Dorothy kilgallen last show

Dorothy Kilgallen

American journalist and TV personality (–)

Dorothy Mae Kilgallen (July 3, – November 8, ) was an American columnist, journalist, and television game show panelist. After spending two semesters at the College of New Rochelle, she started her career shortly before her 18th birthday as a reporter for the Hearst Corporation's New York Evening Journal.

In , she began her newspaper column "The Voice of Broadway", which was eventually syndicated to more than papers.[1][2] In , she became a regular panelist on the television game show What's My Line?, continuing in the role until her death.

Dorothy kilgallen cause of death During her period as a successful columnist and television celebrity, Kilgallen also occasionally covered news stories, including the coronation of Elizabeth II and the trial of Wayne Lonergan, who was accused of bludgeoning his socialite wife Patricia Lonergan to death with a candelabra. Breakfast: A History. According to Israel, Kilgallen was no innovator and followed the style set by Winchell. Event occurs at

Kilgallen's columns featured mostly show-business news and gossip, but also ventured into other topics, such as politics and organized crime. She wrote front-page articles for multiple newspapers on the Sam Sheppard trial[3] and, years later, events related to the John F. Kennedy assassination, such as testimony by Jack Ruby.[4]

Early life

Kilgallen was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of newspaper reporter James Lawrence Kilgallen (–)[5] and his wife, Mae Ahern (–).[6] She was of Irish descent, and Catholic.[1][7] She had one sister, Eleanor (–), who was six years younger.

The family moved to various regions of the United States until , when the International News Service hired James Kilgallen as a roving correspondent based in New York City.[5] The family settled in Brooklyn, New York. Dorothy Kilgallen was a student at Erasmus Hall High School. After completing two semesters at The College of New Rochelle, she dropped out to take a job as a reporter for the New York Evening Journal.

The newspaper was owned and operated by the Hearst Corporation, which also owned International News Service, her father's employer.[5][8]

Career

In , Kilgallen and two other New York newspaper reporters competed in a race around the world, using only means of transportation available to the general public.

She was the only woman to compete in the contest and came in second. She described the race in her book Girl Around The World, which is credited as the story idea for the movie Fly-Away Baby starring Glenda Farrell as a character partly inspired by Kilgallen.[2]

In November , Kilgallen began writing a daily column, the "Voice of Broadway," for Hearst's New York Journal-American, after the corporation merged the Evening Journal with the American.

The column, which she wrote until her death in , featured mostly New York show business news and gossip, but also ventured into other topics such as politics and organized crime. The column eventually was syndicated to newspapers via King Features Syndicate.[1][2] Its success motivated Kilgallen to move her parents and Eleanor from Brooklyn to Manhattan, where she continued to live with them until she got married.

On April 6, , Kilgallen married Richard Kollmar, a musical comedy actor and singer who had starred in the Broadway show Knickerbocker Holiday and was performing in the Broadway cast of Too Many Girls at the time of their wedding.[9] They had three children: Richard "Dickie" (b. ), Jill (b. ), and Kerry Kollmar (b.

),[10] and remained married until Kilgallen's death.[11]

Early in their marriage, Kilgallen and Kollmar both launched careers in network radio. Kilgallen's program Voice of Broadway was broadcast on CBS during World War II,[12] and Kollmar starred as the titular character in the nationally syndicated crime drama Boston Blackie that ran from to

Beginning in April , Kilgallen and Kollmar co-hosted a weekday radio talk show on WOR AM.

Breakfast With Dorothy and Dick was broadcast from their room apartment at Park Avenue. The show followed them when they bought a neo-Georgian townhouse at 45 East 68th Street in [13] The radio program, like Kilgallen's newspaper column, mixed entertainment news and gossip with serious matters. Kilgallen and Kollmar occasionally had a major league baseball player as a guest on the show.[14] The couple continued doing the show from their home until [15] Kilgallen's long-time fellow panelist on What's My Line, Arlene Francis, also hosted a weekday talk show on WOR for many years.

Frank Sinatra feud

Kilgallen and singer Frank Sinatra were fairly good friends for several years and were photographed rehearsing in a radio studio for a broadcast. Eventually, they had a falling out after she wrote a multi-part front-page feature article titled "The Real Frank Sinatra Story".

In addition to the New York Journal-American, Hearst-owned newspapers across the United States ran the feature.[16]

Following this publication, Sinatra made derogatory comments about Kilgallen's physical appearance to his nightclub audiences in New York and Las Vegas.[16][17][18] However, he stopped short of mentioning her name on television or during magazine and newspaper interviews.[16]

Sam Sheppard murder trial

Kilgallen covered the murder trial of Sam Sheppard.[19] Sheppard was a doctor convicted of killing his wife at their home in the Cleveland suburb of Bay Village.

  • Bennett cerf
  • Dorothy kilgallen death photos
  • Richard kollmar

    • The New York Journal-American carried the banner front-page headline that Kilgallen was "shocked" by the guilty verdict because of what she argued were serious flaws in the prosecution's case.[20] At the time of the Cleveland jury's guilty verdict in December , Kilgallen's sharp criticism of it was controversial and a Cleveland newspaper dropped her column in response.[21][22][23] Her articles and columns in did not reveal all she had witnessed in the Cuyahoga CountyCourt of Common Pleas.

    Nine years after the verdict and sentence, and after the judge had died, she claimed at an event held at the Overseas Press Club in New York that the judge had told her before the start of jury selection that Sheppard was "guilty as hell".[24][25]

    Attorney F.

    Lee Bailey, who was working on a habeas corpus petition for his client Sheppard, attended the Overseas Press Club event, heard what Kilgallen told the crowd, and then asked her privately if she would help him.[23][26][27] "Some days later," as Bailey wrote in his memoir The Defense Never Rests,[26] "we obtained a deposition from Dorothy that was inserted into the petition submitted to" Carl Andrew Weinman, judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

    Bailey also included in the habeas corpus petition a statement from Edward Murray, who had worked in as a court clerk at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Similar to Kilgallen's statement, Murray's statement indicated that Edward J. Blythin, the original Sheppard judge, had said that Sheppard was guilty even before the grand jury indicted him on August 17, [26]

    In July , four months after the Overseas Press Club event where Kilgallen broke her silence about the deceased Judge Blythin, Judge Weinman of the federal court granted Bailey's habeas corpus petition, Sam Sheppard was released from prison amid much newspaper publicity, and Sheppard met Kilgallen at a "late-night champagne party" (as described by Bailey in The Defense Never Rests) in Cleveland.[26] After Kilgallen's death, Sheppard was retried and acquitted.[23][26]

    Kennedy assassination

    Kilgallen was publicly skeptical of the conclusions of the Warren Commission's report about the assassination of President Kennedy and Jack Ruby's shooting of Lee Oswald, and she wrote several newspaper articles on the subject.[28][29][30] On February 23, , she published an article in the New York Journal-American about a conversation she had with Jack Ruby, when he was at his defense table during a recess in his murder trial.[31]

    She also obtained a copy of Ruby's June 7, , testimony to the Warren Commission, which she published in August in three installments[32] on the front pages of the New York Journal-American,[33]The Philadelphia Inquirer,[34] the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,[35] and other newspapers.

    What's My Line?

    Kilgallen became a panelist on the American television game show What's My Line?, beginning on its first broadcast, which aired live on February 2, The series was telecast from New York City on the CBS television network until She was seen almost every Sunday evening on the show for 15 years (until her death).

    Beginning in , the series was not always telecast live.[36] Goodson Todman Productions used videotape, a recent invention.[36] In , producers were able to stockpile enough videotaped episodes so that Kilgallen and fellow panelists Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf, along with host John Charles Daly, could take their summer vacations.[36] In , they returned to do a live telecast on September [36] It was followed by eight consecutive Sunday nights when Kilgallen appeared live, the last of them being November 7.[36]

    Death

    On November 8, , Kilgallen was found dead in her Manhattan townhouse located at 45 East 68th Street.

    Her death was determined to have been caused by a combination of alcohol and barbiturates. The police said there was no indication of violence or suicide. According to New York City medical examiner James Luke, the circumstances of her death were undetermined, but emphasized that "the overdose could well have been accidental".[37]

    Her funeral Mass took place on November 11 at the Church of St.

    Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan; John Daly, Arlene Francis, What's My Line? producer Mark Goodson,[38]Betty White, Ed Sullivan, Joseph E. Levine, and Bob Considine were among the 2, people attending.[11] Coverage of the funeral in the New York Journal-American, where she had worked, included "Mrs.

    Bennett Cerf" (Phyllis Fraser), among the notable people who attended.[38] She was interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, Westchester County, New York.[39]

    Legacy

    In , Kilgallen was one of the initial people chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[40] The What's My Line? telecast on November 14, , paid tribute to Kilgallen.

    Kitty Carlisle filled in for Kilgallen during the episode, and said on camera that although she was occupying Kilgallen's seat, "no one could ever possibly take her place."[41][42]

    In a memoir, Kilgallen's colleague and friend Theo Wilson wrote that her work as a crime reporter was often overlooked during her lifetime and was forgotten after her death:

    "Part of being a good reporter is to be anonymous, to stay out of the story so that you can better watch and study and listen to the principals.

    She couldn't do that, mostly because people wouldn't let her. She'd walk into a trial and the prosecutor would ask for her autograph for his wife or the judge would send out greetings."[43]

    Filmography

    • Sinner Take All () onscreen appearance as a fictitious reporter
    • Fly-Away Baby () identified in the opening credits as the inspiration for the story; her book Girl Around the World, published in , was the source.
    • Pajama Party () uncredited onscreen cameo appearance as herself

    Bibliography

    In fiction

    Flo Kilgore, a character based on Kilgallen, appears in novels by Max Allan Collins in his series featuring private detective Nathan Heller.

    In Ask Not (), Heller and Kilgore investigate the JFK assassination.[44][45]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ abcRiley, Sam G. (November 6, ). Biographical Dictionary of American Newspaper Columnists.

      Greenwood Publishing Group. pp.&#; ISBN&#;.

    2. ^ abcSignorielli, Nancy (November 4, ). Women in Communication: A Biographical Sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
    3. ^"Speaking up for Marilyn in the year-old Sam Sheppard murder case: Brent Larkin".

      . No.&#;3 July

    4. ^"Reporters: 50,Word Leak". Time. No.&#;28 August
    5. ^ abcLynn, Frank (December 23, ). "James L. Kilgallen Dies at 94; A Reporter for Over 75 Years". The New York Times. Retrieved June 16,
    6. ^Gingrich, Arnold ().

      "Article". Coronet. David A. Smart:

    7. ^"The Irish orator who taught Winston Churchill how to win a crowd". The Irish Times.
    8. ^Liebenson, Donald (May 4, ). "Upi R.i.p."Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 16,
    9. ^Arnaz, Desi ().

      A Book. William Morrow, Inc. pp.&#;86– ISBN&#;.

    10. ^Signorielli, Nancy (). Signorielli, Nancy (ed.). Women in Communication: A Biographical Sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
    11. ^ ab"Celebrities In Tribute to Dorothy Kilgallen".

      The Arizona Republic. United Press International. November 12, p.&#;

    12. ^"Kilgallen Renewed"(PDF). Billboard. March 7, p.&#;6.

      Bennett cerf: Authority control databases. Retrieved December 15, In , Kilgallen was one of the initial people chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kilgore, Carrie B.

      Retrieved February 11,

    13. ^Kilgallen, Dorothy. "The Voice of Broadway", New York Journal-American (May 30, )
    14. ^Arndt Anderson, Heather (). Breakfast: A History. AltaMira Press. ISBN&#;.
    15. ^Suskin, Steven (). Second Act Trouble: Behind the Scenes at Broadway's Big Musical Bombs.

      Hal Leonard. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

    16. ^ abcKelley, Kitty (). His Way: Frank Sinatra, the Unauthorized Biography. Random House Publishing. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
    17. ^McNally, Karen (March 6, ). When Frankie Went to Hollywood: Frank Sinatra and American Male Identity.

      University of Illinois Press. pp.&#;, ISBN&#;.

    18. ^Fong-Torres, Ben (May 1, ). Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music, Writing, and Life. Backbeat Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
    19. ^Smith, Victoria (April 18, ). "Dr. Sam Sheppard". Cleveland Historical. Retrieved March 12,
    20. ^Kilgallen, Dorothy (December 22, ).

      "Sheppard Guilty; Dorothy Kilgallen Astounded By Verdict".

      Biography of dorothy kilgallen cause of death In July , four months after the Overseas Press Club event where Kilgallen broke her silence about the deceased Judge Blythin, Judge Weinman of the federal court granted Bailey's habeas corpus petition, Sam Sheppard was released from prison amid much newspaper publicity, and Sheppard met Kilgallen at a "late-night champagne party" as described by Bailey in The Defense Never Rests in Cleveland. Kilby, Jack St. Kilbracken, John AltaMira Press.

      New York Journal-American. p.&#;1.

    21. ^Feagler, Dick (December 9, ). "1st Officer At Sheppard Murder Holds To View". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. p.&#;2A.
    22. ^Dirck, Joe (December 13, ). "Facts On Sheppard Don't Bother Some". The Plain Dealer.

      pp.&#;1B.

    23. ^ abcPollack, Jack Harrison (). Dr.

      Arlene francis According to Israel, Kilgallen was no innovator and followed the style set by Winchell. Kilduff, Peter American journalist and TV personality — Kilgore, Rebecca.

      Sam: An American Tragedy. Avon. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.

    24. ^"Stunned Sam Sentenced to Life In Wife's Murder". The Victoria Advocate. United Press. December 22, Retrieved March 12,
    25. ^"Sam Sheppard: Some year-old questions". The Plain Dealer. August 8, p.&#;1B.
    26. ^ abcdeBailey, F Lee; Aronson, Harvey ().

      The Defense Never Rests. Vol.&#; Signet. pp.&#;18– ISBN&#;. PMID&#; Retrieved September 28,

    27. ^Sheppard v. Maxwell, F.2d , (6th Cir. ) ("There was put in evidence a statement of a New York columnist, one Dorothy Kilgallen Kollmar, wherein she stated that at the beginning of the trial she was invited into the Chambers of Judge Blythin and there told of the judge's belief that petitioner was "guilty as hell.

      There is no question about it." []Judge Blythin, had been long dead when he was thus accused. The District Judge seemed to believe that with Judge Blythin's voice stilled by, death, this recitation of his statements became "uncontroverted evidence in this case and must be accepted as being true."").

    28. ^Harrison, Ken (November 10, ).

      "Justice sought for newspaper woman dead since ". San Diego Reader. Retrieved December 19,

    29. ^Armstrong, John. "Jack Ruby". . Retrieved March 12,
    30. ^"Editorial: Earl Warren's 'Lost Cause'"(PDF). National Guardian. New York City. August 29,
    31. ^Kilgallen, Dorothy (February 23, ).

      "Nervous Ruby Feels "Breaking Point" Near". New York Journal-American.

    32. ^"Editorial: Earl Warren's 'Lost Cause'"(PDF). National Guardian. New York City. August 29,
    33. ^New York Journal-American August 18–20, front pages
    34. ^The Philadelphia Inquirer August 19–21, front pages
    35. ^Seattle Post-Intelligencer August 19–21, front pages
    36. ^ abcdeFates, Gil ().

      What's My Line?: TV's Most Famous Panel Show.

    37. Dorothy kilgallen height
    38. Did dorothy kilgallen have children
    39. Dorothy kilgallen chin
    40. What ever happened to dorothy kilgallen

      41. Prentice-Hall. ISBN&#;.

    41. ^"Alcohol and a Drug Traced as Causes Of Kilgallen Death". New York Times. November 16, p.&#; Retrieved June 28,
    42. ^ ab"Notables at the Funeral". New York Journal-American.

      Biography of dorothy kilgallen cause There are some, Lee Israel included, who believe that Kilgallen may not have taken her own life, but may have been murdered because of information she had obtained from Jack Ruby about the Kennedy assassination. Her biographer Lee Israel found that Kilgallen's immediate family, teachers and schoolmates had little to relate about her early life, except that she was a good student and a voracious reader. Kilgallen and Kollmar occasionally had a major league baseball player as a guest on the show. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.

      November 11, p.&#;3.

    43. ^Golden, Eve (). Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld's Broadway. University Press of Kentucky. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
    44. ^"Hollywood Star Walk: Dorothy Kilgallen". Los Angeles Times. November 9, Retrieved March 12,
    45. ^"What's My Line Episode # Episode Cast & Crew".

      . Archived from the original on December 22, Retrieved December 15,

    46. ^What's My Line?. November 14, Event occurs at Retrieved December 13,
    47. ^Headline Justice: Inside the Courtroom – The Country's Most Controversial Trials. Basic Books.

      December 10, ISBN&#;. Retrieved March 13,

    48. ^"Ask Not". . Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved June 12,
    49. ^"Fiction Book Review: Ask Not by Max Allan Collins". . August 2, Retrieved January 27,

    Further reading

    External links