History of Evening Independent
What is the date the Evening Independent started and the last day it was published? Do you know how many times the newspaper was free because the sun didn't shine?
The Independent began as a weekly newspaper in March 1906 under the ownership of Willis B. Powell. In November 1907, Powell turned it into the city's first daily newspaper, the Evening Indpendent.
On Sept. 1, 1910, Lew B. Brown, then owner and editor of the Evening Independent, proclaimed St. Petersburg as the "Sunshine City" and made the famous "Sunshine Offer": On any day the sun didn't shine, the newspaper would be given away.
It was meant to draw national attention to the growing waterfront city, and it worked as the city became a popular tourist and retirement destination.
During World War II, the Evening Independent halted the free paper offer, but reversed course after five days.
In 1962, the paper was purchased by St. Petersburg Times owner Nelson Poynter from the Thomson chain, which had threatened to close it unless it could be sold.
By the early 1980s, afternoon newspapers were struggling everywhere, and on Nov. 7, 1986, the Evening Independent published its final edition and the paper's 53 employees transferred to the Times.
In the 76 years of the "Sunshine Offer," the newspaper was given away 296 times.
Pro Bowl leaving Hawaii
I've heard the NFL Pro Bowl is getting moved out of Hawaii. Where is it going?
The NFL confirmed in December what had been rumored for some time: In 2010 the Pro Bowl would move from Honolulu, where it has been played since 1979. In 2010 the game will be played in Miami one week before the Super Bowl is played at the same venue. Players from the Super Bowl teams won't play in the all-star game.
"We continually look to improve all NFL events,'' NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on NFL.com. "We believe that playing the Pro Bowl on a rotating basis between the mainland and Hawaii and as a lead-up event to the Super Bowl will bring more attention and excitement to this event.''
Chinese calendar rotation
In an article about the Chinese New Year, there was no mention of a Year of the Goat. Have they changed the Chinese calendar?
The ancient Chinese lunar calendar is divided into 12-year cycles, with each year named for an animal. In order, they are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, and then sheep or goat or ram. Then, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Most of 1979 was the Year of the Goat, as well as January and about half of February 1980.
Loading...