Variety (magazine)

Lore & Background

Variety has been published since December 16, 1905, when it was launched by Sime Silverman as a weekly periodical covering theater and vaudeville, with its headquarters in New York City. Silverman had been fired by The Morning Telegraph in 1905 for panning an act which had taken out an advert for $50. The original logo, which is very similar to the current design, was sketched by Edgar M. Miller, a scenic painter, who refused payment. The first issue contained a review by Silverman's son Sidne, also known as Skigie, who was claimed to be the youngest critic in the world at seven years old. The Daily and the Weekly were initially run as virtually independent newspapers, with the Daily concentrating mostly on Hollywood news and the Weekly on U.S. and international coverage. He remained as publisher until his death later that year, soon after launching Daily Variety. In October 2012, Reed Business Information sold the publication to Penske Media Corporation. In March 2013, owner Penske appointed three co-editors to oversee different parts of the publication's industry coverage; the decision was also made to stop printing Daily Variety with the last printed edition published on March 19, 2013.

Reader's Guide

Variety's significance lies in its long-standing role as a primary trade publication for the entertainment industry, covering theater, vaudeville, and later motion pictures and television. Founded by Sime Silverman in 1905, it established a tradition of independent reporting that would not be influenced by advertising. Over the decades, Variety became known for its distinctive jargon and its 'Just for Variety' column, which ran daily for 52 years. Despite the cessation of Daily Variety's print edition in 2013, the weekly print publication continues, and Variety remains a key source of entertainment news, reviews, and box office data. Its legacy includes breaking exclusive stories and providing a historical record of the entertainment industry.

Did You Know?

• Variety was founded by Sime Silverman after he was fired from The Morning Telegraph for panning an act that had taken out a $50 advert.
• The original logo was sketched by scenic painter Edgar M. Miller, who refused payment.
• The first issue contained a review by Silverman's seven-year-old son Sidne, claimed to be the youngest critic in the world.