Back Stage West/Drama-Logue for about a year and then drop the latter part.

-- By David Lefkowitz