Source:Telegraph-and-sun
"Telegraph and Sun single paper." Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Aug. 2, 1927, pp. 1–2. Newspapers.com 523045174, 523045164.
In one of the largest newspaper consolidations ever effected William Randolph Hearst late yesterday afternoon became owner of the Pittsburgh Gazette Times and the Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph, and Paul Block became owner of the Pittsburgh Post and the Pittsburgh Sun.
A few hours later it was announced that Mr. Hearst had acquired from Mr. Block the Evening Sun which has been merged with the Chronicle Telegraph under the name of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, and also the Pittsburgh Sunday Post which will be merged with the Sunday Gazette Times under the name of the Sunday Sun-Telegraph. At the same time Mr. Hearst relinquishes to Mr. Block the 6-day Gazette Times, which has been merged with the Post under the name of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The Sun-Telegraph will be published six afternoons each week and on Sunday morning. The Post-Gazette will appear only as a six-day morning newspaper.
In announcing the sale to Mr. Hearst of the Gazette Times and the Chronicle Telegraph, George S. Oliver, president of the Newspaper Printing Company, retiring publishers, bespoke for the new publisher "the same confidence and support of our many thousands of readers that they have accorded to the owners and managers who have controlled these publications for the past quarter of the century."
In a similar announcement concerning the sale to Mr. Block of the Post and Sun, Arthur E. Braun and George C. Moore, trustees under the will of the late T. H. Given, majority owner of the stock in the Post Publishing Company, retiring publishers, asked for Mr. Block "a cordial reception in the Pittsburgh community." In a long career "in the newspaper field and advertising," the statement declared, "Mr. Block has proved himself a man of warm impulses, of high integrity and strong public spirit."
Representatives of Mr. Hearst, in announcing the noted publisher's entry into the Pittsburgh field, dedicate themselves "to publish a good newspaper, entertaining and clean, and watchful for the protection of public interests." The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and the Sunday Sun-Telegraph, the statement declares, "will be edited by Pittsburghers, for Pittsburghers, under the direction of Mr. Hearst, with the greatest feature storehouse in the world at its disposal and the most famous writers and most popular artists ever assembled under one banner contributing to its columns."
In the presentation of news, the statement declares, "the Sun-Telegraph's policy will be fearless and aggressive. Above all, this newspaper will try sincerely to be worthy of this earnest, energetic Pittsburgh community."
Mr. Block, in confirming the announcement of his purchase of the Pittsburgh Post and the Pittsburgh Sun, declared that "it will be our ambition to have the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a newspaper of which everyone may be proud. Its policies will be independent and the newspaper will be of such high character as to insure its welcome into every home."
While representatives of Mr. Hearst announced that the Sun-Telegraph will continue to sell for 2 cents and the Sunday Sun-Telegraph for 10 cents, the Post-Gazette was on sale this morning for 3 cents.
The Sun-Telegraph is published by the Pitt Publishing company, the officers being W. R. Hearst, president; H. M. Bitner, vice president and publisher; A. W. Clark, secretary-treasurer, and C. W. Danziger, managing editor.
The officers of the Post-Gazette are Paul Block, president; M. F. Hanson, vice president; J. S. Welliver, secretary; L. B. Rock, treasurer.
Negotiations which ended in the merger of the four newspapers were conducted by George Schroeder, newspaper broker and head of the Schroeder Piano Company of Pittsburgh.
Through the entry of Mr. Hearst into the Pittsburgh newspaper field Pittsburghers will have at their disposal, in addition to the many special features, the newsgathering facilities of his other 25 newspapers in 16 cities—New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Oakland, Washington, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Albany, San Antonio, Detroit, Rochester and Syracuse.
The significance to Pittsburghers in the merger is in the reduction of local newspapers from three afternoon newspapers, three Sunday newspapers and two morning newspapers to two afternoon, two Sunday and one morning newspapers.
In his statement announcing the retirement of his brother Augustus K. Oliver, and himself, from the newspaper publishing field in Pittsburgh, George S. Oliver said:
The Newspaper Printing Company, owner and publisher of The Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph and The Gazette Times, has been purchased by William Randolph Hearst. With the facilites [sic] of a great string of newspapers extending from coast to coast; the Associated Press together with the news services with which he is offiliated [sic], and the features and comics for which the Hearst Newspapers are famous, we feel that Mr. Hearst will provide, in The Chronicle Telegraph and The Gazette Times, not only the best newspapers in Pittsburgh but the equal of any in the country. We bespeak for Mr. Hearst the same confidence and support on the part of our many thousands of readers that they have accorded ofreaders that they have accorded [sic] to the owners and managers who have controlled these publications for the past quarter of the century.
THE NEWSPAPER PRINTING COMPANY,
George S. Oliver, President.
