Growing up in Philadelphia, Thanksgiving didn’t just mean turkey, family, and football. For many of us—especially families tied to the newspaper business—it meant something else entirely: the biggest Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper run of the year.
When I was 17 and 18 years old, I had the privilege of working in the Philadelphia Inquirer pressroom, the same place where my father was the head of the pressroom. Working there on the eve of Thanksgiving was a rite of passage and one of those experiences that stays with you for life.
Life as a Flyboy on the Press Floor
My job was “flyboy,” which meant working on the press floor, lifting and staging the new printing plates next to each assigned press before the Thanksgiving newspaper run began. The Thanksgiving edition wasn’t just big—it was huge. It was often two to three times larger than a standard Sunday paper because it carried all the Black Friday ads and inserts that Philadelphians were waiting for.
The press floor was a world of its own.
There was always:
- The sound of the presses running.
- The smell of ink in the air.
- Newspaper ink on your clothes, hands, and shoes.
If you were on the press floor, you were wearing the job home with you.
On Thanksgiving Eve, we often worked “doubles”—double shifts that meant long hours but good pay. During breaks, the pressroom crew would gather for poker games—nickel and dime, sometimes quarter and half—at tables in the break room just outside the locker room. There was always coffee brewing, and the conversations were as much a part of the job as the presses themselves.
South Philly Guys, Inserts, and Bundles on the Line
A lot of the guys from South Philly worked the line, stuffing inserts and ads and getting the papers ready for bundling. Stacks of newspapers moved down the line, were tied off, and then loaded onto trucks waiting outside. They always hired “extras” due to the sheer volume of production.
Those bundles went everywhere:
- Retail stores
- Corner paper stands
- Drop-offs for paperboys
- Neighborhood homes across Philadelphia and the suburbs
Back then, newspapers ruled the day. We had The Inquirer, the Bulletin, and the Daily News, and they were part of everyday life. Everyone in the house wanted their section of the paper. On Thanksgiving morning, the ads and inserts were spread out on the table as families planned their Black Friday shopping strategy.
When Black Friday Really Meant “The Big Day”
For retailers, Black Friday was the most important shopping day of the year. There were no advance leaks, social media previews, or weeks of “Black Friday deals.” Nobody knew exactly what the competition was doing until the Thanksgiving newspaper landed on the doorstep.
Customers would sit down with the Thanksgiving edition, searching for:
- Who had the best price on that big-ticket item
- Which store opened at what time
- Which doorbusters were worth standing in line for
When I became a parent, Black Friday still meant midnight openings, long lines, and bundled-up shoppers waiting outside in the cold. People would bring the newspaper ads with them in the car or fold them under their arm so they had proof of the price in case the store was running low or didn’t have the sign posted yet.
Sometimes, if a store ran out of the item, that ad became your best bargaining chip to find a similar deal somewhere else.
Thanksgiving Was the True Start of the Holiday Season
One big difference between then and now: the holiday season didn’t start before Thanksgiving. There weren’t weeks of pre-Black-Friday sales or Christmas decorations going up in October. Thanksgiving and Black Friday were the official kickoff.
After Thanksgiving dinner, families started to decorate:
- Christmas trees went up.
- Holiday wreaths appeared on doors.
- Lights were strung across porches and row homes.
- Families began making their holiday arrangements and traditions.
Our families would gather for Thanksgiving, share a meal, watch some football, and flip through the Thanksgiving Inquirer to see what the next day would bring.
From Ink-Stained Shirts to Helping Philly Families Today
Looking back, I realize how much those pressroom days shaped my understanding of hard work, community, and family in Philadelphia. The long shifts, the smell of ink, the stacks of papers headed out across the city—those memories are all tied to the way this city moves and breathes.
Today, my roots in Philadelphia continue through Philly Legal Connect and through the work my family does helping injured people find trusted legal help.
When a family member is hurt in a car crash, fall, nursing home incident, daycare injury, or other serious accident, they’re not thinking about ad inserts or doorbusters. They’re thinking about:
- How to get medical care
- How to pay the bills
- How to protect their family’s future
That’s where The Oakes Firm, a Philadelphia personal injury law firm, comes in.
The Oakes Firm: Your First Call for Injury Law
My son’s firm, The Oakes Firm, carries on our 5th-generation Philadelphia connection and is dedicated to helping families during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
If you or a loved one is injured and need help understanding your rights,
The Oakes Firm is Your First Call for Injury Law.
The Oakes Firm
Your First Call for Injury Law
📞 (215) 883-4412
🌐 TheOakesFirm.com
You can also Get Connected through Philly Legal Connect to learn more and be matched with trusted personal injury counsel in Philadelphia.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Philly Newspapers
1. What made the Thanksgiving edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer so special?
The Thanksgiving edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer was often two to three times the size of a standard Sunday paper. It carried the Black Friday ads, inserts, and doorbuster deals that shoppers across the city relied on to plan their holiday shopping.
2. Did Black Friday used to start before Thanksgiving?
No. Years ago, Thanksgiving and Black Friday were the true kickoff to the holiday season. Stores didn’t start major sales weeks in advance. Shoppers waited for the Thanksgiving paper to see the deals and then lined up for midnight or early-morning openings on Black Friday.
3. How were newspapers produced for the Thanksgiving and Black Friday rush?
In the pressroom, workers ran long or double shifts to produce the oversized Thanksgiving edition. Press crews prepared plates, stuffed inserts, and bundled stacks of newspapers that were moved onto trucks for delivery to stores, paper stands, and homes across the region.
4. How does this history connect to The Oakes Firm and Philly Legal Connect today?
These stories reflect deep, long-term roots in Philadelphia—families who lived, worked, and raised their children here. Today, that same commitment to the community continues through Philly Legal Connect and The Oakes Firm, helping Philadelphia families after serious accidents and injuries with trusted, local legal guidance.
Disclaimer:
The content provided in this post, including the personal stories and historical information, is intended solely for general informational purposes. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Viewing this content or contacting Philly Legal Connect does not create an attorney–client relationship. Legal outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. For advice regarding your individual situation, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. If you need legal assistance after an accident or injury, you may contact The Oakes Firm directly at (215) 883-4412.
