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Virginia Graham
Virginia Graham
Virginia Graham
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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.

Key Information

Biography

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Early life and education

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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

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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

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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 storyline "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

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 A Face in the Crowd Herself Uncredited
1964 The Carpetbaggers Reporter Uncredited
1977 A Secret Space Grandma
1982 Slapstick of Another Kind Gossip Specialist
1982 Hart To Hart Morgana
1986 The Perils of P.K.

Books

[edit]
  • 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.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Virginia Graham

View on Grokipedia
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Virginia Graham (July 4, 1912 – December 22, 1998) was an American radio and television personality best known as the pioneering host of the syndicated daytime Girl Talk, which aired from 1963 to 1969 and attracted over two million viewers daily with her interviews of celebrities and discussions on women's issues. Born Virginia Komiss in Chicago, Illinois, Graham graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in anthropology in 1930 and later earned a master's in journalism from Northwestern University. Her career began in the 1930s as a radio scriptwriter, including for soap operas such as Stella Dallas and Our Gal Sunday in the 1940s, and later as co-host of NBC's Weekday in 1956. Transitioning to television in the 1950s, she hosted Food for Thought from 1956 to 1961, a panel discussion show that laid the groundwork for her later successes, and substituted on programs like NBC's Today and Jack Paar's Tonight show. Girl Talk, produced by ABC, featured guests including Olivia de Havilland and Gloria Swanson, and Graham's warm, gravel-voiced style influenced modern talk show hosts like Oprah Winfrey. Following Girl Talk, she hosted The Virginia Graham Show from 1970 to 1972, continuing her focus on light-hearted conversations and advice. Graham was married to producer Harry Guttenberg until his death in 1980, and they had one daughter, Lynn Bohrer. A survivor from the , she became an advocate for the and co-founded United Cerebral Palsy in 1947. Later in life, she authored bestselling books such as Life After Harry (1987) and I Love Antiques but I Don't Want to Be One, and made guest appearances on shows like Roseanne and The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Graham died in at age 86 from complications of a heart attack.

Early life and education

Family background

Virginia Graham was born Virginia Komiss on July 4, 1912, in , , to an immigrant father from who owned the Komiss department-store chain. Her father, David S. Komiss, had immigrated from and built a successful in women's stores, providing the family with considerable wealth. Her mother was Bessie Jane Feiges Komiss. This affluent environment shaped her early years, offering stability and opportunities not available to many during the era. Raised in Chicago's prosperous circles, Graham experienced a childhood immersed in the vibrancy of the city's commercial and cultural scene, largely influenced by her family's enterprise. The business exposed her to , , and the , as store promotions often involved media events and entertainment. Her father's entrepreneurial spirit and emphasis on communication fostered her early interest in public-facing professions, encouraging her to develop skills in speaking and engaging with audiences. She had one brother, Justin Komiss. This family foundation laid the groundwork for her later pursuits, leading to her enrollment at the for formal education.

Academic pursuits

Virginia Graham, born in in 1912, pursued her undergraduate studies at the . At the remarkably young age of 18, she graduated with a in , earning election to for her academic excellence. Following her undergraduate success, Graham advanced her education by earning a in from , building on her anthropological foundation to develop skills in communication and media. This combination of degrees reflected her early intellectual curiosity in and societal observation, which informed her transition into professional writing and broadcasting.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Virginia Graham married Harry William Guttenberg, a theatrical costumer and president of the family-owned Louis Guttenberg and Son costume company, on May 2, 1935. The couple's marriage lasted 45 years until Guttenberg's death from in 1980 at age 80. The Grahams had one daughter, Lynn Guttenberg Bohrer, born in 1936. Early family life was centered in , where Graham had been born and begun her career, before the family relocated to following the marriage, integrating into professional theater and media circles. This move supported Graham's transition into radio scriptwriting while maintaining a stable family environment. Following Guttenberg's death, Graham reflected on her widowhood in the 1988 memoir Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood, offering a personal account of navigating life without her longtime partner.

Health challenges and death

In the 1950s, Graham survived cervical cancer, an experience that profoundly shaped her later life. She also co-founded the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in 1947. Following her recovery, she became a prominent advocate for cancer research, leveraging her visibility as a television host to promote awareness and support fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society. Through public service announcements and charity events, she helped raise millions of dollars for the organization, emphasizing early detection and survivor stories to inspire others. Graham died on December 22, 1998, at the age of 86, from complications following a heart attack she suffered on December 11. She passed away in the intensive care unit of New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in . Graham was buried in and Mausoleum in , .

Professional career

Radio and scriptwriting

Virginia Graham began her radio career in Chicago during the 1930s, initially working as a fashion reporter for station WBBM in 1934. She later moved to New York, where she wrote scripts for commercials broadcast on WMCA, contributing to the evolving format of radio advertising during that decade. Following , Graham transitioned into scriptwriting for radio soap operas, crafting episodes for popular serials such as Stella Dallas, Backstage Wife, and Our Gal Sunday. These daytime dramas, known for their emotional storytelling and focus on women's lives, helped solidify her reputation in broadcast writing before she moved into on-air roles. In the mid-1950s, Graham entered radio hosting, succeeding as co-host of NBC's Weekday, where she collaborated with to discuss current events and lifestyle topics aimed at a female audience. This program marked a key step in her career, bridging her scriptwriting experience with live broadcasting and paving the way for her later television work.

Television hosting

Virginia Graham began her television career as a panelist on the DuMont Network's quiz show Where Was I? in 1952, where she appeared as a guest panelist known for her quick wit during discussions of celebrities' life events. This early exposure showcased her engaging personality, which would become a hallmark of her hosting style. Her radio background in conversational formats helped ease her transition to the visual medium of television, allowing her to adapt seamlessly to on-camera interactions. Graham's first major hosting role came with the syndicated daytime program Food for Thought from 1956 to 1961, a cooking and discussion show that blended culinary demonstrations with light-hearted conversations on and topics. As host, she presided over segments featuring guest experts and home viewers' questions, emphasizing practical advice in an approachable manner that appealed to housewives. The show's format highlighted Graham's gravel-voiced delivery and no-nonsense attitude, establishing her as a relatable authority in early daytime programming. In 1963, Graham launched Girl Talk on ABC, a nationally syndicated talk show that ran until 1969 and featured celebrity interviews, news segments, and discussions on women's issues such as fashion, relationships, and current events. Without cue cards or teleprompters, she moderated panels with co-hosts like Peggy Cass and guests including Joan Crawford and Zsa Zsa Gabor, generating lively debates through her abrasive yet charismatic style that created "sparks from friction." The program, often filmed in Chicago, influenced the modern ensemble talk show format, serving as a forerunner to The View and an early precursor to Barbara Walters' interviewing approach. Graham continued her success with The Virginia Graham Show from 1970 to 1972, another syndicated that focused on in-depth chats and participation, reflecting her flamboyant with lacquered hair, bold red fingernails, and sharp commentary. Throughout the to , Graham's hosting pioneered the blend of and in daytime TV, setting standards for wit-driven, women-centered content that shaped the genre's evolution.

Acting and other media

Graham's foray into acting began with an uncredited appearance as herself in the 1957 satirical drama A Face in the Crowd, directed by , where she featured among other real-life media personalities in a scene depicting a television broadcast. She followed this with minor film roles that highlighted her distinctive voice and persona, including an uncredited part as a reporter in the 1964 epic , opposite and . In 1977, Graham portrayed the grandmother in the independent drama A Secret Space, a story exploring Jewish identity and family dynamics. Her final notable film role came in 1982's comedic , where she played the eccentric Gossip Specialist in a cast featuring and . On television, Graham embraced scripted guest spots and recurring parts during the 1970s and 1980s, demonstrating her versatility beyond hosting by taking on humorous and character-driven roles. In a 1979 episode of , she appeared as a quirky gift shop customer in the segment "Second Chance." That same year, she guest-starred on as the meddlesome Morgana in the episode "Hart's Desire," which aired in 1982. Graham's most substantial TV acting stint was as the flamboyant host Stella Stanton in the 1982 final episodes of the , a character that mirrored yet parodied her own career. Other guest appearances included a in a 1970 episode of and a role in the 1986 low-budget comedy The Perils of P.K., showcasing her ability to inject wit into ensemble casts. These opportunities often drew on her established television fame, allowing her to transition seamlessly into acting while maintaining her signature effervescent style.

Literary works

Books

Virginia Graham authored several books that drew heavily from her experiences as a broadcaster and public figure, blending humor with insights into women's personal and professional challenges. Her works often reflected themes of resilience, self-improvement, and the lighter side of everyday struggles, appealing to a broad audience of women navigating similar issues. Her debut book, There Goes What's Her Name: The Continuing Saga of Virginia Graham (1965, co-authored with Jean Libman Block), offered a humorous autobiographical account of her life, including early career setbacks, a battle with cancer at age 36, and her rise in television hosting. The emphasized personal destiny amid disasters, marital devotion, and candid on topics like and maternity, presented in an effervescent, relatable style that mirrored her on-air persona from Girl Talk. Everything's Too Something! (1966) was a collection of humorous essays originally published in Homes & Gardens magazine, focusing on the absurdities of everyday life. In Don't Blame the Mirror (1967, also co-authored with Jean Libman Block), Graham explored beauty and through a series of dialogues simulating conversations with female guests, covering , diets, , and spa routines. The book served as practical advice on embracing one's appearance without self-blame, aligning with the era's growing interest in through personal care. If I Made It, So Can You (1978) functioned as an inspirational guide to career , recounting Graham's journey from radio scripting to stardom and encouraging readers to overcome obstacles with determination and optimism. It highlighted her background as a model for professional growth, particularly for women entering media and public-facing roles. Graham's most commercially successful work, Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood (1988), became a following the death of her husband Harry Guttenberg after 45 years of marriage. The detailed her emotional recovery from , warnings against exploitative and mediums, and strategies for widows to stay active, seek companionship, and pursue self-improvement, all infused with her signature humor to inspire elderly women facing similar losses. Serialized first in Modern Maturity, it resonated widely for its refreshingly funny and cautionary tone. Her final book, Look Who's Sleeping in My Bed! (1993), was a humorous reflecting on later-life adventures, continuing her tradition of witty personal storytelling. Across her oeuvre, Graham's writing championed feminist ideals of independence and joy amid adversity, with sales boosted by her television fame and critical praise for accessibility and levity.

Columns and articles

Virginia Graham contributed to print journalism primarily through ghostwriting and original columns in women's and magazines from the to the , often focusing on advice, humor, and everyday experiences. Early in her career, she ghostwrote for celebrity advice columns, including Mae Murray's "Advice to the Lovelorn," where she crafted responses to readers' romantic and personal dilemmas under the silent film star's byline. This work, which continued into the early amid her radio scripting, highlighted her skill in empathetic, witty counsel tailored to women's concerns. In the post-World War II era, Graham penned original columns for publications like Homes & Gardens, blending humor with observations on domestic life and social . These pieces, appearing regularly in the and , offered lighthearted takes on topics such as household mishaps and interpersonal dynamics, appealing to a female readership navigating domesticity. Her style—sharp, relatable, and laced with —mirrored the conversational tone of her emerging broadcast persona, though rooted in print traditions of women's magazines. Graham's articles extended to broader , , and women's issues, often published in outlets connected to her radio prominence, such as syndication features in major newspapers. For instance, a 1965 New York Times feature captured her insights on daily life as a working woman and media figure, emphasizing the challenges and joys of balancing career and personal spheres before the height of her "Girl Talk" television success. Other contributions, like her 1968 New York Times piece on trends, explored and style advice, reflecting evolving women's roles in mid-century America. Many of columns evolved into book material, compiling her episodic print work into cohesive collections that amplified her voice on everyday themes. Her 1966 book Everything's Too Something! drew directly from Homes & Gardens essays, transforming humorous vignettes on life's absurdities into enduring reading, with themes overlapping briefly with her later advisory books without delving into their full narratives. This transition underscored her versatility, turning transient magazine content into lasting literary contributions.

References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/25/arts/virginia-graham-86-popular-host-of-early-television-talk-shows.html
  2. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-dec-24-mn-57275-story.html
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/27/classified/paid-notice-deaths-graham-virginia.html
  4. https://variety.com/1998/scene/people-news/virginia-graham-1117489724/
  5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131667235/david_stanley-komiss
  6. https://womenofeverycomplexionandcomplexity.weebly.com/virginia-graham-pioneered-in-early-television-and-survived-cancer.html
  7. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131667258/bessie-jane-komiss
  8. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197729329/virginia-graham
  9. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/12/24/tv-talk-show-pioneer-virginia-graham-86/
  10. https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/12/25/virginia-graham86-a-pioneering-radio-and-television/
  11. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LCVR-K1D/harry-william-guttenberg-1899-1980
  12. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LJ2G-8DX/lynn-k.-guttenberg-1936-2011
  13. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0334344/bio/
  14. https://books.google.com/books/about/Life_After_Harry.html?id=BN5OAXgl0kAC
  15. https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780671638160
  16. https://www.deseret.com/1998/12/24/19420318/talk-show-pioneer-virginia-graham-dies/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121960/
  18. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050371/fullcredits/
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057917/fullcredits/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411852/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088134/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636702/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0597228/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080290/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091748/
  26. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/virginia-graham/credits/3030504406/
  27. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/william-gilman-2/there-goes-whats-her-name/
  28. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL5567352M/Everything%27s_too_something%21
  29. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/virginia-jean-block-graham/dont-blame-the-mirror/
  30. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-671-63816-0
  31. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Mirror/56/Radio-Mirror-1956-08.pdf
  32. https://www.nytimes.com/1965/07/11/archives/life-as-the-girls-live-it.html
  33. https://www.nytimes.com/1968/02/10/archives/fashion-girl-talk-by-virginia-graham.html
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