Hedda Hopper - Zimbio Hedda Hopper No articles yet. Overview Hedda Hopper news, related photos and videos, and reviews of Hedda Hopper performances. According to Wikipedia: Hedda Hopper was an American actress and gossip columnist, whose long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns. Featured Stories Hedda Hopper Signed Autograph Signature Hollywood Gossip Columnist Bold signature in pencil on autograph album page. Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) was an American actress and gossip columnist, whose long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns. Hopper began acting in silent movies in 1915. Her motion picture debut was in Battle of Hearts (1916). She appeared in more than 120 movies over the following twenty-three years, usually portraying distinguished-looking society women. As her movie career waned in the mid-1930s, Hopper looked for other sources of income.

In 1937, she was offered the chance of a lifetime and embarked on a career doing something she was quite adept at: gossip. Her gossip column called "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" debuted in the Los Angeles Times on February 14, 1938. After years of struggling as an actress, she had finally found her niche. She christened the home she purchased in Beverly Hills "The House That Fear Built." She then had a notorious feud with the long-established Louella Parsons , who had been friendly to her in print and to whom she had sometimes passed information. Hopper and Parsons became archrivals competing fiercely, and often nastily, for the title "Queen of Hollywood", although those who knew both declared that Hopper was the more sadistic. She was noted for her hats, considered her trademark, mostly because of her taste for large, flamboyant ones; and her hats were so famous that, in the 1946 movie, Breakfast in Hollywood, Del Porter, backed by Spike Jones and his City Slickers, even sang a novelty song entitled "A Hat for Hedda Hopper", to Hedda Hopper who was sitting in the audience wearing an extraordinary creation.

She was known for hobnobbing with the biggest names in the industry, for getting a "scoop" before almost anyone else most of the time, and for being vicious in dealing with those who displeased her, whether intentionally or not. The columnist J.J. Hunsecker, played by Burt Lancaster in the film Sweet Smell of Success, is said to have been inspired partly by Hopper. Hopper courted controversy as well for "naming names" of suspected or alleged Communists during the Hollywood Blacklist. Her frequent attacks against Charlie Chaplin in the 1940s for his leftist politics and love life contributed to his departure from America in 1952. After publishing a blind item on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy 's relationship, Tracy confronted her at Ciro's and kicked her in the behind. A similar incident occurred when Hopper leaked info about the extramarital affair between Joseph Cotten and Deanna Durbin. She tried to "out" Cary Grant and Randolph Scott as gay lovers, but Grant was too big a star even for her to touch. She also spread rumors that Michael Wilding and Stewart Granger had been intimate (Wilding later sued Hopper for libel and won).

ZaSu Pitts compared Hopper to "a ferret", and pointed out that she should not have been surprised her (Hopper's) own movie career did not pan out. Joan Fontaine sent Hopper a skunk on Valentine's Day with a note reading "I stink and so do you". Having spent years with her own programs on radio for various networks, on January 10, 1960, a TV special, Hedda Hopper's Hollywood, aired on NBC. Hosted by Hopper, guest interviews included an extremely eclectic mix of then-current and former stars: Lucille Ball (a longtime friend of Hopper), Francis X. Bushman, Liza Minnelli, John Cassavetes, Robert Cummings, Marion Davies (her last public appearance), Walt Disney, Janet Gaynor, Bob Hope, Hope Lange, Anthony Perkins, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart and Gloria Swanson. Hopper also had several acting roles during the latter part of her career, including brief cameo appearances as herself in the movie Sunset Boulevard (1950) and The Patsy (1964), as well as episodes of I Love Lucy and The Beverly Hillbillies.

Her autobiography, From Under My Hat (Doubleday, 1952) was followed by The Whole Truth and Nothing But (1962), also published by Doubleday. Hopper remained active as a writer until her death, producing six daily columns and a Sunday column for the Chicago Tribune syndicate, as well as writing countless articles for celebrity magazines such as Photoplay. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Hopper has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6313 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. All Vintage Memorabilia autographs are unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine. This guarantee applies to refund of the purchase price, and is without time limit to the original purchaser. A written and signed Guarantee to that effect accompanies each item we sell. To zoom in on the details: Move your mouse around on the small preview image on the left to view details more closely. Click anywhere inside to enlarge the whole image. Hedda Hopper | Hollywood Walk of Fame Caucasian Hedda Hopper was an American actress and gossip columnist, whose long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns.

She was born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of David D. and Margaret Miller Furry, who were German Baptist Brethren. Her siblings included Dora Furry ; Sherman Furry ; Cameron Furry ; Edgar Furry ; Frank M. Furry ; and Margaret Furry. The family moved to nearby Altoona when Elda was three. Her father was a butcher who owned a shop. She eventually ran away to New York and began her career in the chorus on the Broadway stage. Hopper was not successful in this venture, even getting the axe by the renowned Shubert Brothers. Florenz Ziegfeld called the aspiring starlet a "clumsy cow" and brushed off her pleas for a slot in the Follies. After a few years, she joined the theater company of matinee idol DeWolf Hopper, whom she called "Wolfie." In her words, "Dancing came easy to me. And in singing, what my voice lacked in quality it made up for in volume." Thus, she remained in the chorus and they toured the country from one end to the other. While in the Hopper company, she realized that chorus and understudy jobs were not acting.

She wanted to act, and she knew she would have to prove herself before she could hope to get anywhere in the theater. Hearing that Edgar Selwyn was casting his play The Country Boy for a road tour, she went to his office and talked him into letting her audition for the lead. She was given the role and the show toured for thirty-five weeks through forty-eight states. Elda Hopper (Furry) (1890 - 1966) - Genealogy Hedda Hopper (May 2, 1885 – February 1, 1966) was an American actress and gossip columnist, whose long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns. Early life She was born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of David D. (born 1857) and Margaret Miller (born 1856) Furry, members of the German Baptist Brethren.

Her siblings included Dora Furry (born 1880); Sherman Furry (born 1882); Cameron Furry (born 1887); Edgar Furry (1889–1975); Frank M. Furry (born 1891); and Margaret Furry (born 1897). The family moved to Altoona when Elda was three. Her father was a butcher who owned a shop. She eventually ran away to New York and began her career in the chorus on the Broadway stage. Hopper was not successful in this venture, even getting the axe by the renowned Shubert Brothers. Florenz Ziegfeld called the aspiring starlet a "clumsy cow" and brushed off her pleas for a slot in the Follies. After a few years, she joined the theater company of matinee idol DeWolf Hopper, whom she called "Wolfie." In her words, "Dancing came easy to me. And in singing, what my voice lacked in quality it made up for in volume." Thus, she remained in the chorus and they toured the country from one end to the other.

While in the Hopper company, she realized that chorus and understudy jobs were not acting. She wanted to act, and she knew she would have to prove herself before she could hope to get anywhere in the theater. Hearing that Edgar Selwyn was casting his play The Country Boy for a road tour, she went to his office and talked him into letting her audition for the lead. She was given the role and the show toured for thirty-five weeks through forty-eight states. She studied singing during the summer and, in the fall, went out with The Quaker Girl in the second lead, the prima donna role. The show closed in Albany. She was the fifth wife of De Wolf Hopper, whose previous wives were named Ella, Ida, Edna and Nella. The similarity in names caused some friction, as he would not always call Elda by her proper name but rather by the names of one of his previous wives. Consequently, Elda Hopper paid a numerologist $10 to tell her what name she should use, and the answer was Hedda. Career Hopper began acting in silent movies in 1915.

Her motion picture debut was in The Battle of Hearts (1916) with William Farnum. She appeared in more than 120 movies over the following twenty-three years, usually portraying distinguished-looking society women. As her movie career waned in the mid-1930s, Hopper looked for other sources of income. In 1937, she was offered the chance of a lifetime and embarked on a career doing something she was quite adept at: gossip. Her gossip column called "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" debuted in the Los Angeles Times on February 14, 1938. After years of struggling as an actress, she had finally found her niche. She christened the home she purchased in Beverly Hills "The House That Fear Built". She maintained a notorious feud with the long-established Louella Parsons, who had been friendly to her in print and to whom she had sometimes passed information. Hopper and Parsons became archrivals competing fiercely, and often nastily, for the title "Queen of Hollywood", although those who knew both declared that Hopper, a former actress, was more sadistic.

She was noted for her hats, considered her trademark, mostly because of her taste for large, flamboyant ones; and her hats were so famous that, in the 1946 movie, Breakfast in Hollywood, Del Porter, backed by Spike Jones and his City Slickers, sang a novelty song, "A Hat for Hedda Hopper" while Hopper was sitting in the audience wearing an extraordinary creation. She was known for hobnobbing with the biggest names in the industry, for getting a "scoop" before almost anyone else most of the time, and for being vicious in dealing with those who displeased her, whether intentionally or not.[citation needed] Fictional columnist J.J. Hunsecker, played by Burt Lancaster in the film Sweet Smell of Success, is said to have been inspired at least in part by Hedda Hopper. Hopper courted controversy as well for "naming names" of suspected or alleged Communists during the Hollywood Blacklist. Her frequent attacks against Charlie Chaplin in the 1940s for his leftist politics and love life contributed to his departure from America in 1952.

After publishing a blind item on Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's relationship, Tracy confronted her at Ciro's and kicked her in the bottom. Similarly, after she had printed a story about an extramarital affair between Joseph Cotten and Deanna Durbin, Cotten ran into Hopper at a social event and pulled out her chair, only to pull it out from under her when she sat down. She reportedly tried to "out" Cary Grant and Randolph Scott as gay lovers, but Grant was too big a star even for her to touch. She also spread rumors that Michael Wilding and Stewart Granger had been intimate (Wilding later sued Hopper for libel and won). ZaSu Pitts compared Hopper to "a ferret", and pointed out that she should not have been surprised her (Hopper's) own movie career did not pan out. Joan Fontaine sent Hopper a skunk one Valentine's Day with a note reading "I stink and so do you". Radio and television Hopper debuted as host of her own radio program, The Hedda Hopper Show, November 6, 1939.

Sponsored by Sunkist, she was heard on CBS three times a week for 15 minutes until October 30, 1942. From October 2, 1944 to September 3, 1945, Armour Treet sponsored a once-a-week program. On September 10, 1945, she moved to ABC, still sponsored by Armour, for a weekly program that continued until June 3, 1946. Hopper moved back to CBS October 5, 1946, with a weekly 15-minute program, This Is Hollywood, sponsored by Procter & Gamble. It ran until June 28, 1947.

Expanding to 30 minutes on NBC, she was host of a variety series, The Hedda Hopper Show, broadcast from October 14, 1950 to November 11, 1950 on Saturdays, then from November 19, 1950 to May 20, 1951 on Sundays, This program featured music, talk and dramatized excerpts from movies with well-known guests, such as Broderick Crawford doing a scene from All the King's Men.[citation needed] On January 10, 1960, a television special, Hedda Hopper's Hollywood, aired on NBC. Hosted by Hopper, guest interviews included a remarkably eclectic mix of then-current and former stars: Lucille Ball (a longtime friend of Hopper), Francis X. Bushman, Liza Minnelli, John Cassavetes, Robert Cummings, Marion Davies (her last public appearance), Walt Disney, Janet Gaynor, Bob Hope, Hope Lange, Anthony Perkins, Debbie Reynolds, James Stewart, and Gloria Swanson.

Hopper also had several acting roles during the latter part of her career, including brief cameo appearances as herself in the movie Sunset Boulevard (1950) and The Patsy (1964), as well as episodes of The Martha Raye Show, I Love Lucy,, The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford, and The Beverly Hillbillies, starring Buddy Ebsen. Her autobiography, From Under My Hat (Doubleday, 1952) was followed by The Whole Truth and Nothing But (1962), also published by Doubleday. Hopper remained active as a writer until her death, producing six daily columns and a Sunday column for the Chicago Tribune syndicate, as well as writing countless articles for celebrity magazines such as Photoplay. Personal life On May 8, 1913, she married DeWolf Hopper in New Jersey. They had one child, actor William Hopper, best known for playing Paul Drake in the Perry Mason series. They were divorced in 1922.

On May 19, 1950, she married Thomas Hepburn (father of Katharine Hepburn],] )and they had a childless marriage.They were married until his death on December 30, 1962. Death Hopper died of double pneumonia at the age of 80 in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood. She is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Altoona, Pennsylvania. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Hopper has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6313½ Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Portrayals Jane Alexander received an Emmy nomination portraying Hopper in the 1985 TV film Malice in Wonderland (opposite Elizabeth Taylor as Louella Parsons). She was also portrayed by Katherine Helmond in Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story, a 1995 made for TV movie and by Joanne Linville in James Dean, a 2001 made for TV movie..

Filmography Hedda Hopper Gossip quotes and quotes by Hedda Hopper Gossip - Page : 1 followers Biography Hedda Hopper was an American actress and gossip columnist, whose long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns.She was born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the... Hedda Hopper: the woman who scared Hollywood Hedda Hopper: the woman who scared Hollywood Feature Scathing: Hopper gleefully ruined the careers and marriages of many Hollywood stars with a clear conscience Credit: McCabe Title Trumbo Title Foreign Title Foreign Title Star Rating Star Rating Actors Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, Diane Lane, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg Actors Director Jay Roach Director Genre Biography, Drama Genre Synopsis Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's successful career ends when he is blacklisted for being a Communist Synopsis Release Date 05-02-2016 Release Date Duration 124 mins Duration Rating 15 Rating Country USA Country Newspaper columnist Hedda Hopper wrecked the careers of Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s friends with her bristling nastiness.

Karen Krizanovich profiles Tinseltown’s queen-bee gossipmonger, played in the new movie Trumbo by Helen Mirren, who could end a starry marriage or reputation with a few barbed words When Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper wrote that Joseph Cotten and his wholesome Hers To Hold co-star Deanna Durbin were having an affair, Cotten made a phone call. “If you mention my name in your column personally again,” Cotten said to Hopper, “I’ll kick you in the ass.” At a star-studded Beverly Hills Hotel dinner, Cotten walked up to Hopper and, as she went to sit, pulled the chair out from under her. For this, Cotten was, by his account, “toasted in champagne by all”. It seemed Hopper had been wrong: Durbin later married the film’s producer. More often, Hopper was right, a fact that her 35 million readers lived for. In competition with older columnist Louella Parsons, celebrity gossip was a must-read. Bob Hope said: “Their columns were the first thing we looked at every morning to see what was going on.” With one scathing sentence, Hopper gleefully ruined careers and marriages with a clear conscience.

She smeared public and private life with politics and celebrity A former actress with enviable Tinseltown connections, Hopper’s syndicated column for the Los Angeles Times intimidated Hollywood from 1938 until her death in 1966. Her adage “Nobody’s interested in sweetness and light” meant that when Hopper contacted a celebrity, she expected an answer. If they lied – or worse, talked first to her arch-rival Parsons – she could figuratively kill them. Bitch of the world: from a young age, Hopper had wanted to be a star herself Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle With one scathing sentence, Hopper gleefully ruined careers and marriages with a clear conscience. She smeared public and private life with politics and celebrity, foreshadowing the current age of social media. Hopper called herself “the bitch of the world”. She had wanted to be a star herself. Born Elda Furry in Pennsylvania in 1885, she lacked talent but her green eyes and long legs earned her a spot on a New York chorus line. She met and married William DeWolf Hopper, a matinee idol, in 1913.

Twenty-seven years older than her, balding with faintly blue skin, DeWolf had been married so many times he earned the nickname “the husband of his country”. To avoid confusion with previous wives Ella, Nella, Ida and Edna, Elda consulted a numerologist and changed her name to Hedda. She also changed her birthday to a more auspicious, younger date. Gargoyle of gossip: Hopper denounced stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton for their personal lives Credit: Getty / Michael Ochs Archives Hopper went to Hollywood in 1915, appearing in more than 120 silent and sound films. By 1933 roles were hard to find but Hopper, always ready to adapt, was hired by Cissy Patterson, one of the first women to head a national newspaper, to write a “letter from Hollywood” in 1935. Three years later the column was syndicated by the Los Angeles Times. Her rival Parsons. of the Hearst Corporation, had at first helped Hopper. That ended when film producer Louis B Mayer boosted Hopper’s column to counter Parsons’ power.

What began as a gentle ladylike look at Hollywood tittle-tattle turned into a catfight of “bare-nail bitchery”, with Hopper using any form of intimidation and influence to get an edge. This “gargoyle of gossip” grew wealthy on secrets and scandal: it was said she earned $200,000 a year, as well as accepting luxurious gifts from the studios Hopper and Parsons, it was said, had a combined readership of 75 million in a country of 160 million. After three mentions in Parsons’ column, a screenwriter went from $500 a week to $2,500. During the war, German propaganda cited Hopper’s extravagant hats – her trademark look for which she was given a tax exemption of up to $5,000 – as a show of American decadence. This “gargoyle of gossip” grew wealthy on secrets and scandal: it was said she earned $200,000 a year, as well as accepting luxurious gifts from the studios.

Referring to her Beverly Hills mansion as “The house that fear built”, Hopper was not only more vicious than her rival, but more suited to the nasty game of gossip. Hopper was more accurate and used a healthy network of Hollywood connections developed during her years surviving as a bit player. Her expressive face and controlled voice gave life to her column, making it even more popular when it became a radio show in 1939. She could make or break a career. She helped Ingrid Bergman get a role in The Bells of St Mary’s, only to ruin her career, along with that of Bergman’s lover, the Italian director Roberto Rossellini, by writing about their illegitimate child. Hopper had travelled to Rome to find out about pregnancy rumours; Bergman denied them, only to give the scoop to Parsons. Duchess of Dish: Hopper knew many of Hollywood's biggest secrets Hopper also denounced stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton for their personal lives. Fan letters to Hopper suggested that many readers thought Monroe committed suicide because of such bad publicity. Frankly, the “Duchess of Dish” didn’t give a damn. Hopper was hated by many.

Joan Bennett sent her a skunk on Valentine’s Day and Spencer Tracy did what Cotten promised to do: he kicked her backside in retaliation for a titbit that Hopper wrote about Katharine Hepburn and him. As for what really went on between Cotten and Durbin, Orson Welles knew the answer. In Peter Biskind’s book My Lunches With Orson, Welles, a good friend of Cotten, says: “What Hedda was doing was printing that [Cotten] was [expletive] Deanna Durbin, which he was. In cars, in daylight, where everybody could see.” This was how Hedda Hopper held Hollywood in thrall: she knew the truth and she was the one who decided when, how or if to use it. Directed by Jay Roach, Trumbo is released in cinemas across the UK on 5 February, 2015 Interview 27 Feb 2016 » Treatment Treatment Treatment Hedda! A Musical Conversation is a gloriously fun and insightful one-woman musical on the iconic, hat-crazed Hollywood gossip and political columnist, Hedda Hopper.

(That was a mouthful.) There are thirteen clever, engaging songs in a variety of styles and rhythms that are period sensitive. Her sexual plumage (her HATS…eighty of them) live on stage with her as do numerous colorful hatboxes dressing the area. After all, this is a show on Hedda Hopper! Cast: Jillann Gabrielle as Hedda Hopper On stage piano player Hedda Hopper’s living room, Beverly Hills, CA Many a morning between 1944-1958 Synopsis: Hedda Hopper tells her story from her Quaker upbringing, to her run as an MGM bit player, to her meteoric rise as the hat-crazed Hollywood gossip columnist. Through a series of phone conversations, songs, and chats with the audience we are made privy to: her legendary feuds with Hollywood’s elite; the use of her column to promote her own political and moral agenda; her smear campaigns against Charlie Chaplin and other Hollywood Communist sympathizers; right up to the Liz/Eddie/Debbie debacle…which leads to her 11th hour number expressing a moment of self doubt and regret. But ultimately the old Hedda returns and raises her voice in triumph.

Story: The musical opens with Hedda (in her robe and slippers) nestled in her arm chair recovering from a terrible hangover from the party the night before. While drinking a Bloody Mary, smoking, and munching on aspirin she regales the audience with a who’s who of Hollywood…the stars who were at her party last night. But she knows why the audience came today…to hear the latest on Tinseltown’s stars, their successes and scandals…from Ava to Zeppo! She takes off her robe to reveal her fabulous party dress, dons a signature hat and then tells us just who she is as she belts out the opening jazz rhythm song, “Hedda! Queen of Hollywood.” Minus her houseboy, Michi, (she gave him the day off after the clean up from the party) Hedda receives a series of phone calls. The first is from her sister, Dora, regarding the care taking of her mother. A good-hearted Hedda is paying for her mother’s care back in Pennsylvania. Her older sister, Dora (who behaved as a sadist during Hedda’s childhood) is now Hedda’s employee and is in charge of overseeing Hedda’s beloved mother.

Hedda, at the age of fourteen, helped out her mother and her family when her father left his butcher shop (and his family) for the Klondike to find his fortune. She honed her acting skills by doing whatever it took to collect the bills owed the butcher shop so her family could eat until her father came home. Michi calls in and confirms that he did, indeed, get a very tipsy Joan Crawford home safely after the party and to remind Hedda to take the phone off the hook…if she wants any peace. But Hedda leaves it on the hook because she wants to hear everyone gush about the success of the party. Louis B. Mayer (who was NOT invited to the party) then gives Hedda a jingle…and we learn that Hedda and Mayer have been doing business as producer and actress almost since the beginning of motion pictures. Mayer worked her to death as a bit part player during the silents and early talkies…so much so, she was give the nickname of “Queen of the Quickies.” But he really called to tell her that he will have her fired if she exposes that Cary Grant and Randolph Scott are an item. This is not the first time he would have fired her.

He ended her contract at MGM when she was 52 because she wouldn’t satisfy him on his “casting couch.” Hedda throws in the towel to hold on to her job. In “Friendly Enemy Rag” she sashays her way through her professional philosophy…love your enemies! She then regales the audience with her experiences of her good friend William Randolph Hearst and his legendary castle Hearst was the rascal who dubbed her “Queen of the Quickies” …a hilarious Gilbert and Sullivan-esque tale of her early film career. Hedda muses on the early days of Hollywood and its lack of morals…including the superstar Charlie Chaplin. She puts a call into Louella Parson and settles an old score by wising her up to using their rivaly to create headlines for themselves. Then her good friend Ethel Barrymore calls to gush about the party…and to make sure that the bomb she dropped last night about Claudette Colbert and Marlene Dietrich won’t make it into her column. Hedda explains to Ethel that she could fill countless columns with items like that…but they won’t let her print them.

In the tongue in check strip number, “Off the Record,” Hedda recounts to the audience all the female stars she could NOT put in her column. She then confesses that Ethel was her inspiration for becoming an actress. “The Ethel Barrymore Gavotte” J. Edgar Hoover calls and enlists Hedda in his smear campaign against Charlie Chaplin who is in th emiddle of his second paternity suit which Hedda is engineering. Joan Crawford calls and wines to Hedda about her new contract at Warner Brothers…which puts her in the proximity of her old rival, Bette Davis. Hedda recalls all the bad blood between them and advises Joan to “use” the feud the way she herself uses hers with Louella. The doorbell rings and Hedda takes delivery of her new, custom-made hat she designed herself. In her homage to “Hats” she sings about her affection for this popular clothing accessory…which has helped to make her a star! Her former husband, DeWolf (Wolfie) Hopper, never really appreciated her hats.

She takes us back to her life at age 25 when she left home to become an actress and was then turned down by Florenz Ziegfeld…which made her realize she was not a chorus girl…but an actress! She met her Broadway star producer/actor husband while auditioning for the Quaker Girl (type casting…as she was raised a Quaker). She tells us about her marriage to Wolfie and how she got her name in the hilarious turn-of- the century style “Wolfie and Hedda.” Hedda brags about her son Bill, who costars on Perry Mason. Her “adopted” daughter, Elizabeth Taylor, calls and Hedda unsuccessfully tries to persuade her NOT to marry Michael Wilding…her second husband. Her failure to stop Liz from marrying again causes Hedda to make a drink her original reciple…”Malice in Hollywood No. 1″ Fellow gossip columnist Florabel Muir calls and congratulates Hedda on finally making the paternity suit stick agains Chaplin…but Hedda won’t rest until she gets him out of the U.S. She then wrangles with her new editor over her “dangling participles.” She explains how her volatile relationship with the infamous Louis B.

Mayer caused her to go from an out-of-work actress to a gossip columnist in the L.A. Times. And then in “Don’t Drink the Punch” she tangos while she explains how she exploited her affinity for exposing the peccadillos of celebrities and parlayed her popularity as a gossip columnist into super-stardom. Her editor calls and reminds her that she is still a mouthpiece for the studios and must be a team player and help promote the new motion picture formats of Cinemascope and Surround Sound. Hedda argues that all the technology in the world cannot make up for the lack of a good director, good actors, and good script…but she plays it his way…to keep her job. Then from her heart of hearts Hedda sings about her love for the motion pictures of the early days of Hollywood, “When Movies Were Movies.” J Edgar Hoover calls again and asks for help in making more of a case against Charlie Chaplin in her column, which she is delighted to do. She is known for always telling the truth! “She’ll get that despicable human being if it’s the last thing she does.” She muses on the concept of truth for a moment then goes at it again with her editor.

He hammers her with the possibility of a libel suit if she doesn’t omit a comment from her column…which is the truth! She then warbles“I Was Simply Telling the Truth” about the pitfalls of doing so. Her editor calls, yet again, telling her she cannot comment on politics. Hedda is livid and sticks to her guns as she throws her 32 million readers in his face! Her sister Dora calls…her mother has died in her sleep. Hedda collapses and sings “How Lucky We Were” about her love for her mother. Time passes and Marlene Dietrich calls to console Hedda after her mother’s funeral. Hedda places her one call of the entire show to Richard Nixon alerting him of Chaplin’s impending trip to England to publicize his new film, Limelight. She then makes her well-founded case against Chaplin directly to the audience. Senator Joseph McCarthy rings Hedda to congratulate her on her efforts through her column in helping to expel John Garfield from Hollywood during the recent House Hearings. He’s now relegated to Broadway with his Commie pals. Hedda gushes over the Senator’s crusade to purge Hollywood and our country of Communist poison.

Then she takes a conservative stand in the soap box song “I’m Political” If we don’t get politics right we’re all toast! Louella parsons (her arch rival/partner in crime) calls with the news of John Garfield’s death…implicating Hedda in it. This rattles Hedda a bit into singing a reprise of “We’re in America” Which is interrupted with a call from U.S. Attorney General James McGranery who tells her Chaplin has been barred from returning to the U.S….which was in a large part her doing! Hedda flies high and time passes. It is now 1958 and Hedda gets a call from a friend telling her that the Liz/Eddie/Debbie scandal has broken a few hours early. Hedda is suddenly having uncharacteristic self doubts about her job and her relationship with Liz Taylor. She reminisces about Liz’s life in “Elizabeth” and is interrupted by a phone call from an outraged Liz calling Hedda an antique! This really sets Hedda on her ear and fills her with self doubt…but she sings her way out of it and she rallies as the old Hedda returns with a reprise of “Hedda!

Queen of Hollywood- Finale” 668: Gossip Columnist HEDA HOPPER - Photo Signed : Lot 0668 Lot 0668 Details THIS LOT HAS BEEN SOLD TO A CUSTOMER USING OUR "BUY-IT-NOW" FEATURE. Visit our website for details Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) Actress, gossip columnist. Hopper's long-running feud with friend turned arch-rival Louella Parsons became at least as notorious as many of Hopper's columns. 8" x 10" black and white matte finish photograph signed, "To Bernard Baker Bless You Hedda Hopper. THIS LOT HAS BEEN SOLD TO A CUSTOMER USING OUR "BUY-IT-NOW" FEATURE. Visit our website for details Condition: The item being auctioned is in very good condition - any flaws or other condition issues are detailed in the description.

Starting Bid: Shipping & Payment 101 to 300 12 301 to 500 15 501 to 1,000 20 1,000 to 5,000 35 Over 5,000 30 Foreign Shipments are sent Priority Express 30. Oversized and framed items and international shipments will be priced separately according to the actual shipping cost. Accepted payment methods: Auction Terms & Info Terms of Sale The auction will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday June 27th 2009 and concluded on Sunday June 28th beginning at 12:00 PM. It will be conducted by an auctioneer licensed by the state of New Hampshire and employed by The Written Word Autographs. The auction may be delayed at the discretion of the auctioneer. The on-line LiveAuctioneers component is an important part of this auction. Failure to connect with LiveAuctioneers will be deemed a reason to delay the start of this auction. There are several ways to participate in this auction. The following page is a mail or fax bidding form.

Bids may be mailed to PO Box 490, Tamworth, NH 03886 or faxed to (603) 323-7563 or emailed to info@thewrittenwordautographs.com. In the event of duplicate high bids, the earliest received will be the winner. Submission of a bid is recognized as acceptance of the terms of sale. If you are faxing your bids, kindly call us at (603) 323-7563 first so we can turn on our machine. Bidders may also participate in this auction through LiveAuctioneer's live auction service at no additional cost above the 17% buyer's premium. To utilize this service you must pre-register with LiveAuctioneers at least 24 hours before the auction. This catalog will be on their site on May 20th. Please visit to register and be assigned a user name and password. We will be pleased to contact you by phone from our office if you want to participate in the auction live. We are unable to accept incoming calls but we would be pleased to have a representative contact you on the day of the auction before lots in which you are interested are offered.

Please call us early and not later than two hours before the auction to reserve a phone line for this service. We will not display bids on our web site nor will it be possible to bid through our web site during the auction. Consignors may not bid on their own material nor have others bid on their behalf All bidders will be registered and must attest that they will not engage in "shill" bidding (bidding to increase the price without any intention of buying the lot). Violators of these provisions will be exempted from this auction and will be prohibited from ever bidding in future Written Word Autographs auctions. The winner will always be the high bidder. Lots will not be reopened after the hammer for any reason. Bids will not be accepted for any amount less than 60% of the "low estimate" for any lot. Please be aware that most lots carry a reserve beneath which the lot will riot be sold. The low estimate is generally less than the consignor's reserve.

Bidding will proceed in the following increments: Bidding Level Increment $100 to $500 $20 $501 to $1,000 $50 $1,001 to $5,000 $100 Over $5,000 $500 All bids will be opened at either the highest bid below the minimum estimated value, the minimum estimated value or one increment above the second highest ceiling bid. For example if bids of $200 and $500 are left for a lot with an estimate value of $200 to $400 the opening bid would be $220, one increment ($20) above the minimum. Absent any further bidding the lot would be sold to the $500 bidder for $220. Instances where there is a single bid in excess of the minimum, the lot will be opened one increment above the lowest estimate. For example a bid of $400 on a lot with a minimum value of $300 would force an opening bid of $320.

There is a 17% buyer premium for all bids, whether by mail, telephone, email or live bid on LiveAuctioneers. There will be a 3% additional charge if winning bidders choose to pay with American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA credit card or PayPal. All autographs are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic by The Written Word Autographs. Any item may be returned for a full refund for any reason as long as it is returned in the same condition as sold within 30 days of having been received. There is no time limit for returns of items that prove not to be authentic, to the original buyer. If another recognized authenticator does not share our opinion about the authenticity of any item you purchase from us we will definitely issue a full refund for the purchase price, including the buyer's premium and shipping. The authenticator needs to state in writing the specific reason that they feel it is not genuine i.e. that the item is a forgery, secretarial, autopen or a printed example. Cash refunds will be given up to six months after our sale, credit against future purchases will be issued on any return after that time.

Illustrations in our catalog and on our website are actual representations of the item being auctioned. No framed or matted material being sold has been inspected out of the frame or mat. Payment is due upon receipt of our invoice. Winning bidders are liable for the buyer's premium if they renege on their obligation. Payment may be by check, money order or major credit card. Lots will not be shipped until payment has been received. All material will be shipped by U.S. Postal Service. Foreign shipments will be sent by International Priority Express at a cost of $30.00. Domestic shipments valued over $5,000 will be shipped by Registered Mail; all other shipments will be by Priority Mail, insured. The following shipping charges will be added to winning bids: Shipment Total Shipping Charge $101 to $300 $12 $301 to $500 $15 $501 to $1,000 $20 $1,000 to $5,000 $25 Over $5,000 $30 Oversized and framed items and international shipments will be priced separately according to the actual shipping cost.

Auctioneer: Sanders & Mock Associates, Wayne Mock, NH license #2111. Color images of all items can be viewed at our website. Bid Increments:

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Answer: Louella Parsons