''The Era'' was a British weekly paper, published from 1838 to 1939. Originally a general newspaper, it became noted for its sports coverage, and later for its theatrical content.
History
''The Era'' was established in 1838 by a body of shareholders consisting of licensed
victuallers and other people connected with their trade. The journal was intended to be a weekly organ of the
public-house interest, just as the ''
Morning Advertiser'' was then its daily organ. In the first two or three years of its existence, its political stance was broadly
Liberal. Its first editor,
Leitch Ritchie, proved too liberal for his board of directors, and in addition to editorial clashes, the paper was a commercial failure. Ritchie was succeeded by Frederick Ledger, who became sole proprietor as well as editor. He edited the paper for more than thirty years, gradually changing its politics from Liberalism to moderate
Conservatism
Conservatism is a Philosophy of culture, cultural, Social philosophy, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in r ...
. Politics, however, ceased to be a major concern of ''The Era''. Its great features after it came into the hands of Ledger were sport,
freemasonry
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
and the theatre. A contemporary observer remarked, "To the latter subject it has always devoted a very large part of its space. In relation indeed to the amount and accuracy of its theatrical intelligence, it far surpasses every other weekly journal."
[''The Waterloo Directory of English Newspapers and Periodicals: 1800-1900'' a]
19th Century British Library Newspapers
Gale Group (requires subscription)
In an 1856 advertisement, ''The Era'' claimed to be the "largest Newspaper in the World, containing Sixty-four Columns of printed matter in small type. It is the only Weekly Newspaper combining all the advantages of a first-rate Sporting Journal, with those of a Family Newspaper. Literature and the Metropolitan and Provincial Drama has more space allotted to them in the Era than in any other Journal. The Operatic and Musical Intelligence, Home and Continental, is always most copious and interesting." ''The Era'' became regarded as "Invaluable for reviews, news, and general theatrical information and gossip. Also of value are the assorted advertisements by and for actors and companies"
[
The theatrical historian W. J. MacQueen-Pope described ''The Era'' as "The Actor's Bible", with the theatrical coverage gradually assuming prominence over all else:
''The Era'' was the longest running theatrical trade paper]World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, although its popularity and importance had long since declined.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Era, The
Defunct newspapers published in the United Kingdom
Newspapers established in 1838
1838 establishments in the United Kingdom
1939 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Publications disestablished in 1939