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| ceased publication = 1971
| ceased publication = 1971
| price =
| price =
| owners = [[John Ross Robertson]]; [[John Bassett]] - part owner
| owners = [[John Ross Robertson]]; [[John W. H. Bassett]] - part owner
| editor-in-chief =
| editor-in-chief =
| political = [[Populism]], [[conservatism|Conservative]]
| political = [[Populism]], [[conservatism|Conservative]]
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| website =
| website =
}}
}}
'''''The Toronto Evening Telegram''''' was a [[conservatism|conservative]], [[broadsheet]] afternoon [[newspaper]] published in [[Toronto]] from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|Conservative Party]] at the federal and the provincial levels. The paper competed with a newspaper supporting the [[Liberal Party of Ontario]]: ''[[The Toronto Star]]''. ''The Telegram'' strongly supported Canada's connection with the [[United Kingdom]] and the rest of the [[British Empire]]<ref name=Brehl>"The Tely's 95 years: How the Old Lady went mod," John Brehl, ''Toronto Daily Star'', September 18, 1971, p. 6.</ref> as late as the 1960s.
'''''The Toronto Evening Telegram''''' was a [[conservatism|conservative]], [[broadsheet]] afternoon [[newspaper]] published in [[Toronto]] from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|Conservative Party]] at the federal and the provincial levels. The paper competed with an afternoon paper, ''[[The Toronto Daily Star]]'', which supported the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberals]]. ''The Telegram'' strongly supported Canada's connection with the [[United Kingdom]] and the rest of the [[British Empire]]<ref name=Brehl>"The Tely's 95 years: How the Old Lady went mod," John Brehl, ''Toronto Daily Star'', September 18, 1971, p. 6.</ref> as late as the 1960s.


==History==
==History==
''The Toronto Evening Telegram'' was founded in 1876 by publisher [[John Ross Robertson]]. He had borrowed $10,000 to buy the assets of ''The Liberal'', a defunct newspaper,<ref name=Hyman>"Founder John Ross Robertson made the Telegram explosive force in life of Toronto," Ralph Hyman, ''The Globe and Mail'', September 20, 1971, p. 8.</ref> and published his first edition of 3,800 copies on April 18, 1876.<ref name=Brehl /> The editor of ''Telegram'' from 1876 to 1888 was [[Alexander Fraser Pirie]] (1849–1903), a native of [[Guelph]]. Pirie had worked for the ''Guelph Herald'', his father's paper.
''The Toronto Evening Telegram'' was founded in 1876 by publisher [[John Ross Robertson]]. He had borrowed {{CAD|10,000|link=yes}} to buy the assets of ''The Liberal'', a defunct newspaper,<ref name=Hyman>"Founder John Ross Robertson made the Telegram explosive force in life of Toronto," Ralph Hyman, ''The Globe and Mail'', September 20, 1971, p. 8.</ref> and published his first edition of 3,800 copies on April 18, 1876.<ref name=Brehl /> The editor of ''Telegram'' from 1876 to 1888 was [[Alexander Fraser Pirie]] (1849–1903), a native of [[Guelph]]. Pirie had worked for the ''Guelph Herald'', his father's paper.


The newspaper became the voice of working-class, conservative Protestant [[Orange Institution#The Orange Order in Canada|Orange]] Toronto. In 1881, Robertson erected a building for the paper at the southeast corner of King and Bay Streets, on Melinda Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Goad's Fire Insurance Maps|year=1903|publisher=Chas. E. Goad|location=Toronto|url=http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/datapub/digital/NG/goad/1903/Plate06.jpg}}</ref> John R. Robinson succeeded Pirie as editor-in-chief in 1888 and held that position until he died in 1928.
The newspaper became the voice of working-class, conservative Protestant [[Orange Institution#The Orange Order in Canada|Orange]] Toronto. In 1881, Robertson erected a building for the paper at the southeast corner of King and Bay Streets, on Melinda Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Goad's Fire Insurance Maps|year=1903|publisher=Chas. E. Goad|location=Toronto|url=http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/datapub/digital/NG/goad/1903/Plate06.jpg}}</ref> John R. (Black Jack) Robinson succeeded Pirie as editor-in-chief in 1888 and held that position until he died in 1928.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toronto Telegram - The Newspaper's Explosive Force in Toronto History |url=https://www.torontojourney416.com/toronto-telegram/ |website=Toronto Journey |access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref>


''The Telegram'' focused on local issues<ref name=Brehl /> and became the largest circulation daily in Toronto, but it lost that position in 1932 to the ''[[Toronto Star|Toronto Daily Star]]'' and never regained it.<ref name=Hyman /> During the early 20th century, ''The Tely'', as it was popularly known was one of the first Canadian newspapers to introduce Saturday (and in 1957 Sunday) colour comics section (which by its later years spanned two sections), and a radio (and after 1952 television) magazine with listings for the entire week. Following the death of Robertson's widow in 1947, the paper was bought by [[George McCullagh]], the publisher of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', for $3.6 million.<ref name=Hyman /> ''Evening'' was dropped from the paper's name in 1949.
''The Telegram'' focused on local issues<ref name=Brehl /> and became the largest circulation daily in Toronto, but it lost that position in 1932 to the ''[[Toronto Star|Toronto Daily Star]]'' and never regained it.<ref name=Hyman /> During the early 20th century, ''The Tely'', as it was popularly known was one of the first Canadian newspapers to introduce Saturday (and in 1957 Sunday) colour comics section (which by its later years spanned two sections), and a radio (and after 1952 television) magazine with listings for the entire week. Following the death of Robertson's widow in 1947, the paper was bought by [[George McCullagh]], the publisher of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', for {{CAD|3.6&nbsp;million}}.<ref name=Hyman /> ''Evening'' was dropped from the paper's name in 1949.


McCullagh died in 1952, and the paper was then purchased by [[John Bassett]] for $4.25 million<ref name=Hyman /> with money borrowed from the [[Eaton's|Eaton]] family.<ref name=Brehl /> In March 1957, the paper introduced a Sunday edition, the first Toronto paper to do so, and was threatened by the [[Attorney-General of Ontario]] with charges under the province's [[Lord's Day Act]].<ref>"Prosecutions put Lord's Day Act on spot--Queen's Park," ''Toronto Daily Star'', March 20, 1957, p. 1.</ref> The Sunday edition was unsuccessful and ceased publication after four months.<ref name=Brehl />
McCullagh died in 1952, and the paper was then purchased by [[John W. H. Bassett]] for {{CAD|4.25&nbsp;million}}<ref name=Hyman /> with money borrowed from the [[Eaton's|Eaton]] family.<ref name=Brehl /> In March 1957, the paper introduced a Sunday edition, the first Toronto paper to do so, and was threatened by the [[Attorney-General of Ontario]] with charges under the ''[[Lord's Day Act (Canada)|Lord's Day Act]]''.<ref>"Prosecutions put Lord's Day Act on spot--Queen's Park," ''Toronto Daily Star'', March 20, 1957, p. 1.</ref> The Sunday edition was unsuccessful and ceased publication after four months.<ref name=Brehl />


In December 1959, Bassett bought a {{convert|3.6|acre|m2|adj=on}} property on [[Front Street (Toronto)|Front Street]] West and in 1963 moved the ''Telegram'' to a new building at that location from the site at Bay and Melinda Street where the paper had been produced since 1899. At the same time, [[Telegram Corporation]] acquired a majority interest in Toronto TV station [[CFTO-TV]].
In December 1959, Bassett bought a {{convert|3.6|acre|m2|adj=on}} property on [[Front Street (Toronto)|Front Street]] West and in 1963 moved the ''Telegram'' to a new building at that location from the site at Bay and Melinda Street where the paper had been produced since 1899. At the same time, [[Telegram Corporation]] acquired a majority interest in Toronto TV station [[CFTO-TV]].
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In July 1964, the [[International Typographical Union]] called a strike at the ''Telegram'', the ''Star'', and ''The Globe and Mail''. All three papers continued to publish despite the strike.
In July 1964, the [[International Typographical Union]] called a strike at the ''Telegram'', the ''Star'', and ''The Globe and Mail''. All three papers continued to publish despite the strike.


The ''Telegram'' lost $635,000 in 1969 and $921,000 in 1970 and was on pace to lose another $900,000 in 1971 when it was shut down that year by Bassett on October 30,<ref>"Toronto Telegram 1876-1971", ''Ottawa Citizen'', October 30, 1971, p. 1</ref> just as a strike was looming.<ref>"Negotiators given mandate for strike in Telegram dispute," Wilfred List, ''The Globe and Mail'', September 17, 1971, p. 5.</ref> Many employees moved to the ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', which launched at the same time the ''Telegram'' shut down. The ''Telegram'' had its subscriber list sold to the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' for $10 million. The ''Star'' also leased the ''Telegram'''s Front Street facility, which was sold to ''[[The Globe and Mail]]''.
The ''Telegram'' lost {{CAD|635,000}} in 1969 and $921,000 in 1970 and was on pace to lose another $900,000 in 1971 when it was shut down that year by Bassett on October 30,<ref>"Toronto Telegram 1876-1971", ''Ottawa Citizen'', October 30, 1971, p. 1</ref> just as a strike was looming.<ref>{{cite news |title=Negotiators given mandate for strike in Telegram dispute |first=Wilfred |last=List |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 17, 1971 |p=5}}</ref> Many employees moved to the ''[[Toronto Sun]]'', which launched the Monday after the ''Telegram'' ceased publication. The ''Telegram'' subscriber list was sold to the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' for {{CAD|10&nbsp;million}}. The ''Star'' also leased the ''Telegram'''s Front Street facility, until it was sold to ''[[The Globe and Mail]]''.


In the book ''The Death of the Toronto Telegram'' (1971), the former ''Telegram'' writer [[Jock Carroll]] described the decline of the paper and provided many anecdotes about the Canadian newspaper business from the 1950s to 1970.
In the book ''The Death of the Toronto Telegram'' (1971), the former ''Telegram'' writer [[Jock Carroll]] described the decline of the paper and provided many anecdotes about the Canadian newspaper business from the 1950s to 1970.


York University's [http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/ArchivesSpecialCollections/FindingAids/Telegram/Telegram1.htm library holds] about 500,000 prints and 830,000 negatives of pictures taken by the ''Telegram''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s photographers. Over [http://digital.library.yorku.ca/yul-f0433/toronto-telegram 13,000 images] are currently searchable on line, with more appearing on a regular basis.
York University's library holds about 500,000 prints and 830,000 negatives of pictures taken by the ''Telegram''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s photographers.<ref>[http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/ArchivesSpecialCollections/FindingAids/Telegram/Telegram1.htm Telegram fonds]</ref> Over 13,000 images are currently searchable on line, with more appearing on a regular basis.<ref>[http://digital.library.yorku.ca/yul-f0433/toronto-telegram Telegram images]</ref>


==Notable staff members==
==Notable staff members==


Well-known reporters, editors, columnists and cartoonists included:
Well-known reporters, editors, columnists and cartoonists included:
{{div col}}

*[[George Bain (journalist)|George Bain]] - later joined the ''Globe and Mail'' and ''Toronto Star''
*[[George Bain (journalist)|George Bain]] - later joined the ''Globe and Mail'' and ''Toronto Star''
*[[Isabel Bassett]] - also a reporter at [[CFTO]] and wife of publisher [[John Bassett]], later a provincial cabinet minister under Mike Harris
*[[Isabel Bassett]] - also a reporter at [[CFTO]] and wife of publisher [[John W. H. Bassett]], later a provincial cabinet minister under Mike Harris
*[[Jock Carroll]] - later an author and book editor
*[[Jock Carroll]] - later an author and book editor
*[[Greg Clark (journalist)|Greg Clark]] - previously a war correspondent and reporter with the ''Toronto Daily Star'', was a humour columnist at the ''Telegram''
*[[Greg Clark (journalist)|Greg Clark]] - previously a war correspondent and reporter with the ''Toronto Daily Star'', was a humour columnist at the ''Telegram''
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*[[J. Douglas MacFarlane]] - vice-president and editor-in-chief, 50 years in the newspaper business, 1949 to 1969 at the ''Telegram'', from city editor, advancing to top editorial position
*[[J. Douglas MacFarlane]] - vice-president and editor-in-chief, 50 years in the newspaper business, 1949 to 1969 at the ''Telegram'', from city editor, advancing to top editorial position
*[[C.A. (Arnie) Patterson]] Later founder of [[CFDR]] and [[CFRQ]] radio, Dartmouth NS and Press Secretary to [[Pierre Elliott Trudeau]]
*[[C.A. (Arnie) Patterson]] Later founder of [[CFDR]] and [[CFRQ]] radio, Dartmouth NS and Press Secretary to [[Pierre Elliott Trudeau]]
*[[H.W. Patterson]] - North American politics editor
*[[H.W. (Pat) Patterson]] - North American politics editor
*[[Earl Pomerantz]] - later a U.S. television sitcom writer-producer
*[[Earl Pomerantz]] - later a U.S. television sitcom writer-producer
⚫
* Gary Ralph - covered many front-page stories including The October Crisis and Woodstock in the five years leading to the Tely's last edition. Award winner for his police reporting.
⚫
*[[Jessie M. Read]] - Food Economist (Joined 1934) ''Three Meals A Day'' and First Cooking School Film in Canada ''Kitchen Talks'' and Radio Cooking School CKCL Toronto
*[[Ted Reeve]] - later at ''Toronto Sun''
*[[Ted Reeve]] - later at ''Toronto Sun''
*[[Paul Rimstead]] - later at ''Toronto Sun''
*[[Paul Rimstead]] - later at ''Toronto Sun''
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*[[Scott Young (writer)|Scott Young]] - sports reporter and father of singer [[Neil Young]], later ''Globe and Mail'
*[[Scott Young (writer)|Scott Young]] - sports reporter and father of singer [[Neil Young]], later ''Globe and Mail'
*[[Lubor J. Zink]] - later a ''Toronto Sun'' columnist
*[[Lubor J. Zink]] - later a ''Toronto Sun'' columnist
{{end div col}}
⚫
*[[Jessie M. Read]] - Food Economist (Joined 1934) ''Three Meals A Day'' and First Cooking School Film in Canada ''Kitchen Talks'' and Radio Cooking School CKCL Toronto
⚫
*Gary Ralph - covered many front-page stories including The October Crisis and Woodstock in the five years leading to the Tely's last edition. Award winner for his police reporting.


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 13:47, 30 July 2024

The Toronto Telegram
TypeNewspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)John Ross Robertson; John W. H. Bassett - part owner
Founded1876
Political alignmentPopulism, Conservative
Ceased publication1971
HeadquartersToronto Telegram Building (now part of Commerce Court) and later 444 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario

The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at the federal and the provincial levels. The paper competed with an afternoon paper, The Toronto Daily Star, which supported the Liberals. The Telegram strongly supported Canada's connection with the United Kingdom and the rest of the British Empire[1] as late as the 1960s.

History

[edit]

The Toronto Evening Telegram was founded in 1876 by publisher John Ross Robertson. He had borrowed CA$10,000 to buy the assets of The Liberal, a defunct newspaper,[2] and published his first edition of 3,800 copies on April 18, 1876.[1] The editor of Telegram from 1876 to 1888 was Alexander Fraser Pirie (1849–1903), a native of Guelph. Pirie had worked for the Guelph Herald, his father's paper.

The newspaper became the voice of working-class, conservative Protestant Orange Toronto. In 1881, Robertson erected a building for the paper at the southeast corner of King and Bay Streets, on Melinda Street.[3] John R. (Black Jack) Robinson succeeded Pirie as editor-in-chief in 1888 and held that position until he died in 1928.[4]

The Telegram focused on local issues[1] and became the largest circulation daily in Toronto, but it lost that position in 1932 to the Toronto Daily Star and never regained it.[2] During the early 20th century, The Tely, as it was popularly known was one of the first Canadian newspapers to introduce Saturday (and in 1957 Sunday) colour comics section (which by its later years spanned two sections), and a radio (and after 1952 television) magazine with listings for the entire week. Following the death of Robertson's widow in 1947, the paper was bought by George McCullagh, the publisher of The Globe and Mail, for CA$3.6 million.[2] Evening was dropped from the paper's name in 1949.

McCullagh died in 1952, and the paper was then purchased by John W. H. Bassett for CA$4.25 million[2] with money borrowed from the Eaton family.[1] In March 1957, the paper introduced a Sunday edition, the first Toronto paper to do so, and was threatened by the Attorney-General of Ontario with charges under the Lord's Day Act.[5] The Sunday edition was unsuccessful and ceased publication after four months.[1]

In December 1959, Bassett bought a 3.6-acre (15,000 m2) property on Front Street West and in 1963 moved the Telegram to a new building at that location from the site at Bay and Melinda Street where the paper had been produced since 1899. At the same time, Telegram Corporation acquired a majority interest in Toronto TV station CFTO-TV.

In July 1964, the International Typographical Union called a strike at the Telegram, the Star, and The Globe and Mail. All three papers continued to publish despite the strike.

The Telegram lost CA$635,000 in 1969 and $921,000 in 1970 and was on pace to lose another $900,000 in 1971 when it was shut down that year by Bassett on October 30,[6] just as a strike was looming.[7] Many employees moved to the Toronto Sun, which launched the Monday after the Telegram ceased publication. The Telegram subscriber list was sold to the Toronto Star for CA$10 million. The Star also leased the Telegram's Front Street facility, until it was sold to The Globe and Mail.

In the book The Death of the Toronto Telegram (1971), the former Telegram writer Jock Carroll described the decline of the paper and provided many anecdotes about the Canadian newspaper business from the 1950s to 1970.

York University's library holds about 500,000 prints and 830,000 negatives of pictures taken by the Telegram's photographers.[8] Over 13,000 images are currently searchable on line, with more appearing on a regular basis.[9]

Notable staff members

[edit]

Well-known reporters, editors, columnists and cartoonists included:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "The Tely's 95 years: How the Old Lady went mod," John Brehl, Toronto Daily Star, September 18, 1971, p. 6.
  2. ^ a b c d "Founder John Ross Robertson made the Telegram explosive force in life of Toronto," Ralph Hyman, The Globe and Mail, September 20, 1971, p. 8.
  3. ^ "Goad's Fire Insurance Maps". Toronto: Chas. E. Goad. 1903.
  4. ^ "Toronto Telegram - The Newspaper's Explosive Force in Toronto History". Toronto Journey. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Prosecutions put Lord's Day Act on spot--Queen's Park," Toronto Daily Star, March 20, 1957, p. 1.
  6. ^ "Toronto Telegram 1876-1971", Ottawa Citizen, October 30, 1971, p. 1
  7. ^ List, Wilfred (September 17, 1971). "Negotiators given mandate for strike in Telegram dispute". The Globe and Mail. p. 5.
  8. ^ Telegram fonds
  9. ^ Telegram images
  10. ^ "Toronto reporter and writer Gordon Donaldson dies at 74," Expositor, Brantford, Ontario: June 12, 2001, pg. A.24.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Carroll, Jock (1971). The death of the Toronto Telegram & other newspaper stories. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Simon & Schuster of Canada. ISBN 0-671-78184-7.
  • Poulton, Ron (1971). The paper tyrant: John Ross Robertson of the Toronto Telegram. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin & Company. ISBN 0-7720-0492-7.
  • Toronto: Past and Present / A Handbook of the city. C. Pelham Mulvany (Toronto: W. E. Caiger Publisher, 1884). Toronto Evening Telegram history: pp. 193–194.
  • Canada's Newspaper Legend: The Story of J. Douglas MacFarlane by Richard MacFarlane (Toronto: ECW Press Ltd., 2000) Newspaper History in Canada, Biography, 300 pp.
[edit]

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Robarts Library, University of Toronto. Archival and photograph collection of J. Douglas MacFarlane's newspaper career in Toronto.

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