Mar. 31, 1963 - New York City’s record 114-day blackout of 8 newspapers ended today as the last of 4 striking unions accepted a new contract with the publishers. First editions of morning papers were on the newsstands a few hours later. The blackout cost the city’s economy an estimated $250 million, deprived some 5.5 million readers of their regular daily papers, and idled more than 19,000 workers during most of the shutdown. Jubilant employees began returning to their jobs moments after the settlement was announced. Pickets, listening on portable radios to the news, tore up their signs and joined in cheering with other workers waiting near some of the plants. First on the newsstands was the Daily Mirror, which earlier had heralded the settlement with a resounding 21-gun salute from the Palisades on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. The 40-page Mirror was headlined “New York’s Alive Again!” and in a smaller line, quipped: “We said ‘we’ll be seeing you!’ Here we are after 114 days.” Hollywood star Natalie Wood pressed the button that started the Mirror’s presses rolling. Also on hand for the ceremonies were comedian Jack Benny and singer Jane Morgan.
