Historic Newspapers: Movies, Film & Theater
The listings below are just a sampling of newspaper reporting regarding film and theater. If you don't find your favorite person or event, use our search engine to search for them by name.
Note: Some newspapers shown are of significant events upon which future movies and/or plays were based.
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Aug. 18, 1991
* African American artist David Hammons
Often revered as the undisputed "bible" of Hollywood, the Sunday Calendar section occupied… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, May 12 & 19 , 1981
* The week Madonna Louise Ciccone became "MADONNA"
* Extremely early Madonna events in social media
* Pre-solo & SOLO… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, March 25, 1990
* Hip Hop group "2 Live Crew" rap music
* "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" album
* Luther Campbell & First Amendment
* Obscenity… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, Feb. 8, 1995
* Tupac Shakur 2Pac sentenced
* Sexual assault in Manhattan
* American rapper and actor
Page 4 has a somewhat discrete report with one column heading: "Rapper Shakur Gets
… moreSunday edition CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Oct. 7, 1990
* Walt Disney's "Fantasia" 50th anniversary
* Animated musical with Mickey Mouse
* Sam Kinison - Stand-up Comedian
* Los… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Aug. 11, 1991
* "Metallica" heavy metal band w/ photo
* Eve of the release of "The Black Album"
* Attempt to go mainstream - radio play
* "Enter… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Oct. 18, 1981
* Very early "Motley Crue" on the Sunset Strip
* American heavy metal - hard rock band
* Roxy Theatre nightclub advertisement
*… more
NEWARK DAILY ADVERTISER, New Jersey, May 12, 1859
* American Chess player Paul Morphy
* vs. 5 European masters in exhibition games
* At London's St. James Chess Club
This publication served as New… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 8, 1987
* "GENESIS" English rock band concert advertisement
* "Invisible Touch World Tour" at Dodger Stadium
* Phil Collins - Mike… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Nov. 22 1987
* Early "Guns' N' Roses" concert advertisement
* Hard "Sleaze-Rock music - "Appetite for Destruction"
* Axl Rose - Slash - Izzy… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Oct. 4, 1987
* Best "Near Dark" advertisement
* Opening day film - movie premiere
* American neo-Western horror - vampires
* Motley Crue w/… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, July 18, 1980
* Donald "Red" Barry suicide death
* Hollywood Western B-movie actor
* "Adventures of Red Ryder" fame
The front page has a heading: "Red Barry Kills Himself" with… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, July 21, 1980
* 1980 actors strike begins
* Screen Actors Guild
* American film industry
The front page has a banner headline: "60,000 Actors on Strike" with lead-in: "TV-FILM… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, June 7, 1987
* Early MADONNA concert advertisement
* Singer - songwriter - actress - model
* "Who's That Girl World Tour" "True Blue"
* Madonna's… more
Sunday CALENDAR section only of the Los Angeles Times, June 29, 1997
* Best "Men in Back" advertisement
* Grand pre-opening day movie premiere
* American science fiction action comedy film
* Actors… more
Here is a 4 page insert from the June 29th, 1997 issue of the Los Angeles Times promoting the premiere of the musical Ragtime at the Shubert Theatre.
* Ragtime (musical) advertisement
* United States… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, Nov. 2, 1993
* Tupac Shakur 2Pac arrested
* Aggravated assault against police
* American rapper and actor
Page F2 of the "Calendar Section" has a report with heading: "Rappers
… moreSunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, June 6, 1993
* Best "Jurassic Park" film advertisement
* Pre opening movie premiere review
* Steven Spielberg science-fiction adventure
* Actor… more
Sunday edition CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Jan. 7, 1990
* "Motley Crue" L.A. concert advertisement
* "Dr. Feelgood World Tour" hometown welcome
* w/ "Faster Pussycat" at Long… more
SECTION 6 only of the Chicago Sunday Tribune, Feb. 7, 1943
* Hollywood actress Greer Garson
* Golden & World War II era
This section contains entertainment related material throughout with a front… more
ALBANY EVENING NEWS, March 1, 1934
* Puyi - Henry Pu Yi - Manchu Aisin Gioro
* Last Emperor of China - Qing dynasty
* Becomes Emperor of Manchukuo (1st report)
The top of the front page has a one column… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, July 16, 1964
* Newport Folk Festival - music concert
* Year before Bob Dylan's electric controversy
Page 9 has a early advertisement for the… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1990
* Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation World Tour"
* American singer, songwriter, actress & dancer
* Great Los Angeles concert… more
SHOW pullout section only of the Chicago Sun-Times, July 22, 1984
* Prince - singer, songwriter, musician, actor, filmmaker
* The week "Purple Rain" made it's opening day premiere
The front page of… more
CALENDAR section only of the Los Angeles Times, Aug. 9, 1991
* Best "Double Impact" advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere
* Actor & Martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme
A terrific issue on… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 25, 1990
* "Public Enemy" hip hop group
* West Coast "gangsta rap" fame
* Rappers Chuck D and Flavor Flav
"Sonic Temple" & "The Cult"… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 18, 1990
* "A Clockwork Orange: 2004" stage adaption
* U2 - Bono - "Achtung Baby" - Anthony Burgess
* Featured article by journalist David… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, July 27, 1986
* American singer Whitney Houston "The Voice"
* "The Greatest Love World Tour"
* Southern California concerts advertisement
Often… more
CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, March 27, 1995
* The Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls
* East Coast hip-hop - gangsta rapper
* Just after debut album "Ready to Die"
Often revered as the… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE, Greenwich Village, New York, Jan. 27, 1960 Page 8, and continuing on to pg. 10 of this significant issue features Jonas Mekas’s famous "Movie Journal" column, containing a
… moreMETRO SECTION (Sec. II) only of the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 10, 1984
* Early "Motley Crue" deals with a tragedy
* Vince Neil's DUI accident that killed his passenger
* American heavy metal - hard rock… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, July 11, 1968
* The Doors - The Who - Jimi Hendrix Experience
* New York Rock Festival - Singer Bowl in Queens
* Rock bands concert… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, April 9, 1964
* Lenny Bruce - stand-up comedian - satirist ad
* Conviction for obscenity comedy performance
* Cafe Au Go Go nightclub -… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Dec. 23-29, 1981
* Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Woman rocker
* The Ritz nightclub concert advertisement
Page 2 has a nice full page… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, Oct. 19, 1982
* DEVO - American new wave punk rock band
* Palladium Theatre concert advertisement
* "Whip It" - synth-pop song fame
Page 71 has… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Feb. 25, 1986
* Social Distortion - hardcore punk rock band
* Lead vocalist Mike Ness - cowpunk music
* Ritz nightclub concert… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York, Oct. 16, 1978
* "Queen" North America concert tour
* "Jazz" album tour - Freddie Mercury
* Concerts at Madison Square Garden advertisement
* MISSING THE FRONT & BACK PAGES
Pa… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Aug. 30, 1987
* Michael Jackson "King of Pop"
* American singer, songwriter & dancer
* Fantastic "Bad" album release advertisement
Often revered… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE, Greenwich Village, New York, March 19, 1958 By far, the most significantly, pages 8 and 10 feature the first public, printed publication of Samuel Beckett’s private letters to
… moreSunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 2, 1990
* When Hollywood went "Far Left"
* Democrat Party stronghold initiated
Often revered as the undisputed "bible" of Hollywood, the… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 4, 1990
* The birth of West Coast "gangsta rap"
* "Public Enemy" hip hop group
* Interview w/ Chuck D with photos
* "N.W.A." with Dr. Dre &… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 21, 1954
* Creature from the Black Lagoon - Gill-man
* Opening day (2nd) advertisement for NYC
* 3D monster horror film - movie
Page 18 has an advertisement for the second day… more
Sunday edition CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Dec.16, 1990
* Sinead O'Connor - Irish singer, songwriter & activist
* Cartoonish caricature with editorial - "Nothing Compares 2 U"
Often… more
THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, Feb. 21, 1898
* re. USS Maine explosion disaster
* Spanish-American War prelude
* Havana Harbor , Cuba
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "THE WRECKED… more
Sunday edition CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, March 16, 1997
* Stand-up comedian & actor Chris Rock
* Los Angeles performance advertisement
* Jim Carrey's "Liar Liar" comedy movie -… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Jan. 26, 1992
* Early NIRVANA alternative grunge rock band
* Nevermind's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video
* Curt Cobain - Dave Grohl - Krist… more
Sunday edition CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 23, 1985
* Best "The Godfather Part III" film advertisement
* Pre-Grand opening day movie premiere review
* Francis Ford Coppola -… more
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Wednesday, March 18, 1931
* "Dracula" the movie - opening day
* Vampires - pre-code Bela Lugosi film
* Detroit premiere advertisement (2 days prior)
Page 20 has the opening day… more
NEW YORK TIMES, July 17, 1865
* Post Abraham Lincoln assassination
* Owner of Ford's Theater letter signed
Page 5 has one-third of a column headed: "Ford's Theatre--Letter from the Proprietor to a… more
MASONIC MIRROR, Philadelphia & New York, Feb. 17, 1858
* Masonic - free masonry - Masons
* Pre American Civil War era
In the dateline is: "Devoted To The Diffusion Of Masonic Intelligence, Fine… more
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