How a $1,500 loan created the dictionary of show business
In 1905, an editor fired for criticizing a paid advertiser launched a weekly newspaper with a small family loan. Today, that publication is the linguistic architect of Hollywood, credited by the Oxford English Dictionary with introducing terms like 'show biz' to the global lexicon.
The origins of Variety lie in a professional grudge. In 1905, Sime Silverman was dismissed from The Morning Telegraph after writing a negative review of a performance that had paid the paper $50 for advertising. Armed with a $1,500 loan from his father-in-law, Silverman founded Variety in New York City to provide coverage of theater and vaudeville that would remain 'not influenced by advertising.'
The publication's influence extends far beyond simple reporting; it fundamentally shaped the language of the entertainment industry. Through a specialized jargon known as 'slanguage' or 'Varietyese,' the magazine popularized terms such as 'boffo,' 'payola,' and 'striptease.' The Oxford English Dictionary even cites Variety as the earliest source for approximately two dozen terms, including the ubiquitous 'show biz,' which appeared in 1945.
Over the decades, the brand expanded from a New York weekly into a multi-platform empire. In 1933, Silverman launched the Los Angeles-based Daily Variety to cover the burgeoning motion-picture industry. While the daily print edition eventually ceased publication in March 2013, the brand has evolved into a digital powerhouse under Penske Media Corporation, encompassing massive web traffic and specialized franchises like Variety Hitmakers.
The magazine's history is marked by significant shifts in scale and scope. From its first issue selling just 320 copies in 1905 to a 2026 weekly circulation of 70,000, it has transitioned from a niche trade paper to a global authority. It has even ventured into political endorsements, notably endorsing Hillary Clinton for President in 2016, the first such endorsement in its 111-year history.
Source: Variety (magazine)
