The
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram was established in 1922 in
Syracuse, New York

Syracuse, New York by
William Randolph Hearst.[1] Between the years 1922–1925, the
newspaper was published as both
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram and Syracuse Evening
Telegram and the Sunday edition was called the Syracuse American,[2]
and alternately the Syracuse Sunday American.[3]
In November, 1925, Hearst gained controlling interest in another
Syracuse daily, the Syracuse Journal (1899–1929) which he merged
with the Telegram.[4] The name was changed to the Journal-Telegram and
was later shortened to Syracuse Journal.[5]
The
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram was a sole and separate company from a defunct
newspaper called the
Syracuse Telegram and Courier

Syracuse Telegram and Courier which operated
during the years 1856 to 1905.[6]
Contents
1 History
1.1 Established, 1922
1.1.1 Hearst building
1.2 Published, 1922–1925
1.2.1 Editorial department
1.2.2 Logos 1922
1.3 Merger 1925
1.4 Syracuse Newspapers Inc.
2 References
3 External links
History[edit]
The
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram was established in
Syracuse, New York

Syracuse, New York by William
Randolph Hearst. It was later consolidated with the Syracuse Journal,
another Hearst newspaper in Syracuse. By 1922, Syracuse was the
thirteenth city in which Hearst established a daily metropolitan
newspaper. His papers had an aggregate circulation of more than
6,000,000 and consumed more than twelve percent of all the newsprint
paper used in the United States.[7]
Hearst took full advantage of the economic boom, and starting in 1921,
he went on a "buying spree" and purchased three newspapers; the Times
in Detroit, the Record in Boston, and the Post-Intelligencer in
Seattle. In 1922, he added the Herald in Los Angeles, the Herald in
Washington, D.C., established the New York Daily Mirror and started a
new daily, the Oakland Post-Enquirer[8]
Hearst stepped into the political arena in
New York State

New York State and by late
1922 he acquired five
Upstate New York

Upstate New York papers; the Syracuse Telegram,
Rochester Journal, the Post-Express in Albany, the Albany Times
Union[8] and the Oswego Daily Press in Fulton, New York.[9]
Established, 1922[edit]
Hearst purchased the Albany Times Union in
Albany, New York

Albany, New York in
November, 1922, soon after a failed 1923 presidential bid. "The chief
was still licking his wounds and viewed the Executive Mansion in
Albany as a consolation prize."[2] At the same time, he established
the
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram and three other
Upstate New York

Upstate New York papers in order
to "broaden his name recognition across upstate as he prepared to run
for governor."[2]
The Telegram publishers were pleased with the decision and announced
to local readers;
"The decision of Mr. Hearst to establish a metropolitan newspaper here
indicates his appreciation of the importance of this city and his
conviction that it is a growing, prosperous and progressive
center."[7]
The newspaper began operation as Syracuse Evening Telegram on
September 25, 1922. The Sunday issue was known as the Syracuse
American (also referred to as Syracuse Sunday American) and hit the
newsstands on October 1, 1922. Both were published by Hearst's,
Syracuse American Newspaper Corporation.[3]
Hearst building[edit]
The old Firestone Building at the corner of East Genesee and South
State streets in Syracuse was purchased to house both newspapers.[7]
Hearst paid $150,000 for the building which was described as "a large
and admirably adapted building in the heart of the Syracuse business
district." He also spent an additional $150,000 on the purchase and
installation of machinery, presses, typesetting machinery and
remodeling the building to make it a "thoroughly modern and a
completely equipped newspaper publishing plant."[10]
According to agent, Q. J. Coughlin, who handled the deal;[7]
"The purchase of the building was the quickest real estate transaction
ever made in Syracuse. At 10 o'clock on the morning of September 9,
1922 a representative of the Hearst organizations began negotiations
for the purchase of the building, at 3 o'clock that afternoon the deal
was closed."[7]
"Mr. Hearst's emissaries rushed the installation of equipment in order
to begin publication before the Democratic State Convention, held in
Syracuse that year.[7] The total construction and remodel of the newly
renamed Hearst Building, located at 400 East Genesee Street, spanned a
period of 14 days instead of three months, the usual time necessary
for such a task.[7] For a period of two weeks, an army of artisans
waged a "thrilling and fascinating race against time, working at top
speed, morning, night and Sundays" to complete preparation for
publication."[7]
The mechanical equipment installed in the plant included a thirty-two
page Duplex press, fifteen Intertype typesetting machines, a large
stereotyping machine and scores of cases of display type."[7] The
business office was headed by J. A. Easton, business manager.[7]
In conformity with Hearst's company policy, "all the men holding
executive positions will be Syracusans, and none but Syracuse workmen
will be employed to produce the metropolitan Syracuse papers which are
eagerly awaited."[10]
Hearst advertised his new publications aggressively in local
newspapers;
"The
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram and the Syracuse Sunday American will be
metropolitan newspapers in every sense of the term, comparing equally
in features with the great newspapers Mr. Hearst owns in Boston, New
York, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and other big cities throughout
the United States."[11]
Published, 1922–1925[edit]
Syracuse Telegram, Election Returns on the mammoth screen, November 6,
1922
Hearst spared no expense with the new headquarters in an attempt to
capture the attention of Syracusans. By October 1, 1922, just in time
for the 1922 World Series, the company installed an "automatic board"
that showed every play, in detail, "within a few seconds after it is
made, every strike, every ball, every base hit, two-base hit,
three-base hit, home run, double or triple play, error and run is
illustrated just as you would see it on the home grounds." The New
York Giants beat the
New York Yankees

New York Yankees in five games that year.[12]
Hearst spared no expense with the new headquarters in an attempt to
capture the attention of Syracusans. By October 1, 1922, just in time
for the 1922 World Series, the company installed an "automatic board"
that showed every play, in detail, "within a few seconds after it is
made, every strike, every ball, every base hit, two-base hit,
three-base hit, home run, double or triple play, error and run is
illustrated just as you would see it on the home grounds." The New
York Giants beat the
New York Yankees

New York Yankees in five games that year.[12]
The "mammoth scoreboard" was placed on the front of the Hearst
Building at State and Genesee streets at a point where thousands could
view the entire game. All of the detail about the game was received by
wire direct from the ball grounds and each play was reproduced within
a few seconds after the play was made. "The big scoreboard will be
operated by expert baseball players, and nothing will be missed in any
of the games that is worth seeing."[12]
Editorial department[edit]
Chief editor was R. C. McCabe.[7] Members of the Editorial Department
included:[7]
John F. Cullen, from the Syracuse Journal.
W. H. Grady, experienced Syracuse newspaper writer.
Mrs. Helen M. Green, former society editor for The Post-Standard.
Fremont Hadley, from the Syracuse Journal.
J. J. Keating, experienced Syracuse newspaper writer.
Birney P. Lynch, former sporting editor with The Post-Standard.
Donald M. Luke, from the Syracuse Herald, Syracuse Journal and The
Post-Standard.
Frederick Martin, from the Syracuse Journal.
T. T. McGowan, experienced Syracuse newspaper writer.
Mrs. M. L. Parsons, well known Syracuse features writer, formerly with
the Syracuse Herald.
J. F. Phelps, from The Post-Standard.
J. A. Tiffany, from
The Post-Standard

The Post-Standard and the Syracuse Herald.
W. H. Stearns, from the Syracuse Herald.
Mrs. George D. Zett, wrote for the
Syracuse Herald

Syracuse Herald under the name of
Irene Murray, dramatic and motion picture editor.
Logos 1922[edit]
The new
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram logo appeared by mid-September, 1922:[11]
At that same time, Hearst began publishing the Sunday edition,
Syracuse American with "Character, Quality, Enterprise and Accuracy
– An American Newspaper for the American People":[11]
Merger 1925[edit]
The
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram was published by Hearst organization until
November 24, 1925 when final issue, No. 925, was delivered.[3] At that
time, the
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram and Sunday American merged with The
Journal, an old Syracuse institution that was established on July 4,
1844. In the days of extremely partisan newspapers, it held the
reputation as one of the strongest Republican publications in New York
State.[13]
In the three years that
William Randolph Hearst

William Randolph Hearst published the Syracuse
Telegram, he suffered an estimated loss of over $500 a day. Hearst
never paid cash for anything. He had borrowed recklessly during the
early 1920s to fund his newspaper empire. By the end of 1922, he had
exhausted his working capital to pay off existing debt obligations and
was still $500,000 short of meeting them all.[8]
The merger was accomplished after Hearst acquired a controlling
interest in The Journal for nearly $1,000,000.[14] in November
1925.[15] The transaction was carried out, and Hearst "sold" the
publication for $1,000,000 to Syracuse Newspapers, Inc., a new
corporation and publisher of the consolidated paper. After the merger
was completed, Hearst was a director of the company and still played a
major role in the decision making.[16]
Before the merger, there were three evening newspapers in Syracuse and
"the public was somewhat oversupplied."[13] The merger left two papers
in the market: The Herald and the consolidated Journal-Telegram.[13]
Like its predecessors, the new publication was delivered in the
evening, and the Sunday American on Sunday mornings. It was decided
that the Journal operating plant and facilities would be used as the
office and publishing plant for the combined effort.[13] The Hearst
Building at the corner of Genesee and State streets was sold and 100
Hearst employees lost their jobs.[14]
Syracuse Newspapers Inc.[edit]
On December 5, 1925, the name was changed to the Journal-Telegram
which later reverted to Syracuse Journal. It was published by Syracuse
Newspapers Inc., which was established at the time of the merger.[5]
The new paper retained all of the old features of the Journal and
included several of the Telegram features as well.[4] Harvey D.
Burrill, president and publisher at The Journal, remained head of the
combined publication, and the price remained the same as it had been
before the merger, 3-cents.[13]
The officers of the new corporation, Syracuse Newspapers Inc.
included;[16]
Harvey D. Burrill, president
Stewart F. Hancock, vice-president
M. M. Andrews, treasurer
Louis D. Burrill, secretary
List of directors;[16]
William Randolph Hearst
Harvey D. Burrill
Stewart F. Hancock
References[edit]
^ "Gleanings from the Political Arena in General". The Fulton Patriot.
Fulton, Oswego County, New York. July 23, 1924. access-date=
requires url= (help)
^ a b c Grondahl, Paul. "POLITICS: From cozy to critical, paper a
political player". Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst
Corporation, Albany, N.Y., 2006. [dead link]
^ a b c "About this Newspaper: Syracuse Evening Telegram, Alternative
Titles: Syracuse Sunday American, Syracuse Telegram". Library of
Congress, "Chronicling America". Retrieved 2010-07-10.
^ a b "Brevities". The Clyde Herald. Clyde, New York. November 11,
1925. access-date= requires url= (help)
^ a b "Bill Booster Says". The Fulton Patriot. Fulton, Oswego County,
New York. November 4, 1925. access-date= requires url= (help)
^ "The
Syracuse Telegram

Syracuse Telegram Suspends Publication". Gazette & Farmer's
Journal. Baldwinsville, New York. November 23, 1905.
access-date= requires url= (help)
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Record Broken by Syracuse Telegram". The
Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. September 25, 1922.
access-date= requires url= (help)
^ a b c Nasaw, David (2001). The Chief: The Life of William Randolph
Hearst. New York: First Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin. p. 315.
Retrieved 2010-07-16.
^ "Nurse Brings Suit to Clear Her Name". Oswego Daily Palladium.
Oswego, New York. February 19, 1924. access-date= requires
url= (help)
^ a b "New Hearst Paper Comes to Syracuse". Gazette & Farmer's
Journal. Baldwinsville, New York. September 21, 1922.
access-date= requires url= (help)
^ a b c "Stupendous!". Marcellus Observer. Marcellus, New York.
September 15, 1922. access-date= requires url= (help)
^ a b c "Series Games on Telegram Score Board". Syracuse Telegram.
Syracuse, New York. October 1, 1922. access-date= requires
url= (help)
^ a b c d e "A Syracuse Merger". Utica Observer Dispatch. Utica, New
York. November 7, 1925. access-date= requires url= (help)
^ a b "
William R. Hearst

William R. Hearst Buys the Syracuse Journal". The Fayetteville
Bulletin. Fayetteville, New York. November 6, 1925.
access-date= requires url= (help)
^ "Hearst Pays Million for Syracuse Journal". Buffalo Express.
Buffalo, New York. November 5, 1925. access-date= requires
url= (help)
^ a b c "Advertising and selling". Internet Library, 2010. Retrieved
2010-07-10.
External links[edit]
Hearst Family, The California Museum, Sacramento, California, 2008
Hearst Group: landmarks, Ketupa.net, 2010
Mott, Frank Luther American journalism: a history of newspapers in the
United State