1978 – 2024

Celebrating 45 years of FOCUS, with retro ads from the past as well as pictures, stories and past Page 3 Beauties!

The FOCUS Staff hopes you enjoy these retro images in each category below, which celebrates all the years of FOCUS we can cram in! You’ll also find in the “Cover Section” below, the very first FOCUS, which the late founder, John Tucker, no doubt toiled over in the nights prior to publication. Many thanks to our loyal clients & readers!

FOCUS Covers

Focus Cover – published 2.15.79

FOCUS cover published in 1.14.88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 3 Beauties
Page 3 beauty published September 24, 1992.

Page 3 beauty published September 24, 1992.

 

Page 3 beauty published August 20, 1993.

Page 3 beauty published August 20, 1993.

 

Page 3 beauty published on January 21, 1993.

Page 3 beauty published on January 21, 1993.

 

Page 3 beauty published January 14, 1994.

Page 3 beauty published January 14, 1994.

This Page 3 was published May 25, 2006.

This Page 3 was published May 25, 2006.

Columns / Stories

Fear & Loathing, published December 31, 1987

"The Underground Gourmets" Column by Burp & Slurp published May 8, 1980.

“The Underground Gourmets” Column by Burp & Slurp published May 8, 1980.

 

Article published in March 8, 1979 issue of FOCUS.

Article published October 4, 1979.

 

In Memory photos from late publisher John Tucker, Jr. as well as advertisement for Fandango's published November 11, 2004.

In Memory photos from late publisher John Tucker, Jr. as well as advertisement for Fandango’s published November 11, 2004.

 

Hunter S. Thompson (image below)
It can be assumed that few self-respecting publishers of alternative newspapers or magazines in the 1970s, 80s & 90s would decline to print Hunter S. Thompson, the great disrespecter of all things conventional in journalism and elsewhere.
John Tucker ran Thompson’s column and those of many other unconventional writers.

If you’re not familiar with Thompson, we’ll leave it to you to look him up online. His career started off with being fired from Time magazine for insubordination in 1959.

This piece of Thompson’s  is rather tame, but completely typical of his unique talent.

Article by Hunter S. Thompson published December 29, 1988.

Article by Hunter S. Thompson published December 29, 1988.

 

12.8.1988 david allen coe

Advertisement for Cadillac’s Bar and article for Hickory Community Theatre published December 8, 1988.

 

Photos from Hickory's 1st Annual Oktoberfest published October 16, 1986.

Photos from Hickory’s 1st Annual Oktoberfest published October 16, 1986.

 

Published October 1, 1987.

Published October 1, 1987.

 

FOCUS Masthead published on January 7, 1988.

FOCUS Masthead published on January 7, 1988.

 

Article published January 28, 1988.

Article published January 28, 1988.

 

Article published January 28, 1988.

Letter published January 7, 1998.

Swimsuit models from a retro issue published May 6, 1993. Photos by publisher, John Tucker.

Article published in June 14, 2001 issue.

Racing article published in July 25, 1985 issue.

Article and cartoon published in October 4, 1979 issue of FOCUS.

Article published in July 18, 1985 issue of FOCUS.

Comics
Doonesbury comics published July 25, 1985.

Doonesbury comics published July 25, 1985.

 

Advertisements for Killian's and Fairway Motor Sales along with Benchwarmer's Sports Trivia.

Advertisements for Killian’s and Fairway Motor Sales along with Benchwarmer’s Sports Trivia.

 

 

Cartoon published February, 15 1979.

Cartoon published February, 15 1979.

 

Advertisements

Snack Bar – published 12_03_20

Bourbon Street Club – published 10.19.2000

 

Chester’s Gym – published 1.5.95

Page One – published 7.23.87

Perrier – published 12.6.79

 

Randolph’s – published 1.5.95

Wayneo’s – published 7.23.87

Advertisement published on 6.25.92

 

Advertisement published on 12.13.84

 

Advertisement published on 1.26.87

 

Advertisement published on 3.12.92

 

Advertisement published on 3.12.92

 

Advertisement published on 3.26.87

 

Advertisement published on 3.12.92

 

Advertisement published on 3.12.92

 

Advertisement published on 3.12.92

 

Advertisement published on 6.25.92

 

Advertisement published on 6.25.92

 

Advertisement published on 6.25.92

 

Colonial Lanes ad published in 6.25.92

 

Viking Lounge ad published in 4.5.79

 

Yesterday’s ad published in 4.5.79

 

Westinghouse ad published in 2.26.87

Outdoor Suppl Company ad published in 2.26.87

 

Far East ad published in 2.26.87

 

Zerdens ad published on 12.13.84

Zerdens ad published on 12.13.84

 

Carls TV ad published in 12.13.84.

 

Montana’s Steahouse ad published 9.13.90

 

Fast company ad published 9.13.90

 

Faces ad published in 9.13.90

 

Annabelles ad published in 9.13.90

 

Jokers ad published in 6.25.92

 

Advertisement for Cadillac’s published on June 27, 1991.

 

Advertisement for CDX CD Exchange published on January 1, 1996.

Advertisement for Chromedome published on March 27, 1997.

Advertisement for Crawdads published on March 27, 1997.

Advertisement for Hickory Drive-In and Carolina Theater published on March 22, 1979.

Advertisement for Larry Smith Toyota published on January 4, 1996.

Advertisement for LR Playmakers published on March 22, 1979.

 

 

Advertisement for American Muffler published on March 22, 1979.

Advertisement for P.B. Scott’s published on July 12, 1979.

Advertisement for Terrace 2 Theater published on December 28, 1978.

Advertisement for Ten Years After published on December 31, 1987.

Advertisement for Toughman Contest published on January 4, 1996.

Advertisement for Video World published on June 27, 1991.

Advertisement for Wayneo’s Rolls Royce Disco published on March 22, 1979.

Advertisement for Woodlands Barbeque & Pickin’ Parlor published on December 31, 1987.

Advertisement published in the April 20, 1978 issue of Focus.

 

Advertisement published in the April 27, 1978 issue of FOCUS.

 

This advertisement was published in the September 10, 1987 issue of Focus.

This advertisement was published in the April 20, 1978 issue of FOCUS.

 

Advertisement published in the June, 29, 1978 issue of FOCUS.

Advertisement published in the July 24,1986 issue of FOCUS.

Advertisement published in the March 30, 1978 issue of FOCUS.

This advertisement was published in the May 18,1978 issue of Focus.

 

 

Advertisement published in the August 13, 1978 issue of FOCUS.

Advertisement published in the February 9, 1978 issue of FOCUS.

 

Advertisement published in the December, 24, 1997 issue of FOCUS.

Ad published in the July 16, 1987 issue of FOCUS.

 

Advertisement published in December 15, 1983 issue of Focus.

Advertisement published in August 13, 1987 issue of FOCUS.

 

This ad was published in the August 8, 1987 issue of Focus.

This ad was published in the July 2, 1987 issue of Focus.

 

Advertisement published in June 25, 1987 issue.

 

Advertisement published in the June 25, 1987 issue of FOCUS!

 

Advertisement published in the February 15, 1979 issue of FOCUS!

Ad published in January 8, 1979 issue of FOCUS.

 

Advertisement published in April 11, 1991 issue of FOCUS.

 

Advertisement published in the January 5, 1995 issue.

 

Advertisement published in the November 10 1988 issue.

 

Advertisement published in the December 30, 1992 issue.

 

Advertisement published in the June 25, 1987 issue.

 

Advertisement published in the July 14,1988 issue.

 

Advertisement published in July 21, 1988 issue of FOCUS.

 

Advertisement published in June 18, 1987 issue of FOCUS.

Advertisement published in the July 21,1988 issue.

Advertisement published in the July 28,1988 issue.

Classifieds advertisement from the November 10, 1988 issue of FOCUS

Northern Exposed advertisement from the March 2, 1995 issue of FOCUS

Country Music Bar advertisement from the November 10, 1988 issue of FOCUS

Charlie’s Bait Shop advertisement from the February 16, 1995 issue of FOCUS

Hickory Speedway advertisement from the November 10, 1988 issue of FOCUS

Advertisements from the February 9, 1995 issue of FOCUS

Yesterday’s advertisement from the January 5, 1995 issue of FOCUS

 

Carl’s TV advertisement from the December 31, 1987 issue of FOCUS

Annabelle’s advertisement from the December 29, 1988 issue of FOCUS

Sheraton Motor Inn advertisement from the December 24, 1980 issue of FOCUS

Wizard Lounge advertisement from the December 24, 1980 issue of FOCUS

Belk advertisement from the November 3, 1988 issue of FOCUS

Yesterday’s advertisement from the January 7, 1988 issue of FOCUS

Advertisement for Paramount Motor Sales, Inc. published December 8, 1988.

Advertisement for Paramount Motor Sales, Inc. published December 8, 1988.

Advertisement published October 4, 1979.

Advertisement published May 8, 1980.

Advertisement published August 16, 2007.

 

Advertisement for The Palace published April 4, 1991.

Advertisement for The Palace published April 4, 1991.

 

 

12.8.1988 david allen coe

Advertisement for Cadillac’s Bar and article for Hickory Community Theatre published December 8, 1988.

 

Advertisement for Calvin Klein Jeans and The Twilight Zone published October 4, 1979.

Advertisement for Calvin Klein Jeans and The Twilight Zone published October 4, 1979.

 

Advertisement for The Video Gallery published July, 18, 1985.

Advertisement for The Video Gallery published July, 18, 1985.

 

Movie Advertisements published May 8, 1980.

Movie Advertisements published May 8, 1980.

 

Advertisements for Killian's and Fairway Motor Sales along with Benchwarmer's Sports Trivia.

Advertisements for Killian’s and Fairway Motor Sales along with Benchwarmer’s Sports Trivia.

 

Advertisement for Rooster Bush published April 4, 1991.

Advertisement for Rooster Bush published April 4, 1991.

 

Advertisement for Wayneo's Rolls Royce Disco (currently Wayneo's Silver Bullet) published February 15, 1979.

Advertisement for Wayneo’s Rolls Royce Disco (currently Wayneo’s Silver Bullet) published February 15, 1979.

 

Advertisement for Cadillac's Bar published April 4, 1991.

Advertisement for Cadillac’s Bar published April 4, 1991.

Ad published December 29, 1988.

 

Advertisement for Cheers published January 7, 1988.

Advertisement for Cheers published January 7, 1988.

 

In Memory photos from late publisher John Tucker, Jr. as well as advertisement for Fandango's published November 11, 2004.

In Memory photos from late publisher John Tucker, Jr. as well as advertisement for Fandango’s published November 11, 2004.

Advertisement published October 4, 1979.

Advertisement published October 4, 1979.

 

Best Western Ad published December 8, 1988.

Fat Boys Ad published May 8, 1980.

Yesterdays Ad published October 4, 1979.

 

Ad published July, 25, 1985.

Khaki’s ad published December 8, 1988.

Advertisement published July 18, 1985.

Advertisement for Rent A Spa & Pro Fitness published June 30, 1988.

Gas Light West Advertisement published July 18, 1985.

Advertisement for Paige One published in July 18, 1985 issue.

City 2 City Ad in FOCUS issue published March 27, 2008.

 

Advertisement published in October 19, 2000 issue of FOCUS.

Advertisement published in October 9, 1986 issue of FOCUS.

 

Found Around Town Section

Mark Weaver & Jimmy Buffet published in 1.14.88

 

Photos published in the July 27, 1991 issue.

 

Photos published in the November 10, 1998 issue.

 

Found Around Town photo published in September 3, 1987 issue of FOCUS.

 

Photos published in the September 10, 1987 issue.

Published July 18, 1985.

8.16.2007 people

Published August 16, 2007.

Found Around Town published October 1, 1987.

 

Page 11 Jan 28, 1988 people pics

Published January 28, 1988.

 

 

 

Found Around Town published October 8, 1987

Found Around Town published in July 25, 1985 issue of FOCUS.

 

Published in FOCUS on October 9, 1986.