AVALON NEWSPAPERS

AVALON NEWSPAPERS:

Avalon had a few unsuccessful attempts at local journalism. “The Jewfish,” the first newspaper came out in 1892, followed by the “Avalon Avalanche” in 1893, and “The Avalon Crusoe” in 1903. These papers generally only lasted for a summer season and they primarily were only used as an attempt to help the tourists understand Catalina and give them suggestions on what to wear and how to act. No politics were discussed as this was considered “inappropriate” by these early journalists. Finally, the “Wireless” newspaper came out; the world’s first newspaper where its news was provided primarily over the new “wireless” device. It was first published on March 25, 1903 and after a number of temporary starts and stops, became a “regular weekly newspaper” in 1905. The “wireless station” was on the flat area, just down from the “Zane Grey,” overlooking the “Casino,” and published at the “Pitman-Dennis Bldg.,” on the corner where “Leo’s Drug Store” now presides. It was conveniently near Mr. Lefavor’s other business interests. Lefavor also had a “Department Store,” a “Novelty Shop,” a “Confectionery Shop,” and even a “Real Estate” office.

Mr. Lefavor, a businessman turned newspaper editor, was one of the major players in Avalon’s economic status. Any acts of the “Island Company” to restrict trade was not taken well by him and was clearly shown through his newspaper. His “Wireless” newspaper came out—the world’s first newspaper where its news was provided primarily over the new “wireless” device. It was first published on March 25, 1903 and after a number of temporary starts and stops, became a “regular weekly newspaper” in 1905. The “wireless station” was on the flat area, just down from the “Zane Grey,” overlooking the “Casino,” and published at the “Pitman-Dennis Bldg.,” on the corner where “Leo’s Drug Store” now presides. It was conveniently near Mr. Lefavor’s other business interests. Lefavor also had a “Department Store,” a “Novelty Shop,” a “Confectionery Shop,” and even a “Real Estate” office.

After the Company's embarrassment of losing to the “Freeholders” their Pier and “closed harbor” status, the “Island Company” certainly didn’t need Avalon’s only newspaper to constantly print opposing views. They asked Ernest Windle, an Englishman, to come to Avalon and start a paper to reflect the news more from the “Island Company’s” perspective and hopefully run the “Wireless” out of business.

• 1889 Jewfish ~ a weekly published by C. A. Sumner.

July 18, 1901 [LAH]: “Avalon, Santa Caalina Island. July 17. — Mrs. Harry Merriman and family are here for the summer in Camp Swanfeldt. Mrs. Merriman is a Catalina pioneer. She was a summer resident here when the island was owned by the late Mr. Shatto of Los Angeles and first made a resort. Her former husband, Mr. Kennedy, then of the Los Angeles Tribune, started a little paper here called the “Jewfish” which had a wide circulation among the tourists, who sent it to broadcast to their eastern friends...”

• 1893 Avalon Avalanche

• 1893 Avalon Crusoe 1893

• 1903-1914 The Wireless March 25, Volume 1 #1

1903: “A newspaper, 'The Wireless,' was started at Avalon on March 25, 1903. This is stated to have been the first newspaper in the world to receive its press notices by wireless telegraph.” [Williamson, M. Burton History of Santa Catalina Island in Historical Society of Southern California 1903 6(1):31.]

• 1908 Catalina Daily Mirror July 4 - September 1.

• 1914 The Islander

The Islander, weekly newspaper of Santa Catalina Island, founded and owned by Ernest Windle, which began with its first issue on January 27, 1914. On March 31 it changed from a smaller 6 x 8 inch format to a larger 7 x 10-1/2 inch format. A year’s subscription was 75 cents. The paper was financed by the SCICO so they had a sympathetic newspaper.

The Catalina Islander. [newspaper]

Wednesday, March 26, 1930.

Wednesday, November 12, 1930.

Thursday, February 28, 1935.

[originals in SCIF archives] [ex-lib M. D. Daily]

• August 3, 1990 The Avalon Bay News published weekly.