On this day, March 14th, in 1940, Winston-Salem residents had an additional newspaper option. A new weekly newspaper, called “Thursday,” began distribution. Bill Sharpe, a former Twin City Sentinel columnist, began publishing “Forsyth’s only Independent Newspaper.” The newspaper cost 5-cents per issue or $2.00 per year, mailed.
Sharpe was a liberal who organized and operated local chapters of the American Newspaper Guild, which was the newswriters’ labor union. In his newspaper, Sharpe took aim at wealth and power in Winston-Salem. He wrote extensive profiles of leading citizens and politicians, often straying into rumor and innuendo. The first issue contained a large photo of Marshall Kurfees on the front page.
In addition to the profiles, the newspaper contained local news, features, advertisements, and photographs. The editor made the statement that there would be no editorial page in the newspaper, but that there would be plenty of editorializing in the newspaper.
The first issue of the newspaper contained several congratulatory ads from local businesses. One ad (shown above) was courtesy of Robert E. Lee Billiards and advertised their 9 pocket billiard tables. It also noted that the business was air conditioned and made available a baseball ticker service.
The newspaper ran news articles, such as the article about new stop signs shown above. Stop signs were previously painted on the streets, rather than the standing metal signs on posts as they are today. This article notes that the street painting tasks were carried out by policemen and had to be repainted every 45 to 60 days.
Other features or columns in the newspaper included: “Twin-City 10 Years Ago;” “Thursday’s Dictionary,” (5 words and their definitions); “Over the Backyard Fence,” (news); “Food Hints,” (recipes); “Flicker Flashes,” (movies); “Last Week,” (news tidbits from last week); “Lights and Shadows in Police Court,” (court news); “Around the Dial,” (radio highlights); “Sauce for the Goose,” (social news); “Listening In,” (radio news); “Thursday’s Book,” (book reviews); “Off the Record,” (local news briefs); and “Around the City,” (more local news briefs).
WAIR featured “Off the Record on the Air,” at 6:00 pm and was taken from the “Thursday” newspaper. The ad touted the program as Winston-Salem’s first intimate radio column. And, there were prizes for listeners.
The newspaper abruptly ended its run on December 25, 1941, reportedly from financial difficulties. The newspaper can be viewed on microfilm in the North Carolina Room at the Central Forsyth County Public Library. Also, there is an index to the newspaper contained on the microfilm roll.
Stay tuned tomorrow (March 15th) for a look at a feature story that appeared in the “Thursday” newspaper about the enterprising summer activity of a group of young local men.
