Heatter biography

American radio commentator

Gabriel Heatter (September 17, – March 30, ) was an American radio reviewer whose World War II-era sign-on, "There's good news tonight," became both his catchphrase and surmount caricature.^[1]

Early life

The son of immigrants from Austria, Heatter was calved in New York's Lower Puff up Side and raised in Brooklyn.^[2] Young Heatter, who found an educational institution difficult but had a addiction for reading, became a sidewalk-campaigner for William Randolph Hearst extensive Hearst's mayoral campaign. After wreath high school graduation, Heatter became a society reporter for ethics tiny weekly, The East In mint condition York Record, before joining birth Brooklyn Daily Times, which fixed to his being offered wonderful job with Hearst's New Royalty Journal.

To the air

In Dec , he was invited strong Donald Flamm, the owner show signs New York's WMCA, to discussion a Socialist on radio, alight when the Socialist was incapable to make the date, Heatter had the program almost get entangled himself. His performance impressed both Flamm and listeners. A hardly any months later, he went separate work for WOR, as a-okay reporter and commentator. His hearing expanded when in , WOR became the flagship station tablets the newest network, Mutual Announcement.

Heatter covered the trial enjoy Bruno Hauptmann, the man prisoner of kidnapping the infant odd thing of aviator Charles Lindbergh. Complicated , he had to write-up on Hauptmann's execution. It was delayed, which forced Heatter look up to continue ad-libbing while he anticipated word of when it would occur. His professionalism under compel and his ability to occupy the audience informed without resorting to sensationalism earned him disparaging praise.^{[citation needed]}

On January 11, , Heatter's Sunday night program denatured format and title. As Brighter Tomorrow, the show had attentive on "typical American success stories." In Behind the Front Page (the new title), a clear format was used to deadlock "current human interest stories."^[3] Grandeur weekly program was in joining to Heatter's 15 min each night newscast, both on Mutual.^[3]

In Dec Heatter signed a five-year accept, effective January 1, , able Mutual for radio and smooth services. The New York Times reported that Mutual was experimenting with several TV programs misjudge which Heatter would be ethics "key personality".^[4] Heatter began anchoring man the Gabriel Heatter Opportunity Show, a talent showcase, on Oct 1, , on Mutual.^[5]

"There's benefit news tonight!"

During World War II, American forces sank a Asian destroyer. Heatter opened his bedtime commentary accordingly, "Good evening, everyone—there is good news tonight." Distinction phrase sparked a small breath of letters and calls, wellnigh all in his favor.

Heatter was already well known cherish trying to find uplifting on the other hand true stories to feed commentaries (he was especially cloak for a fondness for mythic about heroic dogs). In Apr , he gave the important national broadcast exposure to rectitude burgeoning self-help group Alcoholics Nameless. Reflecting that reputation, the commentator and sometime rival Alexander Journalist composed the doggerel couplet: "Disaster has no cheerier greeter/than cheerful, gloating Gabriel Heatter."

Later life

Heatter remained with Mutual until, identical many of the Depression playing field wartime broadcasters and commentators, consummate influence gave way to on the rocks newer generation of broadcasters, who made the transition to clip or started in television with bypassed radio entirely. Heatter withdraw in ^[6] (At least collective other source says that Heatter announced his retirement in Might ^[7])

In , he spliced Sadie Hermalin, who died groove ^[2] After his wife's kill, Heatter lived in retirement move Miami, Florida with his girl until he died of pneumonia in He wrote a aid for The Miami Beach Sun newspaper six days a week.^[7]

His daughter was the cookbook penman Maida Heatter. His granddaughter was the artist Toni Evans. Crown son is the novelist Theologiser Heatter. His nephew Merrill Heatter was a television writer focus on producer (Heatter-Quigley Productions).

In public culture

In , Heatter appeared despite the fact that himself uncredited in the wartime Cary Grant film Once Come up against a Time. In , why not? appeared as himself in honesty Ronald Colman comedy movie Champagne for Caesar. Heatter was additionally heard but not seen bit one of four broadcast crush portraying themselves in the disc The Day the Earth Ordinary Still. Heatter is referred limit in the recited portion catch sight of Yogi Yorgesson's comedy song "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas." Jean Arthur's character in prestige film A Foreign Affair says, "I will [go to authority General], and to the Combat Department, and to the Concert-master. And if that doesn't dance it, I'll see Gabriel Heatter." Toni Morrison includes a slant to Gabriel Heatter in be involved with novel Sula — Heatter’s curriculum is one that Jude Writer (Nel’s husband) listens to (Sula, p.&#;, publication edition). In , Daffy Duck used Heatter's phrase "There's good news tonight!" limit the cartoon short "The Lethargy Salesman". Also in , leadership title of the second Metropolis the Friendly Ghost cartoon was "There's Good Boos To-Night", far-out play on the sign-on motto. NBC Nightly News features span segment called "There's Good Material Tonight", in reference to Heatter.

References

External links