July - AmericanRadioHistory.Com

The TRUE /NS /DE
Take a ring -side seat and
get in on the low -down
of one of radio's greatest
cross- country fights
B y ROBERT L.
REDD
BONG !
goes the bell!
The feud on the
nation's networks
swings subtly into
another round.
"In this corner, ladies and
gentlemen, the Pride of
Hollywood - Jimmy Fidler;
end in the other corner wearing
the regal -purple tights of
the King of Tattle- Walter
Winchell."
Right now they're sparring,
with Fidler taking the
offensive and leading with
occasional enough sarcastic
punches. Those in the "know"
have inferred that he's leading
with the chin. Wise guys
say Winchell is merely laying
low for the strategical
moment when he will deliver
a mighty upper -cut and lay
Jimmy Fidler low for all
times. While another group
of lookers -on say Winchell
will never recognize Fidler
nor use his air column to
crack back at the Hollywood gossip ace. Or so it seems.
There's still an age -old feeling that it takes two to make
a battle. As far as jibes on the air go, it's been a decidedly
one -sided affair with Fidler wearing himself down jabbing
at Winchell. But there's a story back of it all which makes
the whole deal pretty interesting.
Fidler says, "When he was in Hollywood, Winchell openly
insulted me on the air."
Winchell says, "I have not heard his broadcasts. What
hour is he on and when ?"
It all started some time ago when both feudists were
writing columns. Fidler says Winchell wrote in his famous
newspaper column that "there are 50,000 cows in Hollywood,
including the movie stars" ... and, that "Hollywood
is a city of smellebrities."
Being of and for Hollywood, Jimmy Fidler resented the
writings and in his own movie magazine column titled
"Close -ups and Long- Shots," gave Walter an uncomplimentary
long -shot rating with bad lighting effects for his
quip at Hollywood. Thus, the honor of Hollywood was
defended by Fidler.
That was the beginning ... but, only the beginning, folks!
36
¡'VINCHEL L
Thus the feud began, as most feuds do start, over the
matter of honor. So help me, suh!
Last summer, a short time before his tragic death, Russ
Columbo and Jimmy Fidler started a new series of programs
released over an NBC network from Hollywood
studios. Came the night of the opening program and in
true Hollywood style, a number of famous movie stars
gathered in the studio to lend their congratulations and
well- wishes for success to the venture. There was Jean
Harlow, many years a friend of Fidler, and Carole Lombard
who at the time was helping Russ pick his songs. Not
to mention others of the colony.
Just before the show went on the air Walter Winchell,
who was in Hollywood on business at the time, came to
Fidler and asked if he could have a few moments during
the program to make an announcement regarding his Shut -
In -Day Movement. He had made the worthy arrangements
to send bouquets to 500,000 shut -ins, and orders had
flooded in to the tune of one million. Walter wanted to
explain and apologize to his radio audience if flowers were
not sent as expediently as he hoped. Winchell told Fidler
that he had the okeh of NBC officials, if it was agreeable
to Columbo and himself. Jimmy said sure to the plot and
Walter went on.
Perhaps it was because Winchell was endeavoring to
make his announcement in the shortest possible time and
get off the mike that made him overlook adding a brief
word of congratulations to Columbo and Fidler for their
new program. At least Jimmy says he proffered no words
of good luck.
Fidler burned while the
roamer of Broadway brought