SA Newspapers: Sporting

Donald McLeod produced this local version of the 1822 English newspaper, Bell's life in London and sporting chronicle. Unlike its interstate counterparts, Bell's life in Adelaide did not concentrate solely on sport and horse-racing, but also included general news. Journalist John Dickens was employed to provide the mining column and there were also shipping news, court reports, and country news. The newspaper folded in March 1862 due to financial constraints.

The Cricketer was published by the Register. It coincided with a game between the Australian Eleven and the South Australian Eighteen on 26-27 December 1878. It ran to three issues. Besides articles about the game, it contained many advertisements for Adelaide firms. The first issue stated, "This paper is published in honour of the return of the Australian cricketers. The publishers claim nothing original, and are indebted to several sources for the different articles." (p. 2)

The Critic was a popular newspaper covering the social scene of Adelaide in the late 1890s and early twentieth century, with articles, social notes, photographs and cartoons. It also covered sport, mining, fashion and the theatre, with later issues including literary news and poetry submitted by readers. The newspaper was also the official organ of the Automobile Club of South Australia, giving coverage to early South Australian motoring.

This was a short-lived satirical journal published by EJ McAlister and FW Kennedy. Concentrating on political criticism, the journal also covered theatre reviews and horse racing.

This newspaper was published during the football season for the South Australian National Football League, by Messenger Press. The first editor was Ashley Hornsey.

This was the South Australian edition of a Melbourne-based football newspaper.

Only one issue of this sporting newspaper has survived. Sport and the theatre tended to be reported together in the 19th century.

The Sunday Mail (originally titled the Mail) was founded in 1912 by Clarence Moody. By 1923 it had been purchased by News Limited. It developed a strong sporting focus, with an emphasis on football and horse-racing. In 1923 it was bought by News Ltd and moved to North Terrace. The popular ‘Possum’s pages’ began in 1921, followed in 1924 by the first children’s comic, May Gibbs’ ‘Bib and Bub’. After the Second World War, the Mail developed into the newspaper with which we are now familiar. Its circulation increased from an original 15,000, to 213,000 by 1962. Until 1972 the Sunday Mail was printed on Saturday nights.

This newspaper was published by William Hammond. It contained short items of Adelaide news, court reporting, horse racing and other items. It also included satire of local people and events. This was the first South Australian newspaper to make widespread use of (woodcut) illustrations in articles, cartoons and advertisements. Artist ST Gill was employed to create some of the illustrations. The newspaper has been called ‘scurrilous’ and ‘anti-religious’ (Depasquale), however it has also been described as the only newspaper of the period which appealed to the working-class population. Hammond later published a newspaper under the same title in Melbourne.

This was a publication of the Hales brothers. As well as some journalism work, the brothers were mining agents. The newspaper also covered some local horse racing.

Between 1924 and 1931 the Northern Sportsman was published as a special edition of the Sport newspaper. It covered a broad geographical readership including Golden Grove, Port Augusta, and Kadina. The publisher was Fred Jennings.

This was a small comic paper founded by the cartoonist Jeffery Bruer when the long-running Lantern ceased. Besides cartoons, there was some coverage of sport and the theatre, and the usual satirical/political comment found in most 19th century comic papers. Bruer initially drew the front page portraits and the main cartoon himself, while the unsigned inside double page montage of the week's events is in the style of Ambrose Dyson's work for the Critic. Quilp seems to have ceased in 1891. In 1897 Bruer was contributing cartoons for the first issues of the Critic newspaper.

Quiz was founded by Harry Evans and Alfred Chandler, two Advertiser journalists. The pair purchased the old satirical comic paper, the Lantern, as the basis for their venture. Harry Craker, James Hutchison and Alfred Smith were also involved in the publication. Quiz appealed to the new, more educated readers of late nineteenth century Adelaide. It mixed political and social comment with cartoons and quips, sports and theatre reporting, and snippets of social news. The tone was light and racy, and at the proprietors twice found themselves in court for libel over less flattering reports of theatre performers. By 1898 Quiz included photographs, including sporting photographs. In 1914 Quiz combined with the Sporting Life newspaper. In its final years the journal concentrated increasingly on sports reporting, particularly horse racing.

Quiz was founded by Harry Evans and Alfred Chandler, two Advertiser journalists. The pair purchased the old satirical comic paper, the Lantern, as the basis for their venture. Harry Craker, James Hutchison and Alfred Smith were also involved in the publication. Quiz appealed to the new, more educated readers of late nineteenth century Adelaide. It mixed political and social comment with cartoons and quips, sports and theatre reporting, and snippets of social news. The tone was light and racy, and at the proprietors twice found themselves in court for libel over less flattering reports of theatre performers. By 1898 Quiz included photographs, including sporting photographs. In 1914 Quiz combined with the Sporting Life newspaper. In its final years the journal concentrated increasingly on sports reporting, particularly horse racing.

Quiz was founded by Harry Evans and Alfred Chandler, two Advertiser journalists. The pair purchased the old satirical comic paper, the Lantern, as the basis for their venture. Harry Craker, James Hutchison and Alfred Smith were also involved in the publication. Quiz appealed to the new, more educated readers of late nineteenth century Adelaide. It mixed political and social comment with cartoons and quips, sports and theatre reporting, and snippets of social news. The tone was light and racy, and at the proprietors twice found themselves in court for libel over less flattering reports of theatre performers. By 1898 Quiz included photographs, including sporting photographs. In 1914 Quiz combined with the Sporting Life newspaper. In its final years the journal concentrated increasingly on sports reporting, particularly horse racing.

Quiz was founded by Harry Evans and Alfred Chandler, two Advertiser journalists. The pair purchased the old satirical comic paper, the Lantern, as the basis for their venture. Harry Craker, James Hutchison and Alfred Smith were also involved in the publication. Quiz appealed to the new, more educated readers of late nineteenth century Adelaide. It mixed political and social comment with cartoons and quips, sports and theatre reporting, and snippets of social news. The tone was light and racy, and at the proprietors twice found themselves in court for libel over less flattering reports of theatre performers. By 1898 Quiz included photographs, including sporting photographs. In 1914 Quiz combined with the Sporting Life newspaper. In its final years the journal concentrated increasingly on sports reporting, particularly horse racing.

The Sunday Mail (originally titled the Mail) was founded in 1912 by Clarence Moody. By 1923 it had been purchased by News Limited. It developed a strong sporting focus, with an emphasis on football and horse-racing. The popular ‘Possum’s pages’ began in 1921, followed in 1924 by the first children’s comic, May Gibbs’ ‘Bib and Bub’. After the Second World War, the Mail developed into the newspaper we are now familiar with. Its circulation had increased from an original 15,000, to 213,000 by 1962. Until 1972 the Sunday Mail was printed on Saturday nights.

In 1863 the Advertiser purchased Adelaide's first evening newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, and began a new title, the Adelaide Express. This eventually became simply the Express, but varied its title at different periods. As an evening newspaper it contained condensed news from the columns of the morning Advertiser, and brief more recent news items. It also published the literary work of both established and budding writers and poets. In many respects the evening press came into its own during the First World War, as the telegraph for the first time was used to provide continuous updates of the conflict. Through this period Adelaide’s two evening newspapers (the Express and the Journal) published up to four editions per day. In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Express and the rival Journal were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Express continued until 1929, when it merged with the Register’s Saturday Journal to become the Express and Journal.

The Journal (originally titled Evening Journal) was established by the Register in 1869 as an afternoon newspaper. It summarised the morning headlines and printed sports results. It was also published as competition to the Advertiser’s evening newspaper, the Express. During the First World War the Journal was an important means of disseminating information about the conflict by publishing various editions, including a ‘special cable edition’. The Saturday edition was a larger issue with week-end reading matter, including sports and humour. The Journal was a place where hopeful writers and poets might have their work published. In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Journal and the rival Express were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Journal continued until 1929, when it merged with the Advertiser’s Saturday Express to become the Express and Journal.

The Saturday Mail was an offshoot of the (Sunday) Mail, published by Clarence Moody. This was one of three titles Moody founded in 1912, the third being the Sporting Mail. Early issues of the Saturday Mail were largely devoted to sport, the theatre, cinema news and short stories. The advent of the First World War saw a major change to reporting, with ongoing updates as news of events poured down the telegraph lines. In 1915 Herbert Syme took over the Mail newspapers.

This was a short-lived Port Pirie week-end newspaper. It ceased with the outbreak of the First World War.

Smith’s Weekly was founded in Sydney in 1919 by James Joynton Smith with Claude McKay and Clyde Packer. The newspaper ran until 1950, with editions in a number of Australian states including an Adelaide edition. The newspaper was a mixture of sensationalism, sport and cartoons, particularly aimed at the post-War male population. It was dubbed the 'larrikin version of the Bulletin'. Staff included a number of journalists who later became prominent on other titles. Second World War poet Kenneth Slessor was editor between 1935 and 1939. Norm Mitchell and Eric Joliffe were among its cartoonists. Henry Lawson and Bernard Hessling were also among the writers for Smith’s.

This newspaper was published by the Licensed Victuallers' Association, as the title suggests. It had a strong focus on sport. In part this was probably due to the common practice at the time of hotels raising or sponsoring sporting teams. Horse racing, cricket and football were the main sports covered. Boxing, athletics and yachting were also well reported. The title changed along with a slight change in focus when it was renamed the South Australian Sentinel.

This newspaper was published by the Licensed Victuallers' Association. It had a strong focus on sport. This was probably due to the common practice of hotels raising or sponsoring sporting teams. Horse racing, cricket and football were the main sports covered. Boxing, athletics and yachting were also well reported.

This newspaper was a continuation of City and Country. To begin with the newspaper focused mainly on sports and politics. Lengthy sports reports focused on early football. Theatre news was also included. Politically, the editor was outspoken against the government of Thomas Playford senior. In 1884 the topic of spiritualism was raised in letters and articles in the newspaper. Editor George Barrow was a believer in the phenomena and a heated correspondence between the musician Christian Reimers (a spiritualist), and Kirkham Evans of the YMCA (a sceptic) took place. Many readers joined the debate, and the newspaper had to print extra pages to accommodate the letters received. In July 1885 when Barrow published an article suggesting that Samuel Tomkinson MP was making money from corrupt land deals, he was charged with libel and sentenced to six months in jail. (South Australian Register, 16 October 1885, p. 7) The newspaper apparently ceased at the end of 1885.

This short-lived newspaper included the reporting of local sporting expert Ian Everett.

This newspaper covered a broad geographical area including Robe, Narracoorte, Mount Gambier and Kingston. Between May and November 1926 it had a Saturday sporting edition. The newspaper was later incorporated into the Border Watch.

Initially the Sport covered a variety of sporting events, but after the Second World war it concentrated on horse racing. Early issues contain photographs of teams and events. Publication was suspended between 1941 and 1946 due to the effects of the war. For a time from 1938 the newspaper was published by Sport Radio Press. Between 1924 and 1931 the Northern Sportsman was published as an edition of the newspaper for readers in Golden Grove, Port Augusta, Kadina, etc.

This newspaper was principally for horse racing enthusiasts. It covered both local and interstate races and publicised coming meets. A variety of other sports were also covered, and occasional theatre and film reviews. It appeared twice weekly under proprietors Harry Craker and William Wedd. A number of writers provided reports about local sports. Marcus Waldrene, writing as 'Tiresias' and 'Lancer', was the major contributor to the horse racing columns until his death in 1915. At the time he was perhaps the best known sports reporter in Adelaide. From early 1914 the newspaper was amalgamated with the satirical newspaper Quiz.

In 1912 Clarence Moody founded three newspapers in Adelaide: the (Sunday) Mail, the Saturday Mail, and the Sporting Mail. The Sporting Mail ceased with the outbreak of the First World War, while its companion newspapers were overtaken with copious war reporting.

Pritchard Hall published this newspaper to report sporting results at Petersburg (Peterborough) during the 1913 football season on Saturday evenings after the football game. Coverage included a variety of local sport and some brief coverage of city football and horseracing. On one occasion a Port Pirie sports column appeared. Film reviews and advertisements were included. It included front page photographs and caricatures by ‘Pip’ of local men. Occasionally topics other than sport were discussed, such as the ‘imminent peril to Australia’ of ‘white slave traffic’ (3 May 1913). The newspaper was printed by WH Bennett at the Peterborough Times.

A.G. Hales, known world-wide as 'Smiler' the war correspondent and detective novelist, initially ran various small newspapers in Adelaide with his brothers. His first was the Standard. The four-page newspaper consisted largely of sport, particularly horse racing. Only two issues are held by the State Library. The newspaper seems to have been taken over by James and Fred Hales who changed the name to the Mining Review, and eventually the Mining Standard.

The Sunday Mail (originally titled the Mail) was established by Clarence Moody, in conjunction with the Sporting Mail and Saturday Mail. In May 1923 News Ltd purchased the Mail and moved the newspaper to North Terrace. The Mail had a strong sporting focus, publishing week-end sporting results. Motoring was a feature of the newspaper from the 1920s, as was the advent of commercial radio and aviation. An early focus was given to football and horse-racing, with many fine sporting photographs and articles. 'Possum's Pages' began in 1921, with the first children's comic, May Gibbs' Bib and Bub, added in 1924. This was joined by Ginger Meggs in 1932. Although published as a newspaper for Sunday reading, the Mail was actually printed on Saturday nights until Sunday 5 November 1972. Initially two editions were published, a 'street' edition at 7 pm, followed by a midnight edition which was sold later in the evening and distributed throughout the state on Sunday mornings. Until 1957 the State Library collected only the midnight edition. Country and other sporting results typically appear in the midnight or 'state' edition.

Only one issue of Adelaide's first Sunday newspaper is known to exist. The newspaper planned to be published monthly and ‘advocate the claims of our manufacturers ...’ (p. 1) It was a broadsheet published by W. Stephens in conjunction with the Weekly News. The content was largely horse racing and other sports news. It also contained photographs of Queen Alexandra, and local scenery. Newspapers such as this were largely published as Sunday reading for workers.

The Turf Review was published weekly through the 1930s as a guide for horse racing enthusiasts. The publisher was Samuel Mander. Only a few issues from 1937 are held in the State Library.