Dorothy Kilgallen papers and scrapbooks

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Collection Data

Description
The Dorothy Kilgallen Papers and Scrapbooks consists of personal papers, photographs, and clippings documenting her versatile career as newswoman, actress, TV personality, radio hostess, wife and mother from 1930 to her death in 1965. The collection is a wealth of photographs and clippings, but has virtually no correspondence. Photographs include such notables as: Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Joe DiMaggio and Rex Harrison, among others. The materials reveal Ms. Kilgallen as a celebrity; even personal family photographs have the flavor of posed publicity settings. The collection gives no glimpse of Dorothy Kilgallen's private life.
Names
Kilgallen, Dorothy (Creator)
Arnaz, Desi, 1917-1986
Ball, Lucille, 1911-1989
Crawford, Joan, 1908-1977
Di Maggio, Joe, 1914-
Gable, Clark, 1901-1960
Harrison, Rex
Kilgallen, James L.
Kollmar, Jill
Kollmar, Kerry, 1954-
Kollmar, Richard
Kollmar, Richard, Jr
Dates / Origin
Date Created: 1936 - 1965
Library locations
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Shelf locator: *T-Mss 1966-001
Topics
Actors
Actresses
Celebrities
Gossip columnists -- United States
Women journalists -- United States
Genres
Clippings
Photographs
Programs
Scrapbooks
Notes
Biographical/historical: Dorothy Kilgallen, newswoman, Broadway columnist and TV panelist was born in Chicago on July 3, 1913. Emulating her father, noted newsman James L. Kilgallen, she began her journalism career at the age of 17. In 1936 The New York Evening Journal sent her on an around-the-world trip in competition with reporters from two other daily newspapers. Romanticized as a modern Nellie Bly her fame was secured, receiving not only a role in the 1937 movie Winner Take All, but also a daily column entitled The Voice of Broadway. In 1945, Ms. Kilgallen and her husband, Richard Kollmar, became the stars of a morning radio program, Breakfast With Dorothy and Dick. It ran from 1945 until 1963. Her television career began when she appeared on the first panel of the quiz show What's My Line? in 1950. Dorothy Kilgallen was known for her tough reporting style, her stylish dress and her caustic commentary on notables of the day. She died on November 8, 1965.
Content: The Dorothy Kilgallen Papers and Scrapbooks consist of personal papers, photographs and scrapbooks documenting her versatile career as newswoman, actress, TV personality, radio hostess, wife and mother from 1930 to her death in 1965. The collection is a wealth of photographs and clippings but has virtually no correspondence. It reveals Ms. Kilgallen as a celebrity, even personal family photographs have the flavor of posed publicity settings. The collection gives no glimpse of Dorothy Kilgallen's private life.
Physical Description
Photographic prints
Extent: 8 lin. ft. (18 boxes)
Type of Resource
Text
Still image
Identifiers
Other local Identifier: *T-Mss 1966-001
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b11613592
MSS Unit ID: 21296
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 770f3cd0-899f-0134-3827-00505686d14e
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