''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'', and a Sunday edition was known as ''The Sunday Times-Star''. The ''Times-Star'' was owned by the
Taft family
The Taft family of the United States has historic origins in Massachusetts; its members have served Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, and the United States in various positions such as U.S. Representative (two), Governor of Ohio, G ...
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 ''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,
and named his brother, Peter Rawson Taft II, publisher.
The ''Times-Star'' strongly supported
political boss George B. Cox
George Barnsedale Cox (1853–1916) was a political boss in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, a member of the Republican Party, and associate of William Howard Taft.
Early life
Cox was the son of British immigrants. As a teen during the Civil ...
, 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.
On January 24, 1896, the commission awarded the $50 to influential illustrator
Emil Rothengatter for the design that is in use today.
The newspaper's offices were originally located on Sixth and Walnut streets. On January 1, 1933, the ''Times-Star'' moved into the 16-story
Cincinnati Times-Star Building
Cincinnati Times-Star Building at 800 Broadway Street in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a registered historic building. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, National Register on November 25, 1983. It was built in 1933 and was designe ...
on Broadway.
In 1939, the ''Times-Star'' purchased
WKRC radio from
CBS and subsequently became an affiliate and shareholder of the
Mutual Broadcasting System through subsidiary Radio Cincinnati.
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.
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
*
Edith Evans Asbury reporter for ''The New York Times''
*
Fred Burns tennis commentator
*
E. A. Bushnell
Elmer Andrews Bushnell (July 30, 1872 - January 27, 1939) was an American cartoonist, known for his political cartoons. Historians Alan Marcus and Zane Miller have credited Bushnell with a part in the downfall of George B. Cox.
Biography
He w ...
political cartoonist
*
George Elliston journalist
*
James W. Faulkner political journalist
*
Haven Gillespie typesetter; later a composer and lyricist
*
James Isaminger sportswriter
*
Earl Lawson sportswriter
*
Mayo Mohs author
*
Charles Murphy sportswriter; later owner of the Chicago Cubs
*
Raymond Gram Swing radio commentator
Publishers
* Peter Rawson Taft II
* Hulbert Taft Sr.
* Hulbert Taft Jr.
*
David Sinton Ingalls
See also
*
Cincinnati Times-Star Building
Cincinnati Times-Star Building at 800 Broadway Street in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a registered historic building. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, National Register on November 25, 1983. It was built in 1933 and was designe ...
References
External links
*
* Bibliographic information at Chronicling America:
*
About Spirit of the times. 1840-1841*
About The ''Cincinnati Daily Star''. 1875-1880*
About ''The Times''. 1879-1880*
About ''Cincinnati Times-Star''. 1880-1887*
About ''The Times-Star''. 1887-1893*
About ''The Cincinnati Times-Star''. 1893-1958
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cincinnati Times-Star
Defunct newspapers published in Cincinnati
Newspapers established in 1880
Publications disestablished in 1958
1958 disestablishments in Ohio