Star of Los Angeles

Los Angeles Star (La Estrella de Los Angeles) was the first newspaper in Los Angeles, California, US. The publication ran from 1851 to 1879.

The first proposition to establish a newspaper in Los Angeles was made to the city council October 16, 1850. The minutes of the meeting on that date contain this entry: “Theodore Foster petitions for a lot situated at the northerly corner of the jail for the purpose of erecting thereon a house to be used as a printing establishment. The council—taking in consideration the advantages which a printing house offers to the advancement of public enlightenment, and there existing as yet no such establishment in the city: Resolved. That for this once only a lot from amongst those that are marked on the city map be given to Mr. Theodore Foster for the purpose of establishing thereon a printing house; and the donation be made in his favor because he is the first to inaugurate this public benefit.

The location of the printing house was on what is now Los Angeles Street, then called Calle Zanja Madre (Mother Ditch street), and sometimes Canal street. This site of Foster’s printing office was opposite the Bell Block. On the lot granted by the council, Foster built a small two-story frame building. The lower story was occupied by the printing outfit, and the upper story was used as a living room by the printers and proprietors of the paper. Over the door was the Sign “Imprenta” (printing office).

The first number of the pioneer paper was issued May 17, 1851. It was named La Estrella de Los Angeles (Los Angeles Star). It was a four-page, five column paper; size of page, 12x18 inches. Two pages were printed in English and two in Spanish. The subscription price was US$10 a year, payable in advance. Advertisements were inserted at the rate of $2 per square for the first insertion and $1 for each subsequent insertion. The publishers were John A. Lewis and John McElroy. Foster had dropped out of the establishment before the publication of the first issue. Two years later he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Fresno River.

In July 1851, William H. Rand bought an interest in the paper and the firm became Lewis, McElroy & Rand. In November, McElroy sold his interest to Lewis & Rand. John A. Lewis edited the English pages and Manuel Clemente Rojo was editor of the Spanish columns of the Star for some time after its founding. The press was an old Washington Hoe. It came around the Horn of Africa, a journey of six or seven months. Its circulation did not exceed 250 copies. The first job of city work done by La Estrella (as it is always called in the early records) was the printing of one hundred white ribbon badges for the city police. The inscription on the badge, which was printed both in English and Spanish, read “City Police, organized by the Common Council of Los Angeles, July 12, 1851.” La Estrella’; the bill for the job was US$25.

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