Earl Wilson (columnist)
Encyclopedia
Earl Wilson born Harvey Earl Wilson, was an American
journalist, gossip columnist
and author, perhaps best known for his nationally syndicated
column
, It Happened Last Night.
Born in Rockford, Ohio
, Wilson attended Heidelberg College
and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1931 with a B. S. in journalism.
Wilson's column originated from the New York Post
and ran from 1942 until 1983. His chronicling of the Broadway
scene during the "Golden Age" of show business
formed the basis for a book published in 1971, The Show Business Nobody Knows. He signed his columns with the tag line
, "That's Earl, brother." His nickname was "Midnight Earl". In later years, the name of his column was changed to Last Night With Earl Wilson. In his final years with the Post, he alternated with the paper's entertainment writer and restaurant critic, Martin Burden, in turning out the column. (Burden, who died in 1993, took over the Last Night column full-time upon Wilson's retirement.)
Wilson is also the author of two controversial books, Show Business Laid Bare (ISBN 978-0399112768), and an unauthorized biography of Frank Sinatra
, Sinatra—an Unauthorized Biography (ISBN 978-0451074874). The former book is notable for revealing the extramarital affairs of President John F. Kennedy
.
In the early 1950s, Wilson was an occasional panelist on the NBC game show
, Who Said That?
, in which celebrites try to determine the speaker of quotations taken from recent news reports.
Wilson appeared in a few films as himself, notably Copacabana (1947) with Groucho Marx
and Carmen Miranda
, A Face in the Crowd (1957) with Andy Griffith
, College Confidential
(1960), and Beach Blanket Bingo
(1965). Wilson also hosted the DuMont
TV show Stage Entrance
from May 1951 to March 1952.
He died in Yonkers, New York
. His son, Earl Wilson, Jr., became a songwriter for the musical theatre
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, gossip columnist
Gossip columnist
A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially a gossip magazine. Gossip columns are material written in a light, informal style, which relates the gossip columnist's opinions about the personal lives or conduct of celebrities from show business ,...
and author, perhaps best known for his nationally syndicated
Print syndication
Print syndication distributes news articles, columns, comic strips and other features to newspapers, magazines and websites. They offer reprint rights and grant permissions to other parties for republishing content of which they own/represent copyrights....
column
Column (newspaper)
A column is a recurring piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. Columns are written by columnists.What differentiates a column from other forms of journalism is that it meets each of the following criteria:...
, It Happened Last Night.
Born in Rockford, Ohio
Rockford, Ohio
Rockford is a village in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rockford is located at ....
, Wilson attended Heidelberg College
Heidelberg College
Heidelberg University is a private liberal arts college located in the city of Tiffin, Ohio in the U.S. state of Ohio. Founded in 1850, it was known as Heidelberg College until 1889 and from 1926 to 2009.- History :...
and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1931 with a B. S. in journalism.
Wilson's column originated from the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
and ran from 1942 until 1983. His chronicling of the Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
scene during the "Golden Age" of show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
formed the basis for a book published in 1971, The Show Business Nobody Knows. He signed his columns with the tag line
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
, "That's Earl, brother." His nickname was "Midnight Earl". In later years, the name of his column was changed to Last Night With Earl Wilson. In his final years with the Post, he alternated with the paper's entertainment writer and restaurant critic, Martin Burden, in turning out the column. (Burden, who died in 1993, took over the Last Night column full-time upon Wilson's retirement.)
Wilson is also the author of two controversial books, Show Business Laid Bare (ISBN 978-0399112768), and an unauthorized biography of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Sinatra—an Unauthorized Biography (ISBN 978-0451074874). The former book is notable for revealing the extramarital affairs of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
In the early 1950s, Wilson was an occasional panelist on the NBC game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, Who Said That?
Who Said That?
Who Said That? is a 1947-55 NBC radio-television game show, in which a panel of celebrities attempts to determine the speaker of a quotation from recent news reports. The series was first proposed and edited by Fred W. Friendly, later of CBS News....
, in which celebrites try to determine the speaker of quotations taken from recent news reports.
Wilson appeared in a few films as himself, notably Copacabana (1947) with Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
and Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda
Carmen Miranda, GCIH was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, Broadway actress and Hollywood film star popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was, by some accounts, the highest-earning woman in the United States and noted for her signature fruit hat outfit she wore in the 1943 movie The Gang's...
, A Face in the Crowd (1957) with Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
, College Confidential
College Confidential (film)
College Confidential is a 1960 B-movie drama starring Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows and Mamie Van Doren.-Plot:A sociology professor Steve McInter starts conducting a survey at Collins College about the lifestyles and sexual urges of the younger generation. One of his students Sally Blake excels with...
(1960), and Beach Blanket Bingo
Beach Blanket Bingo
Beach Blanket Bingo is an American International Pictures beach party film, released in 1965 and was directed by William Asher. It is the fifth film in the beach party film series...
(1965). Wilson also hosted the DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
TV show Stage Entrance
Stage Entrance
Stage Entrance was an American variety show broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network.-Broadcast history:The series, hosted by Broadway columnist Earl Wilson ran nationally on Mondays at 8pm EST from May 2, 1951 to March 2, 1952.-See also:...
from May 1951 to March 1952.
He died in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. His son, Earl Wilson, Jr., became a songwriter for the musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
External links
- Actors Cabaret of Eugene News - about Earl Wilson, Jr., with some information on Earl Wilson
- Creative Quotations from Earl Wilson
- Obituary in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, January 17, 1987. - Obituary in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
of his wife, Rosemary (published February 26, 1986); she was the "B.W." (Beautiful Wife) he referred to in his columns