1978-1998

The best of the Providence Phoenix and the NewPaper

It has been a daunting task.

How do you cram 20 years of journalism -- 20 years of life -- into 12 pages?

Luckily, there's a lot to draw on. The boxes and file cabinets and towering piles of pulp that we've been digging through for the past few months provide ample evidence of who we are, and what we've done.

"I can feel my lifetime piling up," Talking Head David Byrne sang about 10 years ago. That's certainly how we feel after turning every page of the approximately 1040 issues of the NewPaper and the Providence Phoenix. (Well, almost every page; a few editions have slipped through the cracks.) But as the memories surged and the musty old papers yielded their treasures (and embarrassments), we were struck by the vitality and spirit of the work. Though the actual production of the paper has changed in virtually every way, the great thing about this job is the end result -- it's a new paper every week.

The unique aspect of this 20th anniversary issue (which we named Arnold, since referring to it as "the anniversary issue" became a bit taxing) was delving into two distinct eras in the history of this particular publication. The NewPaper emerged in March 1978, the brainchild of Ty Davis and a few other writers, artists, hangers-on and oddballs. The first few issues were a tad crude and unpolished, like many fledgling publications, but the pages soon contained the classic "underground" mix of news, arts and entertainment, cultural reports, politics, commentary and just plain weirdness that would gestate into today's "alternative press." The paper attracted a wide mix of voices, many of whom have since achieved great success in much bigger ponds.

In July 1988 the NewPaper was purchased by the Boston Phoenix, which had helped forged the identity and consciousness for the alternative press since its founding in 1966. The seat-of-the-pants quality of the NewPaper was supplanted by a solid organization which has allowed the core of the NewP to develop into the more professional and well-rounded Providence Phoenix. Hundreds of people have contributed to the papers in the past two decades, and we thank them for their dedication and tireless efforts.

As the Providence Phoenix, we were able to build on our existing strengths and grow. We publish the best listings in the state, boast a state-of-the-art Website, and our summer and fall guides define what's important in the arts, entertainment, and recreation. Perhaps our proudest accomplishment is the paper's political content which, at its most successful, provokes as well as elucidates.

So this section consists of a sampling of what has appeared in our pages in the past 20 years. It highlights tumultuous times in the corridors of power; the glorious victories and agonizing defeats of our local teams; the artistic efforts of inspired rockers and first-class thespians; little moments and big events. Most of the excerpts address the life and times of living in the Biggest Little. Though the paper has always covered national and international concern, we opted to spotlight local color. Our readers have always cherished the singular viewpoints that have appeared in the pages of the NewPaper and Providence Phoenix.

We hope you enjoy digging through our back pages.

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