Project Westward Ho: The First New York Times West Coast Edition

ABSTRACT In 1954, the New York Times began receiving letters from residents of California, requesting that the newspaper begin publishing a Western edition. After the Times began using tele-typesetting to publish same-day editions of its European edition, it was persuaded to publish an edition in California. Beginning in October 1962, publishers printed the Times in Los Angeles and distributed it throughout the Western United States. However, financial losses suffered because of the New York newspaper strike, the difficulty in attracting advertisers, and the death of the project’s sponsor led to the edition’s demise in January 1964. Using archival sources, this article describes the development of the short-lived West Coast edition, a signature project for Times publisher Orvil Dryfoos. Use of tele-typesetting and the publication’s effect on the Los Angeles Times are considered.