The Gold Hill News: A 50+ Year Retrospective Of the Award Winningest Weekly in Nevada
via Nevada Travel Network
Gold Hill, Nev – Continuing to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the rebirth of the Gold Hill News in June of 1974, the historic Odeon in Dayton will host the comprehensive, historical exhibition July 23-26, 2026. This is the third showing of this exhibit, the first to an overflow crowd of Comstock residents, fans, and readers in Gold Hill in 2024 and then a month-long showing at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City in 2025. Residents of the Comstock can get a comprehensive view of life in this unique community and time period.
The show will open with a reception on July 23, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room of the Odeon (65 Pike St., Dayton). It’s an opportunity to see this historic building built by the Odd Fellows in 1863 and becoming Dayton’s common meeting room for dances, talks, vows, and farewells. Today the Odeon is a venue that combines history, music, gathering, food, drink, and performance.
The Gold Hill News was to become the State’s most honored weekly news publication during its amazing, 99-issue lifespan in the mid-1970s. In 1974, a small group of creative Comstock denizens with no money decided there existed a need for a new approach to, and outlet for, local and regional news and information to serve the citizenry of this historic and illustrious region of Nevada. Writers David Toll and Peter Laufer, along with artist Buckeye Blake and radio legend Chandler Laughlin (aka Travus T. Hipp), conspired to revive the original Gold Hill News following a “92-year hiatus.” In the tradition of the high-spirited writing that characterized late 19th century Western journalism, the restored News combined serious news gathering with an overriding sense of fun, family, history, community service, and a sly sense of humor.
The exhibit will showcase the News’ richness of content through award-winning writing, editorials and letters, photography, contributors and columnists, art, and humor. The art and graphics were provided by a number of local accomplished artists including Buckeye Blake, Steven Saylor, JoAnne Johnson, Jim McCormick, Art Herman, Steve Powell, and Edw Martinez.
In portraying life on the Comstock 50 years ago, this three-year span covered the festivals, music, art, events, dances, and celebrations of the time. The continuing saga of Joe Conforte and Mustang Ranch included the infamous shooting death of boxer Oscar Bonavena, for which the News had the scoop, story and interview with Conforte. The paper chronicled the resurrection of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, from the first 116 feet of track to the arrival of a 1916 Baldwin steam locomotive. And all the day-to-day stories concerning the people, children, pets, and businesses of the Comstock community, comprising Virginia City, Silver City, Dayton and of course, Gold Hill. The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, which played a pivotal role in the construction of the mines and towns of the Comstock, was also well-represented in the pages of the News.
History buffs and folks who love the Silver State will not want to miss this event! So please mark your calendar and join the “Gold Hill News Gang” this July for a truly great adventure in Nevada newspapering.
For more information, please call or text Robin Cobbey: 775-843-6217
