Los Angeles Examiner

The ''Los Angeles Examiner'' was a newspaper founded in 1903 by William Randolph Hearst in Los Angeles, California. The afternoon '' Los Angeles Herald-Express'' and the morning ''Los Angeles Examiner'', both of which had been publishing in the city since the turn of the 20th century, merged in 1962. For a few years after this merger, the ''Los Angeles Herald Examiner'' claimed the largest afternoon-newspaper circulation in the country, publishing its last edition on November 2, 1989.

Founding

The first edition was issued on Sunday, December 13, 1903, under the business managership of L. C. Strauss, who had managed the New York City office of the '' San Francisco Examiner,'' the first Hearst-owned newspaper. It was predicted to be Democratic in politics and to compete with the Republican-supporting ''Los Angeles Times,'' another morning newspaper."Press Notes of Interest," ''Buffalo (New York) Evening News,'' November 24, 1903, image 9
/ref>

The ''Examiner'' published a preview edition on Friday, December 11, to announce its platform, but its first regular "mammoth Sunday issue" (84 pages, "profusely illustrated") was dated December 13."Los Angeles Examiner," '' Weekly Journal-Miner,'' Prescott, Arizona, December 16, 1903, page 4] "Fireworks, the booming of cannon and shouts of the populace greeted the appearance of the paper.""Press Notes of Interest," ''Buffalo Evening News,'' New York, December 21, image 19
/ref>

The '' Weekly Journal-Miner'' of Prescott, Arizona, said of the ''Examiner'':

The paper is a typical Hearst publication, a style of journalism which is original with Mr. Hearst and the only one of its kind in the United States and for that matter the world, except for the ''Phenix Enterprise,'' which affects the Hearst style.

The ''Journal-Miner'' predicted the ''Examiner'' would be a pro-labor newspaper as opposed to the rival open-shop ''Los Angeles Times.''

Building

The five-story Los Angeles Examiner Building on South Broadway at 11th Street was designed in a mix of Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles by architect Julia Morgan.Roger Vincent, "Arizona State to Expand Into Downtown L.A. at Historic Herald Examiner Building," August 21, 2018
/ref> The 7,800-square-foot building was the largest structure in the United States devoted solely to the publication of a newspaper.

A train of nine freight cars arrived in Los Angeles on November 19, 1903, loaded with the machinery to print the paper. Five of the cars carried a mammoth Hoe printing press."Telegraphic Sparks"
'' Weekly Journal-Miner,'' Prescott, Arizona, November 25, 1903, page 1, column 7

In 1918, a set for the motion picture ''The Empty Cab'' was a replica of the editorial rooms of the ''Examiner.''

The Sunday Examiner building was displayed prominently in Laurel and Hardy's skyscraper, girder-walking sequence that was part of the silent Hal Roach comedy "Liberty" (1929).

Patriotism controversy

In common with the other Hearst newspapers, the ''Examiner'' was opposed to American involvement in
World War One and in 1918 attracted opposition and boycotts.

A "large number of editorials attacking the government's war policies," clipped from the ''Examiner,'' were seized in a raid by federal agents in a raid on a Santa Barbara school for boys called "Boyland." Five people were arrested and charged with espionage.

An organization called the California Loyal League claimed that the ''Examiner'' was "disloyal and a dangerous influence in this city." It included both the French and the British consuls in Los Angeles.

The University Club of Los Angeles and the Sierra Madre Club both banned the Examiner from its reading rooms. ''Examiner'' staffers were barred from taking photographs at a French national day celebration at the Shrine Auditorium. They were jeered on their way out of the building.

Staffers manhandled, kidnapped

In 1934 automobile-race driver Al Reinke and driver Babe Stapp were indicted on charges of manhandling and then kidnapping reporter James Lee who went with photographer John Bennus to the funeral of Ernie Triplett, who had been killed in a racing accident in Imperial, California. Lee said five men threatened violence against the newspaper's workers if news photos were taken at the funerals of any race drivers. The newspaper had been campaigning against automobile-racing fatalities.Associated Press, "3 Who Prevented Photo Face Chair on Kidnap Charge," ''New York Daily News,'' March 10, 1934, image 72]

Reinke was killed in a racing accident before he could be tried.

Merger

In 1962, the morning ''Examiner'' merged with the ''Los Angeles Herald-Express,'' an afternoon newspaper also owned by the Hearst organization. The ''Examiner'' published its last edition on Sunday, January 7. The succeeding newspaper was known as the ''Los Angeles Herald Examiner.''

Notable people

* Elliott Roosevelt (general), Elliott Roosevelt, aviation editor"Elliot Roosevelt Is Aviation Editor," ''New York Daily News,'' August 27, 1933, image 296
/ref>

References

{{Hearst

1903 establishments in California
1962 disestablishments in California