[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Glendale News-Press, 1952"]
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I had to dig this paper out of my closet to find out its publication date - December 23 1952. And what a headline, although surely the best part of the story is the fact that school official didn't think the damage would cost more than $10,000. The blast happened at 1.45am and thankfully there were no deaths or injuries. Interestingly there's no byline on the story, a strange omission considering its importance.
Unfortunately for RD White students the damage wasn't bad enough to extend their Christmas holiday. A cute little brief is worth repeating in whole:
HOPE FOR EXTRA VACATION DASHED
The telephone rang in the city room of the News-Press this morning. A 6-year old girl asked:
"Are the kids getting an extra long Christmas vacation because of the explosion?"
A reporter said school authorities hoped to have classes open on schedule[...]
"Oh shoot," the sweet young thing said. Then she added: "Thanks a lot," and hung up.
We don't get many six-year-olds calling the newsroom nowadays. Reading that, I sort of wish we did.
Further down the front is a story that proves nothing really changes: "Visitor, Hit By Car, Killed In Glendale" tells of a 72-year-old who was run over while crossing Orange at California. I suppose we can give the driver credit for not immediately driving off.
Below the fold is publisher Carrol W. Parcher's column, The Publisher's Corner, in which he endorses Thomas H. Kuchel to the post of US Senator from California and also mentions some chap by the name of Dick Nixon. Wonder if he ever went on to become famous?
This particular edition of the paper is in better condition than the others, meaning I can open the pages without it falling apart. On page 2 there's a story about the groundbreaking for Glendale's National Guard Armoury and on page 6 there's Glendale Glances by Glenna Dale, a precursor of our current society column On The Town.
Another great advantage to being able to open the pages is that I can see the adverts. It must be said that 1952's News-Press had less ads than 2009's... not that I'm complaining as it's ad revenue that keeps me in a job. But if you wanted a pair of slippers for $2.95, or get your car undercoated for $21, or a bottle of Santa Fe California sherry for 58 cents, then 1952 was the year for you.
Finally, the design. And it's a case of another decade, another masthead, this one at its rightful place on top of the page. I actually like this topper; it's clean, bold and classy. I'm assuming the building behind it is the News-Press office, then at 111 North Isabel. A copy would knock you back the princely sum of one nickel.
The pages are still crammed with stories (an amazing 17 on the cover; my record's seven) and very little art save a couple of mugshots and a pic of the school wreckage. Modern design is all about guiding the reader around the page by use of elements such as bold headlines, photos, colour tints and so on; in the 30s-50s there was much more of a "throw it at the page and see what fits" ethos. And when you're working with scissors, pots of glue and a looming deadline I can see how that would be best.
Next time: Back to World War II, only this time with the Glendale Star.
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