Virginia Graham, born Virginia Komiss, (July 4, 1912 – December 22, 1998)[1][2] was an American daytime television talk show host from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. On television, Graham hosted the syndicated programs Food for Thought (1953–1957),[3]Girl Talk (1963–1969) and The Virginia Graham Show (1970–1972).[4] She was also a guest on many other programs.
Graham was born and raised in Chicago. Her father, an immigrant from Germany, became a successful businessman who owned the Komiss department-store chain.[5] She graduated from the private Francis Parker School in Chicago, and in 1931, received her degree from the University of Chicago, where she had studied anthropology. She later earned a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Marriageedit
In 1935, Graham married Harry William Guttenberg, who owned a theatrical costume company. They remained married until his death in 1980. The couple had one daughter, Lynn Guttenberg Bohrer.[6] Graham's book about her husband's death, Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood, became a bestseller in 1988.
She played "Mrs.Walter" in "The Love Boat" S2 E16 sketch "Second Chance" which aired 1/26/1979. In 1982, Graham played fictional talk show host Stella Stanton in the final episodes of the soap opera Texas.
She was described by writer Howard Thompson in The New York Times as "a bright, alert, talkative woman of ripe, tart-edged candor."[7] Another writer, Richard L. Coe, said she looked like "Sophie Tucker doing a Carol Channing performance."[9]
Graham, a cancer survivor, was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. A former smoker, she denounced smoking, but when asked on her program what she would do if she knew that the world would end tomorrow, she confessed that she would smoke.[citation needed]
Graham died of a heart attack on December 22, 1998.
There Goes What's Her Name: The Continuing Saga of Virginia Graham (with Jean Libman Block), 1965.
Don't Blame the Mirror (with Jean Libman Block), 1967. Self-improvement, beauty advice.
If I Made It, So Can You, 1978.
Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood, 1988.
Look Who's Sleeping in My Bed!, 1993. Memoir.
Referencesedit
^Ancestry.com, Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, US: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.
^Severo, Richard (December 25, 1998). "Virginia Graham, Popular Host of Early Television Talk Shows". The New York Times. p. B11. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
^"On Television." The New York Times, March 11, 1953, p. 41.
^"Program Shifts Set on Channel 7." Boston Herald, January 4, 1963, p. 13
^Christy, Marian (July 7, 1974). "Yes, Virginia, There's Always An Audience." The Boston Globe, p. 56.
^Christy, Marian (May 18, 1988). "Straight Talk From Virginia Graham", The Boston Globe, p. 29
^ abThompson, Howard (July 11, 1965). "Life As the Girls Live It". The New York Times. p. X13.
^Adams, Val (February 24, 1956). "M-G-M Bars Use of 'Annie' on TV". The New York Times. p. 51.
^Coe, Richard L. (September 30, 1977). "Virginia Graham in 'Wednesday' at the Hayloft," The Washington Post, p. C28.
virginia, graham, english, writer, critic, poet, english, writer, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, ne. For the English writer critic and poet see Virginia Graham English writer This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Virginia Graham news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Virginia Graham born Virginia Komiss July 4 1912 December 22 1998 1 2 was an American daytime television talk show host from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s On television Graham hosted the syndicated programs Food for Thought 1953 1957 3 Girl Talk 1963 1969 and The Virginia Graham Show 1970 1972 4 She was also a guest on many other programs Virginia GrahamGraham in 1972BornVirginia Komiss 1912 07 04 July 4 1912Chicago Illinois USDiedDecember 22 1998 1998 12 22 aged 86 Manhattan New York City US Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Marriage 1 3 Career 2 Filmography 3 Books 4 References 5 External linksBiography editEarly life and education edit Graham was born and raised in Chicago Her father an immigrant from Germany became a successful businessman who owned the Komiss department store chain 5 She graduated from the private Francis Parker School in Chicago and in 1931 received her degree from the University of Chicago where she had studied anthropology She later earned a master s degree in journalism from Northwestern University Marriage edit In 1935 Graham married Harry William Guttenberg who owned a theatrical costume company They remained married until his death in 1980 The couple had one daughter Lynn Guttenberg Bohrer 6 Graham s book about her husband s death Life After Harry My Adventures in Widowhood became a bestseller in 1988 Career edit After World War II Graham wrote scripts for radio soap operas such as Stella Dallas Our Gal Sunday and Backstage Wife She hosted her first radio talk show in 1951 7 Graham was a panelist on the DuMont panel show Where Was I 1952 53 She succeeded Margaret Truman in 1956 as cohost of the NBC radio show Weekday teamed with Mike Wallace 8 She played Mrs Walter in The Love Boat S2 E16 sketch Second Chance which aired 1 26 1979 In 1982 Graham played fictional talk show host Stella Stanton in the final episodes of the soap opera Texas She was described by writer Howard Thompson in The New York Times as a bright alert talkative woman of ripe tart edged candor 7 Another writer Richard L Coe said she looked like Sophie Tucker doing a Carol Channing performance 9 Graham a cancer survivor was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society A former smoker she denounced smoking but when asked on her program what she would do if she knew that the world would end tomorrow she confessed that she would smoke citation needed Graham died of a heart attack on December 22 1998 Filmography editYear Title Role Notes1957 A Face in the Crowd Herself Uncredited1964 The Carpetbaggers Reporter Uncredited1977 A Secret Space Grandma1982 Slapstick of Another Kind Gossip Specialist1982 Hart To Hart Morgana1986 The Perils of P K Books editThere Goes What s Her Name The Continuing Saga of Virginia Graham with Jean Libman Block 1965 Don t Blame the Mirror with Jean Libman Block 1967 Self improvement beauty advice If I Made It So Can You 1978 Life After Harry My Adventures in Widowhood 1988 Look Who s Sleeping in My Bed 1993 Memoir References edit Ancestry com Social Security Death Index database on line Provo UT US The Generations Network Inc 2007 Severo Richard December 25 1998 Virginia Graham Popular Host of Early Television Talk Shows The New York Times p B11 Retrieved April 9 2020 On Television The New York Times March 11 1953 p 41 Program Shifts Set on Channel 7 Boston Herald January 4 1963 p 13 Christy Marian July 7 1974 Yes Virginia There s Always An Audience The Boston Globe p 56 Christy Marian May 18 1988 Straight Talk From Virginia Graham The Boston Globe p 29 a b Thompson Howard July 11 1965 Life As the Girls Live It The New York Times p X13 Adams Val February 24 1956 M G M Bars Use of Annie on TV The New York Times p 51 Coe Richard L September 30 1977 Virginia Graham in Wednesday at the Hayloft The Washington Post p C28 External links editVirginia Graham at IMDb Cackleklatsch Time June 7 1968 Clips from final Texas episodes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Virginia Graham amp oldid 1189402299, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
