This Is One Publisher Who Is Banking on an Idea That Old News Is Good News

Larry J. Goudge, 47, is banking on the theory that there are 100,000 people out there who want to subscribe to a newspaper that prints only old news.

The stories deal with yesteryear headline grabbers such as the shooting at the OK Corral, the sinking of the Titanic and Custer’s Last Stand. The newspaper’s next lead story will be the flight of the Spruce Goose.

“I’ve done two years of test mailings of the papers,” said Goudge, of Fountain Valley, “so I’ve done my homework and I’m ready to get serious about it.”

Admitting that he’s “been having a lot of fun,” Goudge works full-time putting the 16-page bimonthly tabloid together. “It used to be strictly a hobby, but I still get a kick finding the stories,” he said.

Although officially named “Parker’s Gazette,” the title Goudge settled on while driving through Parker, Ariz., he likes to call it “the old newspaper.”

The news stories and features written mostly by free lance writers, deal with events from the Civil War to the 1950s and include famous women in history, automobile and Old West sections, a column by Will Rogers, old comics such as Betty Boop and advertisements recreated from those days.

“If we decide to put in paid advertisements,” he said, “our thinking is to put it in a separate section.”

The layout, writing and even the ivory stock paper recreates the yesteryear style of newspapering, down to the brown ink.

Goudge publishes the newspaper from his home. While free-lance writers research and write most stories, some articles are assembled from various historical sources. The story of the sinking of the Titanic, for example, was pieced together by the secretary of the Titanic Historical Society.

“The stories are totally nonfiction and sometimes we even talk to, and quote, people who were actually involved in the event,” he said. “And we authenticate every story.”

For instance, he said, “we had two versions written of the shooting at the OK Corral. One writer claimed that the shooting was accidental and the other said it was cold blood murder. Both could document their stories,” he said, adding, “Sometimes we have gray areas.”

Goudge said he has $100,000 to invest and is looking for about $200,000 in venture capital to promote the tabloid directed at historians, nostalgia buffs, history teachers, students, universities, libraries and historical societies. It currently has 2,000 subscribers.

“I figure we can turn a profit in 15 months,” he said.

And to think it’s a tribute to whales.

“Actually, it was spine tingling,” said Harry E. Helling, of the sponsoring Orange County Marine Institute, referring to last year’s concert by the Capistrano Valley Symphony Orchestra from the deck of the old sailing ship Pilgrim in Dana Point Harbor.

Well, the whales are are coming back and so is the free concert. On Feb. 22 the formally attired orchestra will repeat the original composition “And God Created Whales,” among others.

Helling said the music reverberates off the nearby cliffs so spectators and the passing whales will both enjoy the music.

The 150-member San Juan (Capistrano) Fiesta Assn. thought the annual Swallows Week celebration starting March 13 should become more of a family affair. Sure enough, the Ms. Fiesta they picked this year fits that thought.

She’s 2 1/2-year-old Kirsten Hutton.

“I thought it was great,” said Tootsie Finney, 29, the first runner-up.

“I think it will be kind of fun . . . “ said Kathy Holmes, association board member.

“We think it’s fine,” said Thomas Winget, association president.

“Kirsten is bright, intelligent and talented,” said Richard Calderon, a fiesta organizer.

But Kirsten’s father, Gary Hutton,( said there was a certain amount of consternation over her selection.

“The association can’t figure out what the heck they are going to do with a 2 1/2-year-old child at a cocktail party,” the elder Hutton said.

Not to worry. That duty will be taken over by Tootsie, who is Kirsten’s godmother.

And Calderon said he would help work things out. He’s Kirsten’s godfather.

Now that’s a family affair.