Started throwing the Democrat in 79. I was 12. It was a small paper with afternoon delivery. It had a very conservative editorial line while the Gazette was much larger and had a center left editorial board. It was the oldest paper west of the Mississippi River and was a serious paper.
But the Democrat had a great plan. Each Wednesday every resident had a free paper delivered in their driveway which had their most conservative editorials. We are taking Arkansas. People liked it.
My dad was a journalism major so we got both. He believed in reading all sides issues. But was an FDR democrat.
A few months after I started throwing the Democrat it went to mornings like the Gazette. So at 13 I got up at 4:45 every day of the week to throw my route. A few years later I switched to throwing the Gazette because at the time it still had the largest circulation. And it was a much better paper. But not conservative; in the Reagan years. In Arkansas. So after I left for college the Democrat, with it conservative editorials forced the Gazette to sell.
I threw for them till I graduated high school. By 14 I had a scooter and picked up a second route. Back then your paper was delivered on your front porch. Those who tipped me well got it right at their door. They only had to open the door, bend over, and get their paper.
I made more money from tips than my pay. I made $400-500 dollars a month. In 1983 in Arkansas that meant I had money like the rich kids!
Did not see it at the time. I was just a kid. But now I realize the rise of the Arkansas Democrat was a part of the south’s rebellion against integration. My dad did, but what kid at 15 listens to his dad? As in most things, he was correct. Unfortunately he died 6 years after I graduated high school. 2 year after I was out of college.
Sorry for the long post. But the OP brought back old memories.
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