New York Evening Sun

New York Evening Sun. The New York Evening Sun was a prominent New York City newspaper that played a significant role in the city's journalistic landscape, with notable contributors including Theodore Dreiser, Dorothy Parker, and Robert Benchley. The newspaper's history is closely tied to the city's vibrant Manhattan neighborhood, where it was headquartered, and its coverage of events such as the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression. The New York Evening Sun was also known for its in-depth coverage of the Harlem Renaissance, with writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston contributing to its pages.

● History

The New York Evening Sun was founded in 1887 by Frank Munsey, a prominent New York City publisher, and quickly gained a reputation for its in-depth coverage of local and national news, including events like the Spanish-American War and the Assassination of William McKinley. The newspaper's early years were marked by a series of notable scoops, including its coverage of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the Sinking of the Titanic, which helped establish it as a major player in the city's journalistic scene, alongside other prominent newspapers like the New York Times and the New York Herald. The New York Evening Sun also covered major events like the 1913 Armory Show and the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with writers like John Reed and Max Eastman contributing to its pages.

● Founding and Early Years

The New York Evening Sun was launched in 1887 as a competitor to other New York City evening newspapers, including the New York World and the New York Journal, with Frank Munsey as its first editor. The newspaper quickly gained a reputation for its aggressive reporting style, which was exemplified by its coverage of events like the Pullman Strike and the Lawrence Textile Strike, with writers like Lincoln Steffens and Ray Stannard Baker contributing to its pages. The New York Evening Sun also covered major events like the 1904 World's Fair and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, with notable contributors including Jack London and Upton Sinclair. The newspaper's early years were also marked by a series of notable controversies, including its coverage of the Sacco and Vanzetti case and the Black Sox Scandal, which helped establish it as a major player in the city's journalistic scene.

● Notable Contributors

The New York Evening Sun had a long history of attracting notable contributors, including Theodore Dreiser, Dorothy Parker, and Robert Benchley, who wrote for the newspaper's Vanity Fair-style magazine section. Other notable contributors included Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Countee Cullen, who helped establish the newspaper as a major platform for African American writers and artists, alongside other prominent publications like the Crisis (magazine) and the Negro World. The newspaper also featured the work of notable New York City artists, including Edward Hopper and John Sloan, who contributed illustrations and cartoons to its pages. Notable contributors also included H.L. Mencken, George S. Kaufman, and Alexander Woollcott, who wrote for the newspaper's editorial and opinion pages, covering events like the Scopes Trial and the 1928 Presidential election.

● Circulation and Readership

At its peak, the New York Evening Sun had a circulation of over 300,000 copies per day, making it one of the most widely read newspapers in New York City, alongside other prominent publications like the New York Daily News and the New York Post. The newspaper's readership was diverse, with a strong following among New York City's middle class and working class communities, who appreciated its in-depth coverage of local news and events, including the New York City Subway and the New York Yankees. The New York Evening Sun also had a significant following among the city's intellectual and artistic communities, who appreciated its coverage of events like the 1913 Armory Show and the 1922 Modern Library series, with writers like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound contributing to its pages.

● Merger and Legacy

In 1950, the New York Evening Sun merged with the New York World-Telegram to form the New York World-Telegram and Sun, a newspaper that continued to publish until 1966, when it was acquired by the New York Daily News. The New York Evening Sun's legacy can be seen in the many notable journalists and writers who got their start at the newspaper, including Theodore Dreiser, Dorothy Parker, and Robert Benchley, who went on to work at other prominent publications like the New Yorker and the Saturday Evening Post. The newspaper's influence can also be seen in the many other New York City newspapers that followed in its footsteps, including the Village Voice and the New York Observer, which covered events like the 1960s counterculture and the 1980s art world.

● Editorial Stance and Impact

The New York Evening Sun was known for its liberal editorial stance, which was reflected in its coverage of events like the Spanish-American War and the Great Depression, with writers like John Reed and Max Eastman contributing to its pages. The newspaper was also a strong supporter of labor unions and workers' rights, and its coverage of events like the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Pullman Strike helped to raise awareness of these issues, alongside other prominent publications like the Appeal to Reason and the International Socialist Review. The New York Evening Sun's editorial stance had a significant impact on the city's political and social landscape, and its influence can still be seen today in the many New York City newspapers and publications that continue to cover the city's news and events, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.