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.
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
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
Sunday edition CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 30, 1990
* West Coast hip-hop gangsta rap music
* M.C. Hammer - Vanilla Ice and more
Often revered as the undisputed "bible" of… more
THE KNICKERBOCKER PRESS, March 16, 1933
* Early newspaper advertisement (eve)
* King Kong, the movie for opening day
The back page has a 8 1/2 x 6 inch advertisement for the opening day premiere of… more
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, August 31, 1942
* Battle of Milne Bay
* World War II - WWII
* Pacific theater campaign
The front page has a nice headline: "M'ARTHUR TRAPS JAPS IN MILNE BAY AMBUSH" with… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Oct. 26, 1986
* Very early "Guns' N' Roses" & "Red Hot Chili Peppers"
* Hard "Sleaze-Rock & Alternative funk-punk music
* Axl Rose - Slash -… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 14, 1999
* Detroit rapper EMINEM album release party
* "Slim Shady" hip-hop - horrorcore rap music
* Record label "Aftermath Entertainment"… more
CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Dec. 17, 2010
* Best "Tron: Legacy" film advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere
* Walt Disney science fiction action
A terrific issue on the… more
PARADE magazine section only of the Detroit Free Press, Jan. 29, 1956
* Actress Lauren Bacall color cover photo
* Hollywood marriage with Humphrey Bogart
The front page of this section has a nice… more
Sunday CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, June 18, 1989
* First "NIRVANA" performance in L.A.
* Early American "Grunge Rock" band
* Al's Bar performance notice - "Bleach"
* Curt Cobain -… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, April 22, 1985
* Madonna arrives in Southern California for the first time (career)
* Upcoming Los Angeles's Universal Amphitheatre - "The Virgin Tour"
The front page of the… more
CALENDAR SECTION only of the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 14, 1985
* Early "Metallica" heavy metal band
* Hollywood Palladium advertisement
* Bassist Cliff Burton era - "Ride the Lightning"
This Calendar… more
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, July 7, 1939
* Very early "The Wizard of Oz" item
* Over a month prior to it's premiere
* Behind the scenes production details
* American Musical fantasy film - movie
* L.… more
THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, April 9, 1763 Page 3 contains a very lengthy report headed: "Extract from the Journal of an Officer at the Havana, containing some interesting Particulars of the… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 29, 1936
* Jehovah's Witnesses jailed in Orange NJ
* Under Joseph Franklin Rutherford leadership
* Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society leader
The top of page 5 has a very small… more
* Back Nationalist
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Feb. 19, 1954
* "The Glenn Miller Story" film advertisement
* American big band leader biographical movie
* Actor James "Jimmy" Stewart & June Allyson
Page 18 has a 14 x 7 1/2… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Feb. 3, 1975
* The Jackson 5 w/ Blue Magic - 1st World tour
* Michael Jackson as a 16 year old singer
* Radio City Music Hall concerts… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, March 29, 1976
* Pre singer Ronnie Van Zant airplane crash disaster
* Lynyrd Skynyrd - American Southern rock band
* GENESIS w/ Phil… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, Jan. 15, 1985
* Iron Maiden - World Slavery Tour w/ Eddie the Head
* "Powerslave" album - English heavy metal group
* Radio City Music Hall… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, July 29, 1971
* Grateful Dead, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper & more
* Upcoming Gaelic Park concerts advertisement - Bronx
Page 35 has a full page… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, March 24, 1998
* 1998 Academy Awards - Oscars in Los Angeles
* Record breaking film "Titanic" takes 11 awards
* James Cameron - Leonardo DiCaprio - Kate Winslet
The front page has a… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, Feb. 13, 1998
* Best "The Wedding" advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere review
* American romantic comedy film
* Actor Adam Sandler & Actress Drew Barrymore
* Other nice… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, July 2, 1981
* The "Wonderland Murders" & John Holmes ?
* American adult Pornographic film industry
Near the bottom of page 3 is a one column heading: "Four Found Slain in Laurel… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, July 4, 1985
* Best "Back to the Future" film advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere review
* Michael J. Fox - Marty McFly - comedy
A nice issue on the 2nd day premiere of… more
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, Nov. 8, 1928
* Mount Etna volcano eruption
* Mascali, Sicily, Italy lava disaster
The front page has a one column heading: "Fiery Finger of Etna Wipes Out 2 Towns" (see… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 31, 1926
* Silent film star Rudolph Valentino
* Latin Lover - "The Sheik" funeral
* Pola Negri fainting over coffin
The top of the front page has a one column heading:… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, March 14, 1988
* John Holmes death of the AIDS virus
* American adult Pornographic film actor
* "Johnny Wadd" "The King of Pornos"
* Inspiration for "Boogie Nights" & "Wonderland"
*… more
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, June 18, 1978
* "Whippoorwill" showboat disaster
* Deadliest F1 tornado - 16 deaths
* Pomona Lake in Osage County, Kansas
The front page has a heading that reads: "Twister tips… more
THE KNICKERBOCKER PRESS, May 6, 1934
* Bank robber John Dillinger gang
* Hunted in the Chicago area
* Woman friend Beth Green
The top of page 4 has a one column heading: "WOMAN FRIEND HID DILLINGER… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 12, 1936
* Abraham Lincoln assassination eyewitness
* Mrs. Harriet Van Pelt interview w/ photo
* Was 18 years old at Ford's Theater event
The front page has a one column… more
SUN-TIMES, Chicago, June 11, 1982
* "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial" advertisement
* Grand Opening Day premiere movie review
* Steven Spielberg - science-fiction fantasy
* Also opening day for "Grease… more
THE LEISURE HOUR, London, Sept. 12, 1861 This 12 page issue measures 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches and is "A Family Journal Of Instruction And Recreation" with 2 illustrations.
Nice condition.
Background: The… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 22, 1954
* Creature from the Black Lagoon - Gill-man
* Third day premiere advertisement for NYC
* 3D monster horror film - movie
Page 8 has a 3 1/2 x 3 inch advertisement for the… more
THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 30, 1974
* Iconic director Steven Spielberg's 1st major film premiere
* Opening Day (Eve) for the movie "The Sugarland Express"
* American crime drama in Texas - Actress… more
LOS ANGELES EXAMINER, VE, May 7, 1945
* Germany Surrenders
* V-E day - Nazis quit
The masthead has a patriotic theme with blue and red ink. The terrific banner headline announces: "NAZIS SURRENDER"… more
CALENDAR section only of the Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1990
* Best original "Days of Thunder" advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere review
* American sports action drama film - Tom Cruise
A… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, May 24, 1989
* Best "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" film advertisement
* Grand Opening Day movie premiere review
* Steven Spielberg - Harrison Ford
A terrific issue on the… more
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, March 28, 1955
* "Revenge of the Creature" - Gill-man
* "Creature from the Black Lagoon" sequel
* Opening day (midnight) premiere advertisement
* 3D monster horror film - movie
Pa… more
LOS ANGELES TIMES, Jan. 26, 1990
* Ava Gardner death (1st report)
* Movie - film actress & singer
* Best title to be had ?
The bottom of the ftpg. has an article headed: "Ava Gardner, Sultry Film Star,… more
THE VILLAGE VOICE, New York, April 13, 1961
* Bob Dylan - Robert Allen Zimmerman
* Very 1st public performance advertisement
* Gerde's Folk City music venue in Greenwich Village
An exceedingly… more
THE SPRINGFIELD UNION, Mass., June 29, 1934
* Gangster John Dillinger
* On the run in Chicago ?
* Sighted at baseball game ?
* Less than a month of killing
Near the bottom of the front page is a two… more
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