THIRD RAIL burst onto the American literary scene in 1975 with a fresh take on how far a poetry magazine could go beyond the editorial and graphic conventions of its genre to link writing with cultural-historical movements and political and artistic changes of the era.

THIRD RAIL immediately cut an uncompromising and expressive path across a broad spectrum of writing and the arts starting with the publication of its earliest issues. Co-edited by founding editors Uri Hertz and Doren Robbins, the magazine set out its editorial concept based on a historically-minded approach to literature as a living cultural force. THIRD RAIL's dynamic appeal caught the interest of leading writers such as Henry Miller, Kenneth Rexroth, Robert Bly, Jack Micheline and George Hitchcock, who contributed writing to early issues. Full editing and publishing responsibilities were left in the hands of Uri Hertz when Doren Robbins left his editorial post with the magazine after five years. As THIRD RAIL continued to carve its unique course through the shifting landscape of post-sixties to late twentieth century American culture, this innovative and imaginative review of international arts and literature continued to capture and hold the attention of poets, writers, scholars and practitioners as well as appreciators of the visual, theatrical and cinematic arts.