Skigi: The World’s Youngest Critic Sees The Rise Of Motion Pictures At New York’s Vaudeville Show

IN December 1905, the first issue of Variety magazine featured an article by Skigie. Who he? He was the magazine publisher Sime Silverman’s 7-year-old son. The boy genius reviewed a vaudeville show. The best bit about it? The moving pictures. The boy was prescient. Moving pictures became big; vaudeville shrivelled.

Silverman’s son Sidne (1901–1950), succeeded him as publisher.

The first issue was sixteen pages long. It sold for a nickel.

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