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They Put It In Print… How to hate – 1941…
September 22, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
As we were searching through our issues from 1941 looking for new WWII content, to our great dismay we discovered a article on page 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle dated November 15th headed: “Goebbels Tells Germans How To Hate Jews”, which was followed by his ten “reasons” to hate them. There are some who wish to ignore and/or deny the existence of the hatred which ran rampant during this time in world history, but thanks to the S.F. Chronicle, they put it in print:
I’m New Here: Week Thirty-One
September 20, 2019 by Stephanie Williams · 1 Comment
Newspapers were bound into volumes throughout the years for a variety of reasons. My favorite is that the owner of a large house would send off the papers that had been delivered, ironed, and read throughout the course of a year. A book binder would glue and sew them together, and they would be returned to the home’s library, to be 
arranged with all the other years, and thus mark the history within which great homes and great families were housed.
Breaking a volume of bound issues goes against the grain for someone like me. Perhaps the remembered library hush of early childhood imprinted an aura of solemnity to the world of books; perhaps the shadowed mystery of pre-reading years conjures the aroma that is akin to sacred things. The most likely reason, however, is reflected in the lifetime acquisitions boxed in spare spaces, despite overflowing shelves in every room. I like books. And my forays into the back are exercises in willpower if I am headed toward All the Year Round, Household Words, Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s Weekly or Scribner’s Monthly – which are liberally laden with serialized stories from beloved authors.
This week, in a search for details surrounding a Harlem rabble-rouser, I found an article headed “BRITAIN AMERICANIZED, CHESTERTON CONTENDS”, followed by, “He says Existence of Nation Is Being Altered by American Economic Pressure”. The opening words confirmed my hope that these were indeed opinions offered by the great writer of The Man Who Would Be Thursday, the Father Brown Mysteries, and seventy other titles. Many American readers, such as myself, have relished the literary works of this sharp-witted, kind-hearted lay cleric of the early 1900’s.
The affection, it seems, was not mutual.
“Speaking last night at the Delphian Coterie dinner, G.K. Chesterton declared that English habit and life, the look of the English town and the whole tone of English existence are being altered by the economic and commercial pressure of America. He said that if the Kaiser had occupied London with the Prussian Army he could not more completely have denationalized the English nation and city. ’While I object most violently to the Americanization of England,’ he said, “I have no objection to the Americanization of America. Most Americans I have known I have liked, but I have like them most when I have known them in America. Let us approach all international criticism with a good deal of what our fathers called Christian humility. What Americans call it I do not know because I do not think they ever met it.’”
And, with that, I have nothing more to say.
Were you there – 1980? Elton John performs in Central Park…
September 16, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Price being equal, would you typically choose a tangible gift, or an experience? Why do I ask?
Context: My wife and I have been blessed with 6 children. As each approached the end of their high school education, we offered each of them a sizeable (to us – the parents of a large family with only one of us working outside the home) amount of money as a graduation gift, or its equivalent in cost to go on a trip of their own creation. Two of them opted for the $$$ to put toward items they wanted (at the time), while the other four each elected to go on a trip. Many years later, as we all reflect back on the “gifts”, those who chose the “experience” are pleased they did – and have vivid fond memories, and the others struggle to remember what it was they had purchased. The reality is, “things” are typically for the moment, and have short life-spans, whereas memories are for a lifetime.
It is with this in mind we embark on a new, experiential series of posts: “Where you there?” Our hope is that in so doing, those of you who were present will be flooded with good memories of your experience. To kick things off…
On September 13, 1980, Elton John performed a free concert in Central Park, New York. To this day, it remains one of the top ten most-highly attended musical events held in Central Park. Were you there? The ad below was printed in the September 9th, 1980 (f0r the 10th-16th) issue of The Village Voice. Feel free to share your family-friendly memories.
Snapshot 1968… One of the more eerie ads we’ve seen…
September 9, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The following snapshot comes from the Village Voice, Greenwich Village, New York, June 6, 1968. In a bizarre twist of fate which is a bit stranger than fiction, Robert (Bobby) Kennedy died this same day at the hand of an assassin, and although the coverage was not included since this issue had already been printed, the back page has an eerie ad soliciting help with his campaign which states: “ROBERT F. KENNEDY is alive and living in N.Y.” What could possibly have motivated the one placing this ad to include such wording?
Labor Day – back to school, end of summer, and hurricanes – Oh My!
September 2, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Labor Day weekend is often received with quite divergent emotions. Most children view its encroachment with sadness as marks the end of their summer and a return to school, whereas at least a portion of parents view it in a positive light as a return to a bit of normalcy, and to sports enthusiasts, the onset of football season. However, regardless of which point of view one embraces, for coastal residents in the east and south, their emotions are typically coupled with a bit of trepidation as it also signals the onset of prime hurricane season. In this regard, the Albany Evening News for September 4, 1935 tells of what has become known as The Great Labor Day Hurricane. The image below tells of at least the initial detail of this historic weather-generated disaster. So, as we ask the Lord’s blessing before enjoying our outdoor BBQ’s today, let’s be thankful these tragic events are few and far between.
Snapshot 1945… America at Iwo Jima – a melting pot forged in blood…
August 26, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The following snapshot comes from the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, dated April 22, 1945, which shouts of America as the world’s melting pot in a thousand words… and perhaps a million drops of blood.
Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… Martin Luther King Jr. march on Washington and speech…
August 8, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the HERALD EXAMINER, Los Angeles, August 28, 1963: reporting on the March which ended with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s historic, “I have a dream…” speech: “THE GREAT MARCH At Least 200,000“
I’m New Here: Weeks Twenty-Two and Twenty-Three…
July 26, 2019 by Stephanie Williams · Leave a Comment
Time seems to be advancing at an ever-increasing pace. Each day is crammed with more tasks than can possibly be accomplished; I think this means I am beginning to get the hang of things. But Monday brought me up short a bit as I searched titles tracing a particular story which initially diverted to the Freedom Ride. As intriguing as the tone in those accumulating reports of bus rides through the South was, the heading on a neighboring column wrested my eyes and my thoughts. I had to know the reason that divorcees (such a fancy and outmoded term) spent a night in jail. At least that’s what I believed at the time. However, since it has been four days since I read the report and I am still ready to sound forth at a moment’s reflection, it might have been better if I stuck to the familiar angst over bus seats allocated by color of skin.
In case accompanying photographs do not tell enough story, women went to jail because deadbeat dads (such a crass and modern term) did not pay court-ordered child support. Just that. The year was 1963, and I suppose I am not meant to expect much else from the era — particularly that the freedom to assemble could possibly, legally, be constrained to a total of four persons.
Because, that was the crux of the charges — the reason for the headline: Night in Jail Makes Divorcees Contrite. “They promised that if they ever picket the County Building again to protest lagging support payments they will keep within the legal limit of four.” Fifty-six years ago a woman who was not receiving justice promised by the legal system had to promise to forego rights granted in 1791 by the First Amendment, even as she attempted to bring pressure to bear on the powers that be. Of course, I’m not foolish enough to think that this tiny fragment that sparks my ire is as important than any of the other Civil Rights /liberties that seem to have too limited of a citizenry to whom they are applied. And I am fiercely glad that the group of four swelled to an angry mob of twelve, bringing so much havoc upon the town that these single mothers had to be jailed in order to preserve the peace. Perhaps they were granddaughters of those who marched for Suffrage . It may be that they were inspired by other heroes that brought about change. Because things are not the same today. Here it helps me to take in the 1963 newspaper as a whole, reading again of the laws that were eventually impacted by two different groups. In 2019, wearied with seemingly insurmountable conflict, offense, discrimination and outright hatred, the neighboring headline, “11 Riders Quietly Leave for Mississippi Test Run” provides some perspective. Multiple barriers to equality remain, but many have been knocked down. Many barriers have been knocked down, but perhaps some have been worn away through the centuries by those whose stories are woven through old newspaper pages, those who find their own, quiet, persistent way to push back.
The Village Voice… Greenwich Village, New York…
July 19, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, Nat Hentoff, John Wilcock, Norman Mailer, Ezra Pound, Lynda Barry, Robert Christgau, Andrew Sarris, J. Hoberman, James Baldwin, E.E. Cummings, Ted Hoagland… Broadway and Off-Broadway theater reviews, the annual Obie Awards, upstart musicians and actors, progressive and left-leaning journalism… the beatnik, hippie , and Bohemian cultures…
Although we rarely use this space to announce new inventory, we’ve recently taken in a collection which is unique enough to warrant an exception. As many know, The Village Voice, the iconic newspaper from Greenwich Village, recently stopped printing new issues. However, over the years they had saved samples of a majority of their issues for the purpose of eventually creating a digital archive, and once done, we were able to procure the lion’s-share of their own collection. What a treat! Although I personally am unable to endorse portions of their content, their impact on culture as far as newspapers are concerned may very well be second to none. Over the next year or so collectors will begin to see listings appear through our website and our eBay store. In the meantime, if there are specific issues you would like to add to your collection, and can appreciate their provenance, please be in touch at guy@rarenewspapers.com. Our holdings include most issues from 1956 through close to the final publication.
The Traveler… death comes to Teddy…
July 15, 2019 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Back in January I traveled to Norwich, New York via the Chenango Telegraph of January 7, 1919, where I found a three line headline “Col. Theodore Roosevelt Is Dead At His Home at Sagamore Hill.” “The news that Col. Theodore Roosevelt is dead was received at this office at 5:30 o’clock Monday morning… The ex-president died at his home at Sagamore Hill at 4 o’clock this morning…”
Besides his presidency, Teddy is probably most known for his Rough-Riders in the Spanish-American War while serving in Cuba.
~The Traveler