CENTENNIAL SUNDAYS
Journal printed much more than just the facts
Editor鈥檚 note: Centennial Sundays are published in honor of the Lang family鈥檚 100-year ownership of the 近距离内射合集. This week鈥檚 package focuses on some of the non-news features found on Journal pages through the years.
鈥楯ournal readers take their funnies quite seriously鈥�
That was the headline on a March 5, 2000, Journal story about new comic strips the paper was trying out to replace old ones. The Journal invited comments 鈥� and it got plenty.
One reader accused Journal editors of being 鈥渢iny-brained folks鈥� for considering canceling Mr. Boffo. Over the last decades, comics changes have elicited more public response than any news stories.
Case in point: When Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz died in February 2000, the strip鈥檚 syndicator offered to sell reruns of those already published.
The Journal, figuring folks would get tired of seeing reruns, opted to replace Peanuts with a new comic. Wrong decision. After 50 years of Peanuts, and a short hiatus, the Journal resumed Peanuts due to reader demand. Peanuts remains a mainstay on Journal pages today.
Good Morning greets readers for 50 years
Starting in 1926, and continuing for more than 75 years, Journal readers were greeted each day with a Good Morning 鈥� a one-paragraph blurb that ran on page one. Each night the Copy Desk chief was responsible for writing the next day鈥檚 Good Morning. But he or she did not do it alone. Everyone in the company 鈥� including those in the backshop 鈥� would submit suggestions. Sometimes tied to current events, sometimes completely random, the Good Mornings were aimed at bringing a smile 鈥� or a roll of the eyes 鈥� to readers.
They continued until 2001.
Advertising offers peek into history
While advertising has long served as a vital revenue source for the Journal, it has also offered a unique window into the lifestyles of past generations: What are the fashions being sold? What political issues are being weighed? How have prices changed?
Display ads from the Journal archives provide a sense of what Albuquerque life was like in the past. A Kistler, Collister ad in June 1926 touted spring coats costing $23.75 and silk dresses for $19.75.
The same edition of the Journal displays an ad for Sunshine Theatre, which listed evening movie tickets on the lower floor for 50 cents and balcony tickets for 35 cents. The ad promised the theater would be 鈥減erfectly ventilated and cooled鈥� (important for June in Albuquerque), as well as featuring two organists, W.H. Schreiber and Mrs. C.C. Root. The theater鈥檚 main movie attraction was Zane Grey鈥檚 鈥淏orn to the West.鈥�
In 2005, Verizon starts advertising cutting-edge camera flip phones for $29.95 and up. At the time, these represented the peak of mainstream mobile tech for the average consumer. Apple鈥檚 iPhone came on the market two years later.
Some ads sparked controversy. In the early 1970s, a local 鈥渟trip club鈥� threatened to sue the Journal because the newspaper refused to print an ad for the establishment. Bill Lang, then a teenager and years before he became publisher, was tasked with going to the club to view the ad. He ended up drawing additional clothes onto the partially clad model in the ad so the image could be published in the family newspaper.
Classified ads are small but mighty
In addition to display ads, the Journal published pages and pages of classified ads each day.
They ranged from home sales to auto sales to job offerings to lost pets 鈥� all critical aspects of daily life.
Looking at past classifieds is like looking at tiny gems of history. A rental section in 1926 lists dozens of rooms 鈥� not apartments 鈥� for rent: 鈥淓xcellent room and board, cool home. 508 W. Copper,鈥� reads one. Several specifically welcome those convalescing from tuberculosis: 鈥淟ARGE AIRY ROOMS 鈥� Very best for convalescents. $88 monthly. 511 So. Broadway,鈥� reads another.
The Journal鈥檚 one millionth classified ad was placed on Dec. 31, 1995, offering a 1964 Dodge pickup for $1,200, or best offer. A framed copy of the ad鈥檚 page hangs in the foyer outside the Journal鈥檚 Ray Cary auditorium.
Woman鈥檚 World 鈥� and much more
Through much of the Journal鈥檚 history, the newspaper featured a separate page or section for women readers.
In 1926, the Society page featured the 鈥淲EEK鈥橲 SOCIAL CALENDAR鈥� listing club meetings and private lunches and dinners hosted by Albuquerque鈥檚 who鈥檚 who of women. (It鈥檚 unclear how you鈥檇 get your party included in this prominently placed feature.)
Meanwhile, while today鈥檚 Facebook and Instagram shine at keeping folks informed of their friends鈥� comings and goings, the Journal鈥檚 Society page specialized in this a century ago.
Wrapped around a calendar box were snippets such as:
鈥淢rs. Michael Griffin of 301 N. 7th Street has returned from Youngstown, Ohio, where she was called to attend the funeral of her sister.鈥�
鈥淢iss Esther Howden of Park Avenue entertained at a charming bridge luncheon Saturday afternoon.鈥�
鈥淒r. and Mrs. Neimeier of Toronto, Canada, who have been visiting their sister in Albuquerque, have left 鈥�.鈥�
By the 1960s, the 鈥淲oman鈥檚 World鈥� Sunday section had grown to eight pages and included social activities, club news, weddings and engagements. For example, the Oct. 8, 1961, lead feature described the final rehearsal for the Junior League鈥檚 Follies, a major fundraiser, with plenty of photos.
The Woman鈥檚 World section also included such topics as the arts, religion, theater and music.
In later years, the Journal ended its 鈥渨omen鈥檚鈥� sections and published fewer 鈥渃lub鈥� news items. But it expanded its feature, or 鈥渟oft,鈥� news offerings to include sections called Arts and Entertainment, Trends, Features, GO!, Community and more. For years, the Journal published a special magazine focusing on women called Sage. It included in-depth stories on prominent women and major issues of the day, as well as tips on topics like career building, parenting and organizing a hectic schedule.
Karen Moses is a former editor of the Journal. She can be reached at kmoses@abqjournal.com.
Coming July 26: New Mexico is in the midst of fire season. How does this year compare with past years?
