NTGS was a line-by-line, full-size newsprint parody of the original, down to the smallest detail.Today it serves as a satirical snapshot of Richmond. circa 1984.
NTGS stories, headlines and ads were all carefully planned in advance and entered into an AmText 425 data processor, and stored on 8" 64K floppy disks. Then the type was transferred off the disks into a CompEdit phototypesetter, where it was formatted and set on photosensitive paper. Once printed out the text and ads were created, hot-waxed and laid out on hand-drawn grid sheets which had been "spec'd" in advance. Production took about 60 days.
NTGS was printed in a limited edition of 2000 copies by the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star newspaper at a cost of $184.00. It was distributed free of charge at bookstores and newsstands in the Richmond area.
Extremely popular, all copies were gone in one weekend. The News-Leader's Harriot McLeod interviewed me in April of that year for an inside feature. NTGS was followed by another parody publication called The Richmond Inquirer in 1985.
Cover: Re the performing arts center and arts district stories - things haven't changed all that much
Page 2: That is not me in the Hairtrigger ad, and Midlothian Turnpike could use some decent marketing.
Page 3: Virginia ad is parody of a short-lived marketing campaign called "We have it made in Virginia".
Page 4: Better Products is a takeoff on the former Richmond-based Best Products.
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