The Los Angeles Reader

July 08, 2025

The Reader (later known as the Los Angeles Reader) was a local Los Angeles weekly journal published between 1978 and 1996 known for alternative news focusing on community issues, and a notably extensive and all-inclusive summary of local of theater, cinema, art, and music events and venues called the “Reader’s Guide.”

The Los Angeles Reader was an offshoot of and followed the format of Chicago’s successful weekly Reader (which is still active). It was published by Robert Roth and initially edited by Chicago staffer Jane Levine. James Vowell, formerly editor of the Pasadena Weekly, was the founding editor after Levine. Vowell went on to purchase the newspaper in 1989 with his wife, Codette Wallace, and Ron Slack, the Reader’s advertising director. Beginning with the February 17th, 1989 issue (Vol. 11 No. 18) Vowell, Wallace, and Slack introduced a new look to the paper by eliminating the fold and changing the nameplate to “Los Angeles Reader”. They were excited to continue to publish the free weekly with local ownership even though they were grateful for their Chicago roots. 

The newspaper provides an excellent window into Angelenos’ daily lives during the time it was published; showcasing local politics, thorough reviews of local theater, film reviews and entertainment industry insights, bar and restaurant recommendations, and more. One example of local coverage is an article from 1988 that touts the rising popularity of farmer’s markets. According to the paper, the first market in the area sprouted up around 1979. The article notably states that farmer’s markets were cheaper than grocery stores at the time, which is not always the case these days. Even our very own CSU gets coverage in a 1991 critical look at the appointment of Barry Munitz as the Chancellor with an in depth look at his past work resume and an interview with Munitz.

The Reader was the first newspaper to publish Matt Groening’s popular comic strip “Life in Hell,”. Groening would go on to create The Tracy Ullman Show, The Simpsons, and Futurama among others. Groening was also an assistant editor and music critic at the paper. The Reader also published David Lynch’s comic strip, "The Angriest Dog in the World", from 1983 to 1992. In a style all his own, (just like his other famously quirky LA endeavor: the daily weather report) Lynch never changed the panels, he only changed the text and updated the unseen characters and their dialog. 

In 1996 the Reader was sold to New Times, Inc., which merged it with the Los Angeles View to form New Times L.A. The last issue was published on August 16th, 1996 (Vol. 18, No. 45). Special Collections and Archives holds a near full run of the newspaper and it is available for viewing in our reading room!

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Post tagged as: special collections, publications, los angeles