Dorothy Fuldheim

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Dorothy Fuldheim
Fuldheim in 1977
Born
Dorothy Violet Snell

(1893-06-26)June 26, 1893
Passaic, New Jersey
DiedNovember 3, 1989(1989-11-03) (aged 96)
Cleveland, Ohio
Occupation(s)journalist, newscaster, news commentator and interviewer
EmployerWEWS-TV (1947–1984)
Known forfirst prominent American female journalist, radio/television newscaster and commentator

Dorothy Fuldheim (June 26, 1893 – November 3, 1989) was an American journalist and anchor who spent the majority of her career at The Cleveland Press and WEWS-TV, both based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Fuldheim has a role in United States television news history. She is credited with being the first woman in the United States to anchor a television news broadcast as well to host her own television show, a role she held at WEWS for 37 years. She has been referred to as the "First Lady of Television News."[1]

Early life and early career

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Fuldheim, an American of Jewish descent, was born in Passaic, New Jersey. She spent her childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to working in broadcasting, she was an elementary school teacher.[2] Social activist Jane Addams recruited her in 1918 to speak about social causes, which started her career as a public speaker.[3] For the next 19 years, Fuldheim frequently spoke about topics relating to foreign policy and social causes.[4]

Fuldheim entered broadcasting with the debut of a weekly program over Cleveland radio station WTAM on December 12, 1929,[5] and added a daily program over the NBC Red Network on August 28, 1933, that WTAM originated.[6] Her speeches which advocated hot-button issues like birth control and her opposition to publicly owned utilities and railroads earned her the nicknames of "militant Cleveland lecturer"[7] and "the American H. G. Wells",[8] quickly becoming a fixture on the circuit with 3,500 speeches given during a 20-year span.[9] Fuldheim traveled internationally and visited interwar Europe on an annual basis,[10] notably interviewing Engelbert Dollfuss two days before his assassination,[11] and Adolf Hitler in 1932[9] shortly before his rise to power.[12] Interviews like these, which were conducted to help provide source material for her lectures,[13] also informed her approach to broadcasting as the first female news analyst in network radio while with NBC Red.[3]

WJW radio, also based in Cleveland, began airing daily news commentaries by Fuldheim[14] starting in June 1944[15] as part of their Newspaper of the Air program.[16] Fuldheim was hired by WJW based on her reputation as a public speaker,[7] a career that continued unabated. WJW assigned her to attend the San Francisco Conference that established the United Nations to interview attendees and monitor any developments.[17] In a subsequent lecture, she warned about rising tensions between the U. S. and the Soviet Union, saying "unless the United States finds a way to work with Russia harmoniously, we are doomed."[18] During this period, Dorothy spoke about and advocated for the peace movement and peacekeeping both prior to and after the end of World War II[19] along with maintaining social welfare programs domestically.[18]

Fuldheim additionally engaged in literary criticism and book reviews, with one review for the Kathleen Winsor novel Forever Amber drawing a capacity crowd of 600 women; Fuldheim expressed shock at the number of people wanting to hear her discuss a "badly-written book" revolving around sex appeal while expressing chagrin over her other lectures not netting such large audiences.[20] In addition to her daily program, Fuldheim hosted Young America Thinks over WJW, a weekly public affairs open forum program aimed at high school students in collaboration with the Cleveland Board of Education.[16]

Television career

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Scripps Howard hired Fuldheim away from WJW, ostensibly for WEWS-FM (102.1),[21] but she promptly became a part of WEWS-TV upon their December 17, 1947, sign-on via a 13-week contract.[9] Fuldheim later mused on joining WEWS, "I'm sure (Scripps) didn't intend to use me... because television was supposed to be for the young and the beautiful and God knows what".[21] Despite leaving WJW proper, she informally remained with the station after the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen purchased airtime over ABC for a weekly 15-minute commentary program.[22] At the time of its launch, WEWS was one of two television stations in operation between New York City and Chicago. (The other one was in Detroit.)

In 1959, Fuldheim, who had been with the station before it even went on air, began to formulate her own newscast in response to the new Eyewitness News on KYW, which was the first half-hour newscast in the country. Fuldheim centered her newscast around her interviews, a general overview of the news, and her commentaries (during which the very opinionated Fuldheim frequently inserted her own opinions about the stories). Fuldheim was the first woman in the United States to have her own television news analysis program.

While the format of her show, Highlights of the News, consisted primarily of news analysis, it also included commentary, book reviews and interviews. In the years that Highlights of the News aired, Fuldheim interviewed among others Martin Luther King Jr., Helen Keller, the Duke of Windsor, and Barbara Walters. She also interviewed several American presidents.

In the 1960s, Fuldheim teamed with Cleveland radio personality Bill Gordon to host "The One O'Clock Club" on WEWS, a mix of entertainment, news, and interviews. This show eventually inspired KYW to launch a similar show hosted by Mike Douglas that eventually eclipsed "The One O' Clock Club" in popularity en route to becoming nationally syndicated. At this same time, Fuldheim was also frequently lampooned and skewered on WJW-TV's Shock Theater with Ghoulardi.

Fuldheim, recognizable for her fiery red hair, was known for her sometimes controversial opinions. She was not shy about supporting unpopular causes, nor in voicing her opposition if she disagreed with a guest. On one program, she interviewed 1960s activist Jerry Rubin about his book Do It. In the interview, Jerry Rubin started to quiz Fuldheim, asking her if she drank. Fuldheim said, "I have the damn best liver in Cleveland." He then took a picture of a nude woman and showed it to her. Fuldheim responded by asking Rubin, "How is [the photo] germane to the topic?" He then referred to the police as "pigs" and offended Fuldheim, who replied, "I've got a shock for you. Some of my friends are policemen". Rubin then muttered "Well, I've got a shock for you. I'm good friends with the Black Panthers." At which, Fuldheim threw his book and kicked Rubin off the set saying "Out! Stop the interview" as the cameras rolled.[23][24] [1][permanent dead link]

At times, Fuldheim could offend some members of her audience. A month after ejecting Rubin from her television show, she found herself in the controversial hotseat. On May 4, 1970, while live on the air, Fuldheim made the following statement regarding the actions of the Ohio National Guard during the Kent State shootings, "What is wrong with our country? We're killing our own children."[25] Due to her reference to the shooting of the four students as murder, there were numerous calls from viewers for Fuldheim to resign from her position at WEWS. However, she had the backing of station management and did not resign.[23]

In 1980, Fuldheim was inducted in the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame[26] and covered major 1980s events: She traveled to London to cover the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, the funeral of assassinated Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and to Northern Ireland to interview the family of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.

Death and posthumous recognition

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Fuldheim's long and distinguished career, where, at age 91, she still conducted interviews and read commentaries on-air three times every day, ended when she suffered a stroke on July 27, 1984, shortly after interviewing U.S. President Ronald Reagan via satellite. The station received so many phone calls from viewers asking about her condition that an automated answering machine service was set up, devoted to providing updates about her health.[27] She never again appeared on television and died in Cleveland five years later at the age of 96.[2]

In 2003, Fuldheim was posthumously awarded an Ohio Historical Marker[28] for her contributions to journalism, which is displayed in front of the WEWS studios.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Patricia M. Mote (1997). Dorothy Fuldheim: First First Lady of Television News. Quixote Publications. ISBN 0-9633083-5-1.
  2. ^ a b "Dorothy Fuldheim, 96, A News Commentator". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 4, 1989. p. 10. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Kropko, M.R. (November 3, 1989). "Pioneering Newswoman Dies At 96". APNews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mrs. Fuldheim To Speak". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Knight Newspapers. December 8, 1946. p. 6D. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Weir, James W. H. (December 12, 1929). "DX Highlights". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Scripps Howard. p. 37. Retrieved October 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Doran, Dorothy (August 23, 1933). "Hettinger's Report Shows Radio To Be No 'Piker' Industry". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Knight Newspapers. p. 8. Retrieved October 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Bianculli, David (June 19, 1983). "Dorothy". Akron Beacon Journal Beacon Magazine. Akron, Ohio: Knight Ridder. pp. 4, 5, 6, 7. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Well Known Speaker To Appear Here". The Evening Independent. Massillon, Ohio. January 31, 1931. p. 5. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c Seifullah, Alan A.A.; Strassmeyer, Mary (November 4, 1989). "Dorothy Fuldheim, TV News legend, dies" (PDF). The Plain Dealer. pp. 1A–2A. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Woman Lecturer Sees Dictators As 'Pied Pipers'". The Oklahoma News. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Scripps Howard. February 14, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Meyers, Ethel (August 11, 1934). "Dorothy Fuldheim Sees Chancellor Dolfuss (sp) In Vienna Two Days Before Austrian Crisis". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Knight Newspapers. p. 8. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Speaker Here Opposes U.S. Debt Cancellation". The Marion Star. Marion, Ohio. December 1, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Graveline, Denise (May 6, 2016). "Famous Speech Friday: Dorothy Fuldheim on Kent State shooting". Denise Graveline. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  14. ^ Anderson, Stanley (April 8, 1946). "Station WJW Gets Most Points in Press 1946 Local Radio Poll". The Cleveland Press. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "Behind the Mike" (PDF). Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising. Vol. 26, no. 23. June 5, 1944. pp. 44, 46, 48. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ a b ""Young America Thinks" (ad)" (PDF). Broadcasting-Broadcast Advertising. Vol. 28, no. 6. February 5, 1945. p. 35. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ Geyer, Marion (September 17, 1945). "Federation Will Start New Season Next Month". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Knight Newspapers. p. 8. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b Geyer, Marion (October 4, 1945). "Federation Opens Year With Large Attendance". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Knight Newspapers. p. 18. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "School Teachers Told They Have Important Job Fitting Boys, Girls For Peace Role". The News-Messenger. Fremont, Ohio. September 23, 1944. pp. 1–2. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Geyer, Marion (February 7, 1945). "'Forever Amber' Reviewer Attracts Capacity Crowd". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio: Knight Newspapers. p. 8. Retrieved October 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ a b Sheridan, Terence (April 1, 1973). "Dorothy Fuldheim: The Bearded Lady of Mother News". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  22. ^ "Radio Roundup". Hollywood Citizen-News. Hollywood, California. November 7, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved October 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b O'Dell, Cary (1997). Women Pioneers in Television: Biographies of Fifteen Industry Leaders. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company. p. 111. ISBN 0-7864-0167-2. OCLC 35646616. Retrieved August 1, 2009. dorothy fuldheim jerry rubin.
  24. ^ "Dorothy Fuldheim vs Jerry Rubin 1970 3718". youtube. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  25. ^ Gregorino, Tony Ryan (August 15, 1997). "Doyenne of TV news "returns": Program celebrates the legendary late broadcaster Dorothy Fuldheim". Sun News. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  26. ^ "Ohio Women's Hall of Fame Bio: Dorothy Fuldheim". Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  27. ^ Barron, James (August 29, 1984). "The Talk of Cleveland; Trying to Select an Image for a City Whose Mayor Once Set His Hair Afire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  28. ^ "Journalist Dorothy Fuldheim". Remarkable Ohio. Ohio History Connection. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  29. ^ Shaw, Judy (September 12, 2007). "Dorothy Fuldheim Honored with Ohio Historical Marker". NewsNet5. E.W. Scripps Co. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
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