 After a brief departure over editorial differences , Donaldson purchased Hennegan 's interest in the business in 1900 for $ 500 , to save it from bankruptcy . That May , Donaldson changed it from a monthly to a weekly paper with a greater emphasis on breaking news . He improved editorial quality and opened new offices in New York , Chicago , San Francisco , London and Paris . He also re @-@ focused the magazine on outdoor entertainment like fairs , carnivals , circuses , vaudeville and burlesque shows . A section devoted to circuses was introduced in 1900 , followed by more prominent coverage of outdoor events in 1901 . These types of events were the antecedents to the modern entertainment industry . Billboard covered topics including regulation , a lack of professionalism , economics and new shows . It had a " stage gossip " column covering the private lives of entertainers , a " tent show " section covering traveling shows and a sub @-@ section called " Freaks to order . " According to The Seattle Times , Donaldson also published news articles " attacking censorship , praising productions exhibiting ' good taste ' and fighting yellow journalism . " 
