Evening star., 1953-12-02
Lack Of Newspapers
In New York Gives
City a Strange Air
By the A.seeIeisd Pr..s

~ NV ASSoCIofen rfeSS
NEW YORK, Dec. "A city
without newspapers develops a
nervous twitch.
Its inhabitants veer toward
newSstands, reach in coat pock-
cts for nonresident papers and
restlessly scan car ads in sub
ways and buses.
Probably never before were so
man v ads read so thoroughly by
so many riders. The alterna-
tives were trying to figure out
the foreign-language paper on
your left or looking at the faces
Of fellow passengers.
Outwardly the city, in the
fourth day of a strike against
the major dailies, went about
it's business as usual. Shoppers
shopped. moviegoers formed long
lines, New York'S working mil
lions went right on working.
But the streets and wastebas-
kets were strangely empty of dis
carded papers. Newsdealers
twiddled their thumbs or tried
with papers brought in hastily
from outlying districts to meet
the hunger for news.
Radio and television stations
stepped up their news coverage,
but that did not seem to stem
the desire for news.
Wants "World News"
A tall man bought a Washing
ton ID. c. paper and explained,
Il want to read the news-the
world news. not just sports and
things like that. Listening is all
right. but like to read it,"
A cab driver at the Battery
agreed with him.
i like to read the paper" he
said, sports mostly. sure, and
there isn't much going on now,
but I miss having something to
read while I'm waiting for a
fare"
A bank teller said she missed
the crossword puzzles. A receo-
zionist sighed for the gossip COL
umns. A movie cashier wanted
a paper "for the want ads"
In the Wall Street financial
district, woman newsdealer sat
on the bare green board usually
covered with newspapers and
read a romance magazine,
A little man in blue overcoat
whispered to her. She shook
her head, not looking up.
HE wanted a Wall Street
Journal" she explained. They're
still putting out the same num-
Der. and save mine for the
regulars"
Exchange Issues List.
The Stock Exchange, to meet
the, needs Of financial houses.
started issuing a sheet of after
noon closing prices to its men,
berS.
A traffic policeman observed:
II like to go home nights and
turn on televiSion. But now
look, how do I know what's on
If I can't get a paper with the
program?"
Shoppers poured into the huge
stores in the Fourteenth street
and Thirty-fourth street areas.
Some thought the absence of
newspaper ads cramped their
style. Others said they were
going Christmas shopping any,
way.
Said a man from Ohio: II
didn't even know there weren't
any newspapers until five min
utes ago. Doesn't make par
ticle of difference to me-"
A department store buyer stood
at one entrance as the crowd
surged around her.
I've got huge promotion for
next Sunday" she said in a
worried tone. "The merchandise
is all bought, everything is ready
to go. If I can't advertise, I'm
dead"
Can 'Pull' With Ad.
Her companion nodded. "You
can never pull with radio like
you can with a full-page ad they
can see. I listen to news broad
casts, but still, you know the old
habit miss that newspaper. Z"
How much, if any. were the
big stores being hurt? 1t was
too early for most of them to
tell because of Christmas buying.
The man in the subway was
less concerned about the eco
nomic aspects.
Did you ever ride all the way
from Times Square to 242nd
street, the Bronx, without a pa
per?" asked one sufferer. "It's
murder!"