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Columnist Finds Editing Weekly is no Vacation
October 4, 1943
Ted Friend, the New York Mirror’s Broadway columnist who quit the bright lights to relax in a hammock and run the little weekly newspaper here folded his hammock today. He hasn’t had time to put a bulge in it.
Friend gave up his 12-year run of Broadway, a well-known by-line and a bow from all the headwaiters when he bought the Lassen Advocate.
Today, as he spanked to bed his third weekly eight-page issue, he wanted one thing understood: Country editors work harder than city editors.
Harder than City
“I work harder than I ever did in New York,” he said, “I have to be all over the place, dig up all my own news, chop my own wood and split my own infinities.”
Ted said at least he’ll never get overspecialized like most city newspapermen.
“Not only do I do all the writing,” he said, “but I have to chase the ads, drum up circulation and manage the print shop. Its lucky the ink smells better up here in the high timber.”
Reversing the traditional ‘Local Boy Makes Good in Big City’ role, Ted has graduated from writing of celebrities in the stork club to headlining the doings at the church bazaar.
2,100 Circulation
Susanville is nestled in the Mount Lassen country in the heart of the high Sierra Nevada mountains. Lumber and box-making are the principal businesses. The Advocate – circulation 2,100 – is 78 years old. Friend is 45.
His wife, Dorothy, a former New York press agent, probably will pitch in to handle society news later, he said. The people of Susanville seem to like him all right; he has been given the official nod by invitations to the Rotary club and the Methodist men’s club.
“Best climate and the nicest people in the world here.: he said. “But don’t ever let them tell you that a country editor goes fishing three days a week.”
“Give my regards to Broadway. It’s wonderful missing it.”
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