Hedda Hopper’s first column appears in the L.A. Times
On this day in 1938 the former silent film actress Hedda Hopper pens the first installment of what would become her tremendously influential gossip column in the Los Angeles Times.Born Elda Furry in 1890 she was the fifth of nine children of Quaker parents living in Hollidaysburg Pennsylvania.She left school after the eighth grade and worked as a chorus girl on Broadway where she met her future husband actor DeWolf Hopper.Elda was Hoppers fifth wife his four previous wives had been named Ella Nella Ida and Edna.
After her husband reportedly called her by the wrong name Elda decided to change her own name to Hedda Hopper a change she maintained even after the couples divorce in 1922.Hedda appeared in MGMs first production Virtuous Wives in 1915 and went on to act in more than 100 films over the next two decades.In 1936 several years after an unsuccessful bid for the Los Angeles City Council Hopper parlayed her knowledge of the movie industry and Hollywood society into a radio show.A syndicate later offered to carry a print column that would compete with that of Hearsts resident gossipmonger Louella Parsons.
The result dubbed Hedda Hoppers Hollywood debuted in February 1938 kicking off a juicy 28-year run.In 1939 the column turned into a radio program.The 1940s and 1950s were a golden age for Hollywood gossip columnists and Hopper and Parsons (who famously carried on a bitter decade-long feud) received sizeable salariesHoppers was estimated at close to 200000and tons of gifts from studios hoping for favorable coverage of their movies and actors.In one telling statement Hopper referred to her own lavish home as the house that fear built.
In addition to her titillating coverage of Hollywoods latest pregnancy or breakup Hopper was famous for her fashion sense most notably her flamboyant hats.She also became increasingly political over the years voicing her conservative opinions praising Republican candidates such as Barry Goldwater and attacking the actor Charles Chaplin for his leftist views.Over the years Hopper occasionally played herself in episodes of TV sitcoms spoofing her power.In an episode of I Love Lucy Lucy and Desi stage publicity stunts to get into Hoppers column on The BeverlyHillbillies Hopper posts bail for Jed and Jethro after an incident at Graumans Chinese Theater.
In 1960 Hopper appeared in her own TV special Hedda Hoppers Hollywood.She published a book called The Whole Truth and Nothing But in 1962.Hopper died in 1966 two decades later her fierce rivalry with Parsons was adapted for the big-screen in Malice in Wonderland starring Jane Alexander as Hopper and Elizabeth Taylor as Parsons.
