Category: History & Society
Newhouse family, family that built the second largest publishing empire in the United States in the second half of the 20th century.
The family’s fortunes began with Samuel Irving Newhouse (b. May 24, 1895, New York, N.Y., U.S.—d. Aug. 29, 1979, New York City), who was born Solomon Neuhaus and was later known as S.I. Newhouse. He was working as a clerk for Judge Herman Lazarus in Bayonne, N.J., when Lazarus took over a failing newspaper, the Bayonne Times. Lazarus asked Newhouse, then 17, to take care of the paper. Newhouse cut costs while working for more advertising and wider circulation, and within one year the newspaper was making a profit.
By 1916, at age 21, Newhouse was earning an annual salary of $30,000. In the early 1920s he began purchasing floundering newspapers and using the same techniques to make them profitable that had worked on the Bayonne Times. He bought the Staten Island Advance in 1922, and in 1924 he incorporated the Staten Island Advance Company, which became the basis of his publishing empire. With the profits he made from the Advance, he bought other small, undistinguished, unprofitable newspapers in New York and New Jersey and turned them around. In 1949 he renamed his company Advance Publications Inc.
Newhouse became a major force in American newspaper publishing in the 1950s with his purchase of the Portland Oregonian (1950), the St. Louis Globe-Democrat (1955), and several papers in Southern cities. In 1959 he acquired Condé Nast Publications, which printed such magazines as Vogue, Glamour, and House & Garden. With his purchase (1962) of the Times-Picayune Publishing Company, which printed both of the major newspapers in New Orleans, Newhouse owned more papers than any other American publisher. In 1967 he bought the Cleveland Plain Dealer for $54,000,000, and in 1976 he paid the record-breaking sum of $305,000,000 for Booth Newspapers, which published eight Michigan newspapers and Parade magazine. Though he paid close attention to his newspapers’ profitability, Newhouse did not impose any editorial policies on his papers; local editors were free to express their own political views.
By the time of his death in 1979, Newhouse owned the third largest newspaper chain in the United States, with a total circulation of more than 3,000,000. Besides 31 newspapers, he also owned 7 magazines, 5 radio stations, 6 television stations, and 15 cable television systems. His philanthropies included a $15,000,000 donation to Syracuse University to establish the Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Upon his death the business was managed by two sons, Samuel I. Newhouse, Jr. (1927–2017), and Donald E. Newhouse (b. 1930), who greatly expanded the family holdings. Under their leadership, Advance Publications purchased Random House (1980) and several other book publishers and became one of the largest American magazine publishers with such titles as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Gentleman’s Quarterly, Vogue, Mademoiselle (folded 2001), Glamour, Brides, Self, and Gourmet (folded 2009).
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This article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.
As a seasoned expert and enthusiast in the field of media and publishing history, my depth of knowledge allows me to provide a comprehensive overview of the Newhouse family and their significant contributions to the second largest publishing empire in the United States during the latter half of the 20th century.
The Newhouse family's legacy traces back to Samuel Irving Newhouse, born Solomon Neuhaus on May 24, 1895, in New York City. Samuel, later known as S.I. Newhouse, played a pivotal role in building the family's fortunes. His journey began as a clerk for Judge Herman Lazarus in Bayonne, N.J., where he took charge of a failing newspaper, the Bayonne Times, at the age of 17. Through strategic cost-cutting, increased advertising, and wider circulation efforts, he turned the newspaper profitable within a year.
By 1916, at the age of 21, S.I. Newhouse was already earning an annual salary of $30,000. His success continued in the early 1920s when he started acquiring struggling newspapers and implemented the same techniques that proved effective with the Bayonne Times. Notably, he purchased the Staten Island Advance in 1922 and incorporated the Staten Island Advance Company in 1924, forming the foundation of his publishing empire.
In 1949, Newhouse renamed his company Advance Publications Inc. His influence in American newspaper publishing expanded significantly in the 1950s with acquisitions such as the Portland Oregonian (1950), the St. Louis Globe-Democrat (1955), and Condé Nast Publications (1959), the latter being a major player in the magazine industry with titles like Vogue, Glamour, and House & Garden.
Newhouse's portfolio continued to grow with the 1962 acquisition of the Times-Picayune Publishing Company and the 1967 purchase of the Cleveland Plain Dealer for a staggering $54,000,000. In 1976, he set a record by paying $305,000,000 for Booth Newspapers, which published eight Michigan newspapers and Parade magazine. Despite his focus on profitability, Newhouse allowed local editors the freedom to express their own political views, refraining from imposing editorial policies.
At the time of his death in 1979, S.I. Newhouse owned the third largest newspaper chain in the United States, comprising 31 newspapers with a total circulation exceeding 3,000,000. His media empire extended beyond newspapers to include magazines, radio stations, television stations, and cable television systems.
Upon S.I. Newhouse's death, his two sons, Samuel I. Newhouse, Jr. (1927–2017), and Donald E. Newhouse (b. 1930), took over the business and significantly expanded the family holdings. Under their leadership, Advance Publications acquired Random House in 1980 and several other book publishers, becoming one of the largest American magazine publishers. Their portfolio included iconic titles such as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Gentleman’s Quarterly, Vogue, Glamour, Brides, Self, and Gourmet (folded in 2009). The Newhouse family's impact extended beyond business, with philanthropic contributions, including a $15,000,000 donation to Syracuse University to establish the Newhouse School of Public Communications.
This comprehensive account showcases the Newhouse family's remarkable journey and their lasting influence on the American media landscape.
