Omaha Bee

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The Omaha Bee
Type Daily
Format Tabloid
Editor Edward Rosewater
Founded May 8, 1871
Language English
Ceased publication 1920 merged
Headquarters Omaha

The Omaha Bee was a pioneer newspaper in Omaha, Nebraska founded on May 8, 1871, by Edward Rosewater, a Bohemian Jewish immigrant who supported abolition and fought in the Union Army.[1] The Bee was regarded as a Republican newspaper, and early on featured Rosewater's opinions. The paper's editorial slant frequently pitted it against the Omaha Herald, the Omaha Republican and other local papers.[2] The Bee was Nebraska's first regional newspaper,[3] and was regarded nationally for its advocacy and success.[4]

The paper's slogan was "Industry, Frugality and Service." in 1888 Rosewater built the Bee Building to accommodate its presses, which were claimed to be the largest in the country. After his father carried the paper to national fame before his death in 1906, the paper began to slip under his son Victor Rosewater's control.[4] The Bee was criticized for sensationalizing alleged attacks by black men in 1919 and contributing to tensions that resulted in the Omaha Race Riot of 1919, three deaths and thousands of dollars in property damages.

The newspaper was sold to millionaire Nelson B. Updike, a local grain dealer, who merged it with the Omaha Daily Herald to form the Bee-Herald. In 1927 it was sold to William Randolph Hearst, who in turn sold it ten years later to the Omaha World-Herald, which promptly folded the Bee.[3]

E. W. Ingram, founder of the White Castle fast food chain, got his first job from Rosewater in 1900 as a cattle reporter.[5]

According to a 1954 World-Herald report, "Edward Rosewater actually did not have journalism in mind when he launched the first edition of the Bee on June 19, 1871, to influence the public in favor of the ratification of a legislative bill originated by him, creating the Board of Education."[6]

See also

  • History of Omaha

References

  1. ↑ Larsen, L. & Cotrell, B. (1997). The gate city: A history of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p 69.
  2. ↑ Bristow, D. (1997) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press. p 93.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Larsen & Cotrell (1997) p 194.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Omaha monopoly", Time. October 11, 1937. Retrieved 4/29/08.
  5. ↑ Walkup, C. (1996) "E.W. Ingram - co-founder of White Castle fast food hamburger chain," Nation's Restaurant News. February 1996.
  6. ↑ "Early Editors' Rivalry Included Horsewhipping, With Whipper Sat Upon," Omaha First Century, Installment VII. Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 9/15/07.

External links

  • "Victor Rosewater". An oral history account of the paper from the Nebraska State Historical Society.
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