Los Angeles Reader

Los Angeles Reader was a weekly alternative newspaper established in Los Angeles in 1978. It was created in the tradition of the Chicago Reader, whose non-daily format combined local reporting, cultural criticism, listings, essays, and extensive arts coverage. The Los Angeles edition developed a particular reputation for long, considered reviews of films, plays, concerts, and other cultural events in the city. Rather than positioning itself primarily as a short-form news bulletin, it gave writers room for criticism and distinctive commentary, helping it become part of Los Angeles's independent cultural press. James Vowell was the paper's founding editor. In 1979, he hired the young Matt Groening as an assistant editor; Groening also contributed as a music critic. The Reader became historically significant in 1980 when it published the first appearance of Groening's Life in Hell cartoon strip, in its April 25 issue. The strip later became an important part of Groening's career, but its initial publication in the Los Angeles Reader reflected the paper's willingness to provide space for unconventional cartooning and emerging creative voices. The newspaper also carried David Lynch's The Angriest Dog in the World, a deliberately repetitive strip whose panels remained visually identical throughout its run. The publication's contributor community included critics, journalists, essayists, cartoonists, and cultural writers such as Keith Fitzgerald, Nigey Lennon, Lionel Rolfe, Lawrence Weschler, Mick Farren, Richard Meltzer, Jerry Stahl, Andy Klein, David Ehrenstein, Ernest Hardy, Kevin Uhrich, Erik Himmelsbach, David L. Ulin, and many others. Its contributors covered popular music, classical music, cinema, theater, literature, and Los Angeles cultural life. Laurence Vittes served as classical music critic from 1991 to 1998, while Eric Mankin was also associated with the editorial operation. In February 1989, James Vowell and his wife, Codette Wallace, bought the newspaper from the Chicago Reader. Their ownership marked a transition from the paper's earlier relationship with the Chicago publication to local control. In 1996, Vowell and Wallace sold the Reader to New Times Media. New Times subsequently merged it with the Los Angeles View to create New Times LA. The Los Angeles Reader therefore ceased to operate as an independent newspaper brand. Its lasting importance rests on its role in Los Angeles alternative publishing, its influential arts criticism, and its early publication of Life in Hell.

The Los Angeles Reader was founded in 1978 as a weekly alternative newspaper serving Los Angeles. Its format followed the Chicago Reader model: a city-focused publication that combined cultural criticism, local commentary, feature writing, entertainment information, and listings. The paper's editorial identity was especially associated with lengthy and thoughtful reviews of movies, plays, concerts, and other performances. This emphasis gave it a role in documenting and interpreting Los Angeles cultural life rather than merely providing event announcements. James Vowell served as founding editor. In 1979, he hired Matt Groening as an assistant editor, and Groening also wrote music criticism for the paper. The Reader published Groening's Life in Hell for the first time on April 25, 1980. This early appearance predates Groening's later mainstream success and is one of the publication's most notable historical contributions. The newspaper also published David Lynch's The Angriest Dog in the World, a comic strip characterized by the repetition of the same drawn panels throughout its run. The Reader developed a broad contributor network. Its writers included Keith Fitzgerald, Nigey Lennon, Lionel Rolfe, Lawrence Weschler, Mick Farren, Richard Meltzer, Heidi Dvorak, Chris Morris, Jerry Stahl, Steven Kane, Andy Klein, Allen Levy, Jim Goad, Kirk Silsbee, Henry Sheehan, Samantha Dunn, Natalie Nichols, Steve Appleford, Rich Robinson, Paul Birchall, Eddie Rivera, Amy Steinberg, Dan Sallitt, Myron Meisel, David Ehrenstein, Tom Davis, Dave McCombs, Mark Leviton, Bruce Bebb, Stuart Goldman, Ernest Hardy, Kevin Uhrich, Erik Himmelsbach, David L. Ulin, Lance Loud, J. Michael Straczynski, and Laurence Vittes. Eric Mankin was also associated with the paper as an editor. The contributors' work covered music, film, theater, classical performance, literature, and broader social and cultural subjects. In February 1989, Vowell and his wife, Codette Wallace, purchased the Reader from the Chicago Reader. The transaction shifted ownership to the paper's local leadership while preserving its identity as a Los Angeles alternative weekly. In 1996, they sold the publication to New Times Media. New Times merged it with the Los Angeles View, creating New Times LA. That merger ended the Los Angeles Reader's independent publication under its original name. The newspaper is consequently remembered as a defunct but influential Los Angeles cultural weekly, particularly for its criticism and for serving as the first newspaper outlet for Life in Hell.

1. 1996Reader is merged into New Times LA

   New Times Media acquires the paper and combines it with the Los Angeles View.

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2. 1989Local ownership begins

   James Vowell and Codette Wallace buy the publication from the Chicago Reader.

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3. 1980First Life in Hell strip is published

   The Reader publishes Matt Groening's first Life in Hell cartoon on April 25.

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4. 1979Matt Groening joins the editorial staff

   James Vowell hires Matt Groening as an assistant editor; Groening also contributes music criticism.

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5. 1978Los Angeles Reader begins publication

   The weekly newspaper is established in Los Angeles using a format modeled on the Chicago Reader.

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An independent alternative weekly centered on Los Angeles culture, criticism, listings, and distinctive creative writing.

• Weekly newspaperPrint media1978

  The core product was a weekly print newspaper distributed in Los Angeles. It combined editorial features, cultural commentary, reviews, local information, and entertainment listings in the style of an alternative city weekly.

• Arts and entertainment criticismEditorial content1978

  The paper was particularly recognized for extended reviews of films, theatrical productions, concerts, and other performances. Its criticism-oriented editorial approach distinguished it from publications focused mainly on brief listings or conventional daily reporting.

• Life in HellComic strip1980

  Matt Groening's Life in Hell first appeared in the Los Angeles Reader on April 25, 1980. The publication provided an early newspaper platform for the strip and helped establish the Reader's association with emerging alternative cartooning.

• The Angriest Dog in the WorldComic strip

  David Lynch's comic strip ran in the Reader and was notable for using the same drawn panels throughout its run. Its inclusion reflected the paper's openness to experimental and unconventional creative work.

• 1996New Times Media combines the Reader with Los Angeles ViewM&A

  New Times Media acquired the Los Angeles Reader after its period of local ownership.

  What changed. The buyer merged the Reader with the Los Angeles View to create New Times LA.

  Aftermath. The Los Angeles Reader ceased operating as an independent newspaper brand.

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• 1989Vowell and Wallace purchase the newspaperM&A

  After operating in the orbit of the Chicago Reader, the Los Angeles publication changed ownership in February 1989.

  What changed. James Vowell and Codette Wallace bought the Los Angeles Reader from the Chicago Reader.

  Aftermath. The transaction placed the paper under local ownership until its later sale to New Times Media.

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• 1996New Times Media acquires and merges the Los Angeles Reader

  New Times Media buys the newspaper and combines it with the Los Angeles View to form New Times LA, ending the Reader's independent identity.

  M&AOther
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• 1989James Vowell and Codette Wallace acquire the Reader

  Vowell and Wallace purchase the Los Angeles Reader from the Chicago Reader and take local ownership of the publication.

  M&A
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• 1980Matt Groening's Life in Hell first appears in the Los Angeles Reader

  The newspaper publishes the first Life in Hell strip on April 25, 1980, giving an early platform to Matt Groening's cartoon work.

  Product launch
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• 1978Los Angeles Reader is established as a weekly newspaper

  The Los Angeles Reader begins publication as a weekly alternative newspaper modeled on the Chicago Reader format.

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1. Los Angeles Reader