Famed gossip columnist and radio newsman. Credit: Getty Images
Walter Winchell was a syndicated columnist, radio news commentator and television host who pioneered the fast-paced, gossip driven, politically charged media culture that dominates today. At the height of his career, Winchell had a combined print and radio audience of 50 million and the power to make or break careers. He became the most feared and admired man in America, a man who transformed entertainment journalism and championed “Mr. and Mrs. America” in his daily columns and Sunday night radio program.
He was also a man who loved playing with language, and his copy was often punctuated with made-up phrases and clever insults. “Winchell, in such an easy, quick way, could take anybody’s career and destroy it,” said Nancy Gray in the American Masters film Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip. Winchell seasoned his column with what he called “scallions.” Journalist and historian Neal Gabler added that, “you wouldn’t want a scallion from Walter Winchell. Winchell could kill your career with a scallion.”
Here are five of Winchell’s best insults:
- “She’s been on more laps than a napkin.”
- “Anita Colby…will play the role of a high class bad girl – which is only half correct.”
- “The only difference between a Broadway phoney and a Hollywood phoney is the distance.”
- “Their separation was caused by illness. She got sick of him.”
- “Presstitutes.” (Referring to newspapermen who could be bought.)
At the same time, Winchell would lift people and careers up and attack those who were threats to democracy. Here are some examples:
- “And some of us can recall when Hollywood turned down a young dancer because he was very bald, and had no sex appeal they said…His name is Fred Astaire.” (Referring to a dancer who felt that the scars on his face would eliminate his chance at a Hollywood career and was cast by a movie mogul anyway.)
- “Cinemasterpiece.” (Referring to a recently released film.)
- “Father’s Day toast to Papa Joe Stalin: Happy Drop Dad!” (A dig at head of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin.)
- “Among little known facts about Eisenhower is that he is a handy man with a skillet. Of course, his best culinary job was cooking the Nazi Goosestep.”
- “Eardorable.” (Referring to a favorite musical.)
