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| Chicago Daily Times | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chicago Daily Times |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
| Foundation | 1929 |
| Ceased publication | 1948 |
| Political | Independent conservatism |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Language | English |
Chicago Daily Times
The Chicago Daily Times was a Chicago-based newspaper published from 1929 to 1948 that competed with the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily News for readership in the Midwestern United States. Founded during the late years of the Roaring Twenties and operating through the Great Depression and World War II, the paper became known for tabloid-style reporting, investigative reporting on Chicago politics, and sensational coverage of crime, labor disputes, and organized crime involving figures connected to the Chicago Outfit. The Daily Times played a role in the evolution of American journalism alongside contemporaries such as the New York Daily News and the New York Post.
The paper was launched in 1929 by publisher Samuel G. Blythe associates and investors linked to Chicago civic circles during the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Early editorial direction drew on techniques developed at the London Daily Mirror and the Daily Express (London), while adapting stunts used by the New York Daily News and the Kansas City Star. Throughout the Great Depression, the Times covered relief efforts associated with the Works Progress Administration and municipal politics involving mayors such as William Hale Thompson and Edward Joseph Kelly. During the late 1930s and early 1940s the paper reported extensively on labor conflicts involving the Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of Labor, and war mobilization stories tied to Arsenal of Democracy coverage. The paper’s lifespan ended in 1948 when it merged with other Chicago media interests amid consolidation trends similar to mergers involving the Chicago Sun and the Chicago American.
Ownership changed hands multiple times, reflecting patterns similar to transactions affecting the Tribune Company and the Evening Post Publishing Company. Early backers included local investors with ties to the Mercantile National Bank of Chicago and industrialists comparable to representatives of the Marshall Field and Company circle. Notable executives included publishers who had previously worked at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Cleveland Press, and editors recruited from the Baltimore Sun and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Management frequently interacted with municipal figures like Richard J. Daley and with regional press associations such as the Audit Bureau of Circulations and the American Newspaper Publishers Association.
The Times adopted a tabloid format influenced by the New York Daily News and Chicago Sun-Times aesthetics, with bold headlines akin to those used by the Daily Mirror (UK) and photojournalism practices popularized by the Life (magazine). Coverage emphasized crime beats covering incidents connected to the Chicago Outfit, judicial coverage involving the Cook County Circuit Court and investigative series on corruption modeled after exposés in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The paper ran syndicated columns from bylines associated with names appearing in the pages of the Hearst Corporation syndicates and occasionally featured serialized fiction comparable to offerings in the Saturday Evening Post and the Collier's archives. Sports coverage tracked teams such as the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, and the Chicago Bears, while arts reporting focused on venues like the Chicago Theatre and exhibitions at institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago.
Circulation competed against the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily News, targeting working-class neighborhoods on Chicago’s Near North Side and South Side. Distribution relied on street hawkers operating near transit hubs like Union Station (Chicago) and along thoroughfares including Michigan Avenue (Chicago). The paper’s circulation figures were audited alongside peers by the Audit Bureau of Circulations and fluctuated with economic events such as the Great Depression and wartime rationing policies tied to the War Production Board. Weekend editions mirrored practices used by the New York Sunday News and proved popular with readers attending sporting events at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park.
The Daily Times employed reporters and columnists who later moved to or originated from outlets like the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Photographers trained in the traditions of Life (magazine) photojournalism worked alongside investigative reporters influenced by the work of I.F. Stone and editors with backgrounds at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Columnists covered politics involving personalities such as Adlai Stevenson II and the paper’s crime reporters pursued leads tied to figures like Al Capone and labor leaders with profiles in the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Contributors included sports writers who chronicled careers of athletes like Stan Musial and Joe DiMaggio during their national coverage tours.
The paper was involved in libel threats and legal disputes similar to cases litigated in courts where plaintiffs included public figures and business interests noted in the pages of the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily News. Its aggressive crime reporting led to conflicts with law enforcement agencies such as the Chicago Police Department and prosecutors in the Cook County State's Attorney office. Investigations published by the Times provoked responses from political machines associated with figures like Richard J. Daley and prompted debates over press freedom in forums frequented by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union.
Category:Defunct newspapers of Illinois Category:History of Chicago Category:Newspapers established in 1929 Category:Publications disestablished in 1948