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| Smith's Weekly | |
|---|---|
| Name | Smith's Weekly |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
| Format | Tabloid |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Ceased publication | 1950 |
| Founders | Hugh D. McIntosh; Frank P. Smith |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Language | English |
Smith's Weekly was an Australian tabloid published in Sydney from 1919 to 1950 known for its satirical tone, pictorial journalism, and advocacy for returned servicemen. It combined commentary, cartoons, sports reporting, crime stories and investigative pieces, becoming influential in interwar and immediate postwar Australian public life. The paper employed and promoted prominent journalists, cartoonists and illustrators who engaged with cultural and political figures across New South Wales, Victoria and other states.
Smith's Weekly was launched in the wake of World War I amid a proliferation of periodicals that included The Bulletin, The Sun, and Truth. Founders drew on networks associated with Australian Imperial Force, Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, and business interests in Sydney and Melbourne. Early editions featured coverage of events such as the aftermath of the Battle of Gallipoli, debates in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and developments involving figures like William McKell and Billy Hughes. The paper's enterprise paralleled contemporaneous publications such as Punch and the British Daily Mail in format and tone, while responding to local controversies including industrial disputes in Federated Ironworkers' Association-affected workplaces and the political rise of the Australian Labor Party.
Editorial direction combined populist advocacy with sharp satire aimed at personalities such as Robert Menzies, John Curtin, Ben Chifley, Jack Lang, and Thomas Walter Bavin. Editors recruited writers and artists from circles connected to The Bulletin, Melbourne Herald, Sydney Morning Herald, and theatrical communities around George Wallace and J. C. Williamson. Notable contributors included cartoonists who depicted public figures like Douglas Haig, Lord Kitchener, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Joseph Cook, and illustrators who worked alongside reporters covering the likes of Florence Taylor, Ivor Hele, and Norman Lindsay. The masthead promoted contributors with ties to institutions such as Institute of Journalists and venues like the Capitol Theatre, Sydney.
The paper balanced serialized investigations into cases like the Ryan case and coverage of social events involving celebrities such as Elsie Janis, Irene Mitchell, and sports figures including Herb Elliott, Don Bradman, and Ned Kelly-era folklore. Regular features included political cartoons lampooning international actors such as Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Emmanuel Charles Quayle-style caricatures, theatrical reviews referencing productions by J. C. Williamson Ltd., and boxing coverage of contests involving fighters like Les Darcy and champions promoted in Sydney Stadium. Photographic spreads documented parades associated with Anzac Day and scenes from industrial centers in Newcastle, New South Wales and Wollongong. The paper ran columns addressing legal affairs involving courts like High Court of Australia and stories about rural matters tied to regions like Wagga Wagga and Tamworth.
At its peak Smith's Weekly competed with metropolitan titles for readership across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, influencing debates in state parliaments including the Victorian Legislative Assembly and the New South Wales Legislative Council. Its commentary shaped perceptions of national leaders such as Earle Page and Stanley Bruce, and its cartoons were reprinted in other outlets alongside works associated with Harper's Bazaar and British illustrated weeklies. The paper cultivated readers among returned servicemen linked to Legacy Australia and unions such as the Australian Workers' Union, and its sports pages amplified profiles of athletes who later featured in halls of fame and competitions organized by bodies like Cricket Australia.
Smith's Weekly frequently provoked libel actions and disputes involving figures like Sir Robert Garran and businessmen connected to firms similar to G. J. Coles and David Jones. Its satirical treatment of politicians including Albert Ogilvie and public personalities occasionally led to litigation in courts such as the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Coverage of crime and vice placed the paper at odds with religious institutions including branches of the The Salvation Army and civic authorities in municipalities such as Paddington, New South Wales. Internationally resonant cartoons treating leaders like Vladimir Lenin and Mussolini attracted criticism from interest groups and diplomatic figures stationed at legations in Canberra and London.
Post-World War II economic pressures, rising production costs and competition from newspapers including The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph and emergent radio networks eroded profitability. Changes in readership preferences, declining advertising revenue involving retailers akin to Myer and shifting cultural tastes favoring magazines such as The Australian Women's Weekly contributed to diminishing circulation. Attempts to modernize editorially and attract contributors from venues like Macquarie Radio Network proved insufficient; the final issue appeared in 1950, ceasing publication amid liquidation and ownership changes involving Sydney print houses and syndicates.
Smith's Weekly left a legacy in Australian print culture through its influence on cartooning, investigative reporting and popular satire. Alumni later worked for institutions including The Bulletin, Sydney Morning Herald, and broadcasting organizations like Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Its archives are cited in studies of interwar culture, connections to events such as Anzac Day commemorations and portrayals of figures like Don Bradman and Jack Lang. Collectors and researchers consult holdings in state libraries of New South Wales and Victoria and exhibitions at cultural venues such as the Powerhouse Museum. The paper's style informed later satirical media and inspired contemporary caricaturists whose work appears in publications ranging from The Australian to specialized art catalogues.
Category:Defunct newspapers published in New South Wales