Heywood Hale Broun
Encyclopedia
Heywood Hale Broun was an American
an author, sportswriter, commentator and actor. He was born and raised in New York City
, the son of writer and activist Ruth Hale
and columnist Heywood Broun
. He was educated at private school
s and Swarthmore College
.
In 1940, Broun joined the staff at the New York tabloid PM
where he served as a sportswriter. His career was interrupted by World War II
in which he served in the United States Army
field artillery. When the war ended he returned to the PM newspaper and wrote for its successor, the New York Star, which ceased operations in 1949.
Broun died in Kingston, New York
, in 2001.
and Sports
in 1966 where he worked for 20 years as a color commentator
on a wide variety of sporting venues, including Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown
. He is remembered for his English-language expressions, handlebar mustache and colorful sport coats. A selection of his Saturday night sports feature stories were compiled in the ESPN Classic
series Woodie's World; 36 episodes were released between 2002 and 2005. Woodie's World was re-released in 2009 on (ESPN Classic), obscure footage of Woodie on the road with Dempsey Hovland
's barnstorm female basketball team Texas Cowgirls that played and won against men often on NBA courts (1949–1977) is included in the feature stories. The team was of personal interest to Broun who also reported on it on CBS nightly news segments.
s such as:
As well as television
programs in guest or supporting roles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
an author, sportswriter, commentator and actor. He was born and raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of writer and activist Ruth Hale
Ruth Hale (feminist)
Ruth Hale was a freelance writer who worked for women's rights in New York City, USA, during the era before and after World War I...
and columnist Heywood Broun
Heywood Broun
Heywood Campbell Broun, Jr. was an American journalist. He worked as a sportswriter, newspaper columnist, and editor in New York City. He founded the American Newspaper Guild, now known as The Newspaper Guild. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he is best remembered for his writing on social issues and...
. He was educated at private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s and Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
.
In 1940, Broun joined the staff at the New York tabloid PM
PM (newspaper)
PM was a leftist New York City daily newspaper published by Ralph Ingersoll from June 1940 to June 1948 and bankrolled by the eccentric Chicago millionaire Marshall Field III....
where he served as a sportswriter. His career was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in which he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
field artillery. When the war ended he returned to the PM newspaper and wrote for its successor, the New York Star, which ceased operations in 1949.
Broun died in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, in 2001.
TV career
Nicknamed "Woodie", he joined CBS NewsCBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
and Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
in 1966 where he worked for 20 years as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on a wide variety of sporting venues, including Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
. He is remembered for his English-language expressions, handlebar mustache and colorful sport coats. A selection of his Saturday night sports feature stories were compiled in the ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic is a sports channel that features reruns of famous sporting events, sports documentaries, and sports themed movies. Such programs includes biographies of famous sports figures or a rerun of a famous World Series or Super Bowl, often with added commentary on the event...
series Woodie's World; 36 episodes were released between 2002 and 2005. Woodie's World was re-released in 2009 on (ESPN Classic), obscure footage of Woodie on the road with Dempsey Hovland
Dempsey Hovland
Dempsey Hovland was a well-known national baseball and basketball barnstorming entrepreneur and promoter and multiple sports team owner. He also founded the 20th Century Booking Agency, a sports booking management for arranging and marketing of barnstorming events and booking of venues...
's barnstorm female basketball team Texas Cowgirls that played and won against men often on NBA courts (1949–1977) is included in the feature stories. The team was of personal interest to Broun who also reported on it on CBS nightly news segments.
Film career
Broun acted in a number of filmFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s such as:
- The Odd CoupleThe Odd Couple (film)The Odd Couple is a 1968 comedy film written by Neil Simon, based on his play The Odd Couple, directed by Gene Saks, and starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau...
- For Pete's SakeFor Pete's Sake (film)For Pete's Sake is a 1974 American screwball comedy film directed by Peter Yates. The screenplay by Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin chronicles the misadventures of a Brooklyn housewife...
- HouseSitterHouseSitterHouseSitter is a 1992 romantic comedy film directed by Frank Oz, written by Mark Stein, and starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. The premise involves a woman with con-artist tendencies who worms her way into the life of a reserved architect by claiming to be his wife.-Plot:Newton Davis is a...
As well as television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programs in guest or supporting roles.
Books
- A Studied Madness (1965)
- Tumultuous Merriment (1979)
- Whose little boy are you? : A memoir of the Broun family (1983)