Big Apple History . Arts and Entertainment . Have You Heard?


	Walter Winchell at his desk

One of the most powerful people on Broadway during the 1920s was not an actor, director, or a producer. His name was Walter Winchell and he wrote a gossip column for tabloid newspapers such as the NEW YORK EVENING GRAPHIC.

In his chatty reports, ex-vaudevillian Winchell commented on New York celebrities from all walks of life, including actors, sports stars, and gangsters. To gather tips, he would often sit at his table at the Stork Club, a restaurant that he promoted in his column.

Once Winchell's column became syndicated, and read aloud on weekly radio broadcasts, millions of Americans followed it eagerly. Winchell's style was half the fun. Instead of using a direct approach, he slyly used "code words" to report on juicy bits of gossip. "In that way" really meant "pregnant," and "Reno-vating their marriage" stood for "getting a quick divorce in Reno, Nevada."

As Winchell became increasingly popular, he also became increasingly powerful. His column could make and break people's reputations and careers. Winchell once said, "The way to become famous fast is to throw a brick at someone who is famous." Winchell made a career out of following this logic and he gave readers a peephole into fast, glamorous New York society life.

Illustration: Courtesy of Culver Pictures.