The Cincinnati Times-Star
The Cincinnati Times-Star Building
TypeDefunct
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Taft family
EditorCharles Phelps Taft
Hulbert Taft, Sr.
FoundedJune 15, 1880
LanguageEnglish
Ceased publicationAugust 3, 1958
HeadquartersCincinnati Times-Star Building
Cincinnati, Ohio
CityCincinnati, Ohio
CountryUnited States
OCLC number17937796

The Cincinnati Times-Star was an afternoon daily newspaper in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, from 1880 to 1958. The Northern Kentucky edition was known as The Kentucky Times-Star,[1] and a Sunday edition was known as The Sunday Times-Star. The Times-Star was owned by the Taft family and originally edited by Charles Phelps Taft, then, by his nephew, Hulbert Taft, Sr. The Taft family's investments in news media would later grow into Taft Broadcasting, a conglomerate that owned radio, television, and entertainment properties nationwide.

History

The Star of January 2, 1875

The Times-Star first published on June 15, 1880, after the merger of The Times (founded April 25, 1840, as Spirit of the Times) and The Cincinnati Daily Star (founded in 1872 as The Evening Star). Charles Phelps Taft had purchased both papers the previous year,[2] and named his brother, Peter Rawson Taft II, publisher.

The Times-Star strongly supported political boss George B. Cox, to the embarrassment of Charles Phelps Taft's half-brother, progressive reformer and future President William Howard Taft.

On November 23, 1895, the Times-Star ran an editorial proposing a contest to choose a flag for the City of Cincinnati, offering a $50 prize.[3][4] On January 24, 1896, the commission awarded the $50 to influential illustrator Emil Rothengatter for the design that is in use today.[3]

The newspaper's offices were originally located on Sixth and Walnut streets.[5] On January 1, 1933, the Times-Star moved into the 16-story Cincinnati Times-Star Building on Broadway.

In 1939, the Times-Star purchased WKRC radio from CBS[6][7] and subsequently became an affiliate and shareholder of the Mutual Broadcasting System through subsidiary Radio Cincinnati.[8]

In 1952, Hulbert Taft, Sr., owner and publisher of the Times-Star, attempted to acquire The Cincinnati Enquirer from its owner, a Washington D.C.–based trust. A bidding war ensued when Enquirer employees pooled their assets in order to make a counter offer. The offer was accepted by the trust, and the attempted acquisition was unsuccessful.

On August 3, 1958, the Times-Star was sold to Scripps-Howard Newspapers, owners of The Cincinnati Post, which by then had also purchased the Enquirer. Hulbert Taft Sr. was reportedly the only family member who opposed the sale.[9][2][10] Radio Cincinnati was reorganized as Taft Broadcasting. The Post moved into the Times-Star Building and published under the name The Cincinnati Post and Times-Star until December 31, 1974, when it reverted to The Cincinnati Post.

Notable former employees

Publishers

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Kentucky times-star. (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1???-1958". Chronicling America. National Digital Newspaper Program. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "A Complete History of Our Building..." Hamilton County Court of Domestic Relations. July 26, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Purcell, John M.; Croft, James A.; Monahan, Rich (2003). American City Flags: 150 Flags from Akron to Yonkers (PDF). Vol. 1. North American Vexillological Association. pp. 77–78. ISBN 0974772801.
  4. ↑ Shotwell, John Brough (1902). A history of the schools of Cincinnati. The School Life Company. p. 606 – via Google Books. In 1897 the Times Star Co., by offering a prize of $50, had Mayor Caldwell receive designs for a city flag. ... The flag was never officially adopted, being voted down in the Board of Legislature as undemocratic. Nevertheless, the flag is popular and is universally used.
  5. ↑ Hurter, Jerry (December 1984). "Hulbert Taft's Missing Editorial". Cincinnati Magazine. p. 56. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Times-Star buys WKRC, Cincinnati." Broadcasting - Broadcast Advertising, September 1, 1939, pg. 34.
  7. ↑ "WKRC's transfer approved by FCC." Broadcasting - Broadcast Advertising, December 1, 1939, pg. 36.
  8. ↑ Robinson, Thomas Porter (1979) [1943]. Radio Networks and the Federal Government. New York: Arno Press. p. 29. ISBN 0-405-11772-8.
  9. ↑ "The Press: Death of the Times-Star". Time. August 4, 1958. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Death Signs Last '30' for Hulbert Taft Sr, 81". The Cincinnati Enquirer. January 20, 1959. p. 1.
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