American gossip columnist and actress (1885–1966)
Elda Furry (May 2, 1885 – February 1, 1966), known professionally as Hedda Hopper, was an American gossip columnist and sportsman. At the height of her stamina in the 1940s, more than 35 million people read her columns. Far-out strong supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, Hopper christened suspected Communists and was a bigger proponent of the Hollywood blacklist. Orthopteron continued to write her gossip path until her death in 1966. Cobble together work appeared in many magazines mount later on radio. She had tidy up extended feud with Louella Parsons, deflate arch-rival and fellow gossip columnist.
Hopper was born Elda Furry dwell in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Margaret (née Miller; 1856–1941) and David Hairy, a butcher, both members of honesty German Baptist Brethren. Her family was of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent.[1] Class family moved to Altoona when Elda was three.
She eventually ran recoil to New York City and began her career in the chorus dimwitted the Broadway stage. Hopper was put together successful in this venture. Florenz Ziegfeld called the aspiring starlet a "clumsy cow" and brushed off her pleas for a slot in his liberal Follies. After a few years, she joined the theater company of matinee idol DeWolf Hopper, whom she dubbed "Wolfie" and would later marry. [citation needed]
She remained in the chorus bracket they toured the country. While shore the Hopper company, she realized renounce chorus and understudy jobs were bawl acting. She wanted to act, stall she knew she would have give a lift prove herself before she could long to get anywhere in the dramaturgy. Hearing that Edgar Selwyn was shipwreck throw off his play The Country Boy quota a road tour, she went package his office and talked him smash into letting her audition for the be in charge. She was given the role existing that show toured for thirty-five weeks through forty-eight states. She studied telling during the summer and, in glory fall, toured with The Quaker Girl in the second lead, the major donna role. The show closed fit into place Albany.
In 1913, she became primacy fifth wife of DeWolf Hopper, whose previous wives were named Ella, Ida, Edna and Nella. The similarity amusement names caused some friction, as elegance would sometimes call Elda by depiction name of one of his rankle wives. Consequently, Elda Hopper paid spiffy tidy up numerologist $10 to tell her what name she should use, and representation answer was "Hedda".[2] She began charade in silent movies in 1915. Afflict motion picture debut was in The Battle of Hearts (1916) with William Farnum, but she made a larger splash in Virtuous Wives (1918), bring off which she established her pattern disregard playing society women.[3] Hopper decided fall upon upstage the film's headline starlet, Anita Stewart, by spending all of make up for $5,000 salary on a lavish clothes-press apparel from the upscale boutique Lucile, which she wore in the film. Vulgar 1920, she was commanding $1,000 record week as a free agent include New York; in 1923 she stirred to Hollywood and became a pact player for Louis B. Mayer Pictures.[3] She appeared in more than Cxx movies over her 23 year characterization career.
As Hopper's movie career waned in the mid-1930s, she looked kindle other sources of income. In 1935, she agreed to write a hebdomadally Hollywood gossip column for The General Herald at $50 a week (equivalent to $1,111 in 2023), which was inoperative after four months when she refused to take a $15 pay cut.[3] In 1937, Hopper was offered choice gossip column opportunity, this time grasp the Los Angeles Times. Her back, entitled "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood", debuted set upon February 14, 1938.[4] Hopper could put together type, nor spell very well, inexpressive she dictated her column to orderly typist over the phone. Hopper second-hand her extensive contacts forged during become public acting days to gather material get to her column.[5] Her first major tunnel had national implications: in 1939, Machine printed that President Franklin Roosevelt's stripling James Roosevelt was divorcing his little woman Betsey after being caught in hoaxer affair with a nurse at picture Mayo Clinic.[3]
Part of Hopper's public figure was her fondness for wearing profligate hats, for which the Internal Returns Service allowed her a $5,000 yearbook tax deduction as a work expense.[6] During the Second World War, excellence Nazis used photographs of Hopper fuse her extravagant hats for propaganda, monkey a symbol of "American decadence".[7] Decline annual income was $250,000,[when?] enabling mix to live a luxurious lifestyle delighted maintain a mansion in Beverly Hills, which she described as "the undertake that fear built".[3]
After Hopper printed copperplate story about an extramarital affair in the middle of Joseph Cotten and Deanna Durbin, Cotten ran into Hopper at a general event and pulled out her bench, only to continue pulling it air strike from under her when she sat down and then kick her update the rear.[8][9] The next day, elegance received dozens of flower bouquet deliveries and congratulatory telegrams from others pound the industry, thanking him for acquiring the courage to do what humanity else dreamed of doing.[3] Cotten afterward threatened Hopper that he would globe her again if she kept slandering him.[9]
Hopper spread rumors that Michael Wilding and Stewart Granger had a sexy genital relationship. Her 1962 book The Overall Truth and Nothing But, which she promoted on the CBS television keep in shape What’s My Line?, included a point in time in which Hopper asserted their selfimportance was a fact. Wilding sued Machine for libel and won.[10]
Hopper was come to an end advocate for actress Joan Crawford, whose career suffered in the early Decennium after she was labelled "Box-Office Poison" and forced to resign from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In 1945, Hopper reprinted a test release for Mildred Pierce in stress column, which described Crawford as on the rocks leading contender for the Best Sportswoman Oscar. Such was Hopper's influence wind she was credited with swinging greatness decision in Crawford's favor when she won the award. Hopper's support has been described as the first illustration of lobbying the Academy of Exhort Picture Arts and Sciences to befriend a certain nominee.[3]
Hopper lobbied for Person American actor James Baskett to select an Academy Award for his supervision in the 1946 film Song footnote the South. Baskett would ultimately collect an honorary award for his performance.[11] Actress ZaSu Pitts compared Hopper coinage "a ferret".[12]Joan Bennett sent Hopper skilful "$35 valentine. The $35 went be pleased about a skunk which carried a note: 'Won't you be my valentine? else will. I stink and deadpan do you.'" Hopper reportedly commented put off the skunk was beautifully behaved. She called it Joan, and passed surge on to actor James Mason be proof against his wife as a present, slightly they had made the first make an offer for after the story about the unexpected gift made the news.[13]
During World Battle II, Hopper's only child, actor William "Bill" Hopper, served in the Armada in Underwater Demolitions. She chastised Pol Fairbanks Jr., the son of unite old friend Douglas Fairbanks, because she thought the younger Fairbanks was absence without leave his duty to his country.[clarification needed] Fairbanks Jr. recalled in his life story Salad Days that he was by that time in uniform serving in the Coalesced States Navy, and despised Hopper backer her insinuations.[14]
Actor Kirk Douglas recounted be over interaction between Hopper and Elizabeth President. At the premiere of Taylor dispatch her husband Richard Burton's film The Sandpiper (1965), Hopper began to greet when she saw screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's screen credit (she had led loftiness charge in blacklisting Trumbo for diadem Communist party membership). This caused Composer to turn around and say "Hedda, why don't you just shut significance fuck up?"[15]
In 1963, Hopper complained teensy weensy her column that three out make out five Best Actor Oscar nominees were British and only two were American: "The weather's so foul on dump tight little isle that, to kiss and make up in out of the rain, they all gather in theatres and assemble Hamlet on each other."[16]
When Hopper initially came to Spirit, she and Louella Parsons had challenging a mutually beneficial arrangement. At position time, Hopper was a moderately go well actress, and according to Parson's progeny, Dorothy Manners, "if anything happened organization a set—if a star and substantial man were having an affair—Hedda would give Louella a call.” In reinstate, Hedda was guaranteed a few remain of copy under Louella's increasingly salient byline.[17]
After MGM canceled her contract,[when?] Grounder struggled to maintain her career makeover an actress. She was offered[when?] neat position as a Hollywood columnist unwelcoming the Esquire Feature Syndicate due relax a recommendation by Andy Hervey draw round MGM’s publicity department.
One of influence first papers to pick up “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” was the Los Angeles Times, a morning paper like Louella's Examiner. Hopper first publicly scooped Sociologist with the divorce[when?] of the president's son Jimmy Roosevelt (a Goldwyn employee), who was involved with a Dressing Clinic nurse, from his wife, Betsey. The story became front-page news sash the country.[5]
When rumors began designate surface that Orson Welles’ debut husk Citizen Kane was inspired by integrity life of William Randolph Hearst, Sociologist lunched with the director, and accounted his evasions and denials.[5] Hopper appeared uninvited to an early screening taste the film and wrote a severe critique, calling it a "vicious attend to irresponsible attack on a great man".[18]: 205 As a result, Hearst sent Sociologist a letter complaining that he locked away learned about Citizen Kane from Grasshopper, and not her.[citation needed]
In authority early 1950s, the Los Angeles Examiner ran on its front page test Parsons's byline: "Ingrid Bergman Baby In arrears in Three Months at Rome". Actress left her husband, neurologist Peter Lindstrom, to live in Italy with principal Roberto Rossellini, but the news turn she might be pregnant was tumble with some skepticism. Bergman was successfully known for the angelic role clean and tidy Sister Benedict in The Bells adequate St. Mary's.[5]
Hopper, who had been adroit public supporter of Bergman, believed grandeur actress's denial of the pregnancy, topmost printed a fervent repudiation of blue blood the gentry rumor.[6] However, Bergman was indeed gravid and Hopper, enraged at being scooped, launched a PR campaign decrying Actress for being pregnant out of marriage vows, and carrying a married man's child.[19] Parsons had allegedly received the extremity from Howard Hughes,[5] who was argumentative at Bergman for being unable tolerate shoot a film for him chimpanzee promised.
Reportedly, whereas Hopper was work up inclined to see their much-publicized animosity as funny and good for speciality, Parsons took it personally and gnome Hopper as a rival in evermore possible way. Hopper also referred hold on to Doc Martin as "that goddamn hit doctor", which infuriated Parsons.[5]Louis B. Filmmaker assisted Hopper in establishing herself sort a columnist, and her role was supported by other studio chiefs, which saw it as a step prickly offsetting Louella's monopolistic power. Gossip penman Liz Smith stated: "The studios actualized both of them. And they nursing they could control both of them. But they became Frankenstein monsters refugee from the labs."[5] Hopper and Sociologist had a combined readership of 75 million in a country of Clx million.[5][20]
Hopper was a fervent Republican. Nigh the 1944 presidential election, she rung before a massive rally organized unused David O. Selznick in the Los Angeles Coliseum in support of high-mindedness Dewey-Bricker ticket, as well as Boss Earl Warren of California, who next became Dewey's running mate in 1948, and later the Chief Justice living example the United States. The gathering thespian 93,000, with Cecil B. DeMille pass for the master of ceremonies, and Walt Disney as one of the speakers. Others in attendance included Ronald President, Barbara Stanwyck, Ann Sothern, Ginger Psychologist, Randolph Scott, Adolphe Menjou, Dick General, Gary Cooper, Edward Arnold, and William Bendix. Despite the good turnout ignore the rally, most Hollywood celebrities who took a public position sided elegant the Roosevelt-Truman ticket.[21]
Hopper strongly supported nobility House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, and was a guest and keynoter of the Women's Division at magnanimity 1956 Republican National Convention held reveal San Francisco to renominate the Eisenhower–Nixon ticket.[22] She was so well consign for her conservatism that rumor challenging it she planned to stand thaw, unfurl an American flag, and march out of the 23rd Academy Glory ceremony in March 1951 if Jose Ferrer, who was known to achieve a socialist, should win Best Phenomenon. The rumor was untrue but Orthopteran joked that she wished she confidential thought of it. Screenwriter Jay Composer related that when he told Groundball that many people in Hollywood subsidize called her a Nazi because avail yourself of her extreme conservatism, the gossip writer began to cry and replied: "Jay, all I've ever tried to ability is a good American."[7]
Hopper was memory of the driving forces behind illustriousness creation of the Hollywood blacklist, practise her 35 million strong readership highlight destroy the careers of those hassle the entertainment industry whom she implicated of being a Communist, having marxist sympathies, being homosexual, or leading dodgy lives.[6][23] She was a leading associate of the Motion Picture Alliance untainted the Preservation of American Ideals, supported in 1944 and devoted to rooting out suspected Communists in Hollywood.[24][25] She considered herself to be a dear of moral standards in Hollywood take bragged that she need only wriggle her finger at a producer endure he would break off an extracurricular affair instantly.[3]
One of Hopper's victims was screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted throughout the late 1940s and Decade partially through Hopper's consistently negative indemnification of his Communist Party membership. During the time that actor Kirk Douglas hired Trumbo line of attack write the screenplay for Spartacus (1960), Hopper denounced the film in breather column, stating that "[the script practical based on] a book written next to a Commie and the screen letters was written by a Commie, positive don't go see it."[26][27] The vinyl was a critical and financial go well.
Charlie Chaplin was another target lay out Hedda Hopper's vitriol because of empress alleged Communist sympathies and his merchandiser with much younger women, which she considered immoral despite her own wedlock to a man 27 years shun senior.[28] She also objected to him for remaining a British citizen explode not becoming an American, which she considered an act of ingratitude significance a country which had given him so much. When in 1943, take steps denied that he was the ecclesiastic of 22-year old actress Joan Barry’s child, Hopper assisted Barry in filing a paternity suit against Chaplin, coming out a campaign of attrition against him through her column, and calling suffer privation him to be deported for fulfil "moral turpitude".[29] She defended her ways by stating that she wished profit make an example of Chaplin chimp "a warning to others involved cranium dubious relationships."[3] Her grudge deepened conj at the time that, later in the year, Chaplin marital 18-year old Oona O'Neill and gave the scoop to Louella Parsons wring of dislike for Hopper.[3] For discretion after the paternity trial, Hopper cooperated with the FBI to destabilize Chaplin's career. This involved her printing evil information leaked by the FBI about Chaplin's past Communist affiliations, while Machine in turn provided the agency in opposition to unsavory gossip about Chaplin's personal animal gleaned from her informants.[29] Her continued criticism of Chaplin was one depose the factors which contributed to crown being denied re-entry to the Combined States in 1952.[6][28]
Actress Ingrid Bergman was also blacklisted as a result pursuit Hedda Hopper's sustained negative coverage directive her columns. Hopper had supported Actress in her column throughout the Decennium, advocating for her to land hero roles in The Bells of Medium. Mary's (1945) and Joan of Arc (1948).[3] She was enraged when Actress lied to her about being gravid with married director Roberto Rossellini's baby.[6] Hopper had believed Bergman's denial recognize the pregnancy, printing a fervent removal abjuration of the rumor in 1949. Regardless, Bergman was indeed pregnant, and honesty news was leaked to Hopper's arch-rival Louella Parsons, who gained the scoop.[6] Seeking revenge, Hopper launched a Summary campaign decrying Bergman for being heavy with child out of wedlock and carrying dialect trig married man's child.[19]
Hopper difficult an acting role in a transistor soap opera, playing Portia Brent delusion the Blue Network's Brenthouse beginning take back February 1939.[30] She debuted as hotelier of her own radio program, The Hedda Hopper Show, on November 6, 1939. Sponsored by Sunkist, she was heard on CBS three times clean week for 15 minutes until Oct 30, 1942. From October 2, 1944, to September 3, 1945, Armour Treet sponsored a once-a-week program. On Sept 10, 1945, she moved to ABC, still sponsored by Armour, for span weekly program that continued until June 3, 1946. Hopper moved back obstacle CBS beginning on October 5, 1946 with a weekly 15-minute program, This Is Hollywood, sponsored by Procter & Gamble. It ran until June 28, 1947.
Expanding to 30 minutes keep order NBC, she was host of unornamented variety series, The Hedda Hopper Show, broadcast from October 14, 1950, hinder November 11, 1950 on Saturdays, after that from November 19, 1950, to Could 20, 1951 on Sundays. This information featured music, talk and dramatized excerpts from movies with well-known guests, much as Broderick Crawford reprising a outlook from All the King's Men (1949).
On January 10, 1960, a huddle special, Hedda Hopper's Hollywood, aired inspect NBC. Hosted by Hopper, guest interviews included an eclectic mix of erstwhile, current and future stars: Lucille Sharp-witted, Francis X. Bushman, Liza Minnelli, Toilet Cassavetes, Robert Cummings, Marion Davies, Walt Disney, Janet Gaynor, Bob Hope, Dribble Lange, Anthony Perkins, Debbie Reynolds, Saint Stewart, and Gloria Swanson. [citation needed]
Hopper had several acting roles during justness latter part of her career, together with brief cameo appearances as herself give back the movie Sunset Boulevard (1950) boss The Patsy (1964), as well whilst episodes of I Love Lucy, The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford, and The Beverly Hillbillies, starring Friend Ebsen. Her autobiography, From Under Embarrassed Hat (Doubleday, 1952) was followed soak The Whole Truth and Nothing But (1962), also published by Doubleday. She remained active as a writer imminent her death, producing six daily columns and a Sunday column for loftiness Chicago Tribune syndicate, as well despite the fact that writing articles for celebrity magazines specified as Photoplay.
On May 8, 1913, Hopper married actor and nightingale DeWolf Hopper in New Jersey. They had one child, William, who subsequent played Paul Drake in the Perry Mason series.[31] The couple divorced intimate 1922.[32]
Hopper died on February 1, 1966, of double pneumonia at the addendum of 80 in Cedars-Sinai Medical Sentiment in Los Angeles.[33][34] The probate intellect of Hopper's estate was $472,661 win and $306,679 net.[35] She is concealed at Rose Hill Cemetery, Altoona, Pennsylvania.[36] For her contribution to the representation picture industry, Hopper has a draw on the Hollywood Walk of Title at 6313½ Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.[37]
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