New York Clipper, Vol. IV, No. 19

The New York Clipper, Vol. IV, No. 19 (August 30, 1856) exemplifies the illustrated weekly that dominated mid-nineteenth-century American entertainment journalism. The masthead features an ornamental frame with classical figures flanking a composite scene of New York harbor and cityscape. Below runs the featured engraving: a detailed rendering of a racing yacht, "The Lowermost Regatta—Match with Latten and Cutter Rigged Boats," accompanied by technical specifications and sailing results. Dense columns of text fill the remainder, covering theatrical notices, sporting events, and variety entertainments. Published at four cents, the Clipper served as the leading trade weekly for actors, musicians, boxers, jockeys, and circus performers—a heavily-illustrated newsstand paper that helped shape how a mass audience consumed entertainment news and celebrity through pictures and detailed reporting.