Misplaced Pages

Gladys Heldman: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 18:34, 9 March 2021 editRevolynka (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users3,133 editsm External links: template added← Previous edit Latest revision as of 22:21, 18 August 2024 edit undoPuppies937 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users12,497 edits infobox 
(20 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American tennis player and magazine publisher}} {{short description|American tennis player and magazine publisher}}
{{use mdy|date=August 2024}}
'''Gladys Medalie Heldman''' (May 13, 1922 – June 22, 2003) was an American tennis player and magazine publisher. She was the founder of '']'' magazine; she supported ] and eight other female tennis players: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. They were called the Houston Nine and formed the ] Tour in the early 1970s (the precursor of today's ]). She is a member of the ] and the ].
{{Infobox person
| name = Gladys Heldman
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|05|13}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|06|22|1922|05|13}}
| death_place = ], U.S.
| education =
| known_for = Founder of ''World Tennis'' magazine
| father = ]
| spouse = ]
| children = 2, including ]
}}
'''Gladys Medalie Heldman''' (May 13, 1922 – June 22, 2003) was an American tennis player, manager and magazine publisher. She was the founder of ''World Tennis'' magazine. As a manager, she supported and represented ] and eight other female tennis players: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. They were called the Houston Nine and formed the ] Tour in the early 1970s (the precursor of today's ]). She is a member of the ] and the ].


==Background== ==Background==
Heldman, the daughter of ] judge ], was born in New York City on May 13, 1922, and first became interested in tennis after marrying ], the left-handed ] in 1936. Gladys started playing tennis after her two daughters were born, Carrie Heldman and ], had National Junior Rankings, and Julie was ranked as high as No. 5 in the World). While born in New York City, Gladys rose to a No. 1 ranking in ], as well as No. 2 in the Southwest; she even appeared at ] in 1954 and also competed in the ] at ]. Heldman, the daughter of ] judge ], was born in New York City on May 13, 1922, and first became interested in tennis after marrying ], the United States Junior Champion of 1936. Gladys started playing tennis in 1946 after her two daughters were born. Gladys rose to a No. 1 ranking in ], as well as No. 2 in the Southwest; she even appeared at ] in 1954 and also competed in the ] at ]. Her daughters, Carrie and ], had National Junior Rankings, and Julie was ranked as high as No. 5 in the World.{{cn|date=August 2024}}


She was a graduate of ] and a ]. Her two daughters went to Stanford as well. Gladys died in ] on June 22, 2003, her grand daughter's sixteenth birthday, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after she had been suffering from a heart condition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-26-me-heldman26-story.html|title=Gladys Heldman, 81; Recognized for Her Pivotal Role in Boosting Women's Tennis|date=June 26, 2003|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drivenadaughtersodyssey.com/|title=DRIVEN: A DAUGHTER'S ODYSSEY by Julie Heldman|website=DRIVEN: A DAUGHTER'S ODYSSEY by Julie Heldman}}</ref> She was a graduate of ] and a ]. Her two daughters went to Stanford as well. Gladys Heldman died at her home in ] on June 22, 2003, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after she had been suffering from a terminal heart condition at age 81.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-26-me-heldman26-story.html|title=Gladys Heldman, 81; Recognized for Her Pivotal Role in Boosting Women's Tennis|date=June 26, 2003|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drivenadaughtersodyssey.com/|title=DRIVEN: A DAUGHTER'S ODYSSEY by Julie Heldman|website=DRIVEN: A DAUGHTER'S ODYSSEY by Julie Heldman}}</ref>


==''World Tennis'' magazine== ==''World Tennis'' magazine==
Gladys Heldman is best known for founding '']'' magazine in 1953, and for promoting the women's game during the 1950s and 1960s. She worked with female tennis players to create a separate women's circuit in 1970. Female players received less prize money than their male counterparts, e.g. in 1968, the women's champion received £750, while the men's received £2000.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cochrane|first1=Kira|title=Billie Jean King: 'It's not about the money. It's about the equality message'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jun/23/billie-jean-king-equality-message|accessdate=22 November 2017|agency=The Guardian|date=23 June 2013}}</ref> Following the Pacific Southwest Championships's decision in September 1970 to pay male players eight times more money, with Gladys' organization, top players, including ], ], and her daughter Julie, formed a separate women's tour.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lincoln|first1=Adam|title=Gladys Heldman's trailblazing contribution to women's tennis is remembered in the film 'Battle of the Sexes', in which Sarah Silverman portrays her|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/there-wouldnt-be-professional-womens-tennis-without-her-gladys-heldman-story|website=WTA Tennis|accessdate=22 November 2017}}</ref> With backing from ] of ], the first participants in the circuit, known as the "Houston Nine," played the first ] Circuit tournament in ] in late 1970. The players accepted $1 contracts from Heldman. The tournament was a success, and although the American players were temporarily suspended by the ], the Virginia Slims Circuit became so popular that it eventually merged with the USLTA. Gladys Heldman is best known for founding ''World Tennis'' magazine in 1953, and for promoting the women's game during the 1950s and 1960s. She worked with female tennis players to create a separate women's circuit in 1970. Female players received less prize money than their male counterparts, e.g. in 1968, the women's champion received £750, while the men's received £2000.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cochrane|first1=Kira|title=Billie Jean King: 'It's not about the money. It's about the equality message'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jun/23/billie-jean-king-equality-message|accessdate=22 November 2017|agency=The Guardian|date=23 June 2013}}</ref> Following the Pacific Southwest Championships's decision in September 1970 to pay male players eight times more money, with Gladys' organization, top players, including ], ], and her daughter Julie, formed a separate women's tour.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lincoln|first1=Adam|title=Gladys Heldman's trailblazing contribution to women's tennis is remembered in the film 'Battle of the Sexes', in which Sarah Silverman portrays her|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/there-wouldnt-be-professional-womens-tennis-without-her-gladys-heldman-story|website=WTA Tennis|accessdate=22 November 2017}}</ref> With backing from ] of ], the first participants in the circuit, known as the "Houston Nine," played the first ] Circuit tournament in ] in late 1970. The players accepted $1 contracts from Heldman. The tournament was a success, and although the American players were temporarily suspended by the ], the Virginia Slims Circuit became so popular that it eventually merged with the USLTA.{{cn|date=August 2024}}


Heldman sold her magazine to ] in 1972 and was out of tennis politics by the middle 1970s. Heldman sold her magazine to ] in 1972 and was out of tennis politics by the middle 1970s.{{cn|date=August 2024}}


Heldman was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979,<ref>{{cite web |title=Gladys Heldman |url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/gladys-heldman |website=]}}</ref> Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988, ] Women's Hall of Fame in 1998,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://itahalloffame.org/inductees/gladys-m-heldman/ |title=Gladys M. Heldman |publisher=ITA Women's Hall of Fame |accessdate=2015-12-12}}</ref> and ] in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/GladysHeldman.htm|title=Gladys Heldman|website=www.jewishsports.net}}</ref> Heldman was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979,<ref>{{cite web |title=Gladys Heldman |url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/gladys-heldman |website=]}}</ref> Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988, ] Women's Hall of Fame in 1998,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://itahalloffame.org/inductees/gladys-m-heldman/ |title=Gladys M. Heldman |publisher=ITA Women's Hall of Fame |accessdate=2015-12-12}}</ref> and ] in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/GladysHeldman.htm|title=Gladys Heldman|website=www.jewishsports.net}}</ref>


==Portrayal in film== ==Portrayal in film==
] plays Heldman in the 2017 movie '']''.<ref name="SilvermanCast">{{cite news|last1=Hipes|first1=Patrick|title=Sarah Silverman A Match For ‘Battle Of The Sexes’|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/sarah-silverman-battle-of-the-sexes-movie-gladys-heldman-1201725371/|accessdate=March 25, 2016|work=Deadline|date=March 23, 2016}}</ref> ] plays Heldman in the 2017 movie '']''.<ref name="SilvermanCast">{{cite news|last1=Hipes|first1=Patrick|title=Sarah Silverman A Match For 'Battle Of The Sexes'|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/sarah-silverman-battle-of-the-sexes-movie-gladys-heldman-1201725371/|accessdate=March 25, 2016|work=Deadline|date=March 23, 2016}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
Line 23: Line 39:
* {{Tennis Hall of Fame}} * {{Tennis Hall of Fame}}


{{Tennis hall of fame United States}} {{International Tennis Hall of Fame members}}
{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heldman, Gladys}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Heldman, Gladys}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
Line 38: Line 54:
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 22:21, 18 August 2024

American tennis player and magazine publisher

Gladys Heldman
Born(1922-05-13)May 13, 1922
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 2003(2003-06-22) (aged 81)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Known forFounder of World Tennis magazine
SpouseJulius Heldman
Children2, including Julie
FatherGeorge Z. Medalie

Gladys Medalie Heldman (May 13, 1922 – June 22, 2003) was an American tennis player, manager and magazine publisher. She was the founder of World Tennis magazine. As a manager, she supported and represented Billie Jean King and eight other female tennis players: Rosie Casals, Judy Dalton, Julie Heldman, Kerry Melville, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon, Nancy Richey, and Valerie Ziegenfuss. They were called the Houston Nine and formed the Virginia Slims Tour in the early 1970s (the precursor of today's WTA Tour). She is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Background

Heldman, the daughter of New York Court of Appeals judge George Z. Medalie, was born in New York City on May 13, 1922, and first became interested in tennis after marrying Julius Heldman, the United States Junior Champion of 1936. Gladys started playing tennis in 1946 after her two daughters were born. Gladys rose to a No. 1 ranking in Texas, as well as No. 2 in the Southwest; she even appeared at Wimbledon in 1954 and also competed in the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills. Her daughters, Carrie and Julie Heldman, had National Junior Rankings, and Julie was ranked as high as No. 5 in the World.

She was a graduate of Stanford University and a Phi Beta Kappa. Her two daughters went to Stanford as well. Gladys Heldman died at her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on June 22, 2003, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after she had been suffering from a terminal heart condition at age 81.

World Tennis magazine

Gladys Heldman is best known for founding World Tennis magazine in 1953, and for promoting the women's game during the 1950s and 1960s. She worked with female tennis players to create a separate women's circuit in 1970. Female players received less prize money than their male counterparts, e.g. in 1968, the women's champion received £750, while the men's received £2000. Following the Pacific Southwest Championships's decision in September 1970 to pay male players eight times more money, with Gladys' organization, top players, including Billie Jean King, Rosie Casals, and her daughter Julie, formed a separate women's tour. With backing from Joe Cullman of Philip Morris, the first participants in the circuit, known as the "Houston Nine," played the first Virginia Slims Circuit tournament in Houston in late 1970. The players accepted $1 contracts from Heldman. The tournament was a success, and although the American players were temporarily suspended by the USLTA, the Virginia Slims Circuit became so popular that it eventually merged with the USLTA.

Heldman sold her magazine to CBS Publications in 1972 and was out of tennis politics by the middle 1970s.

Heldman was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979, Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988, ITA Women's Hall of Fame in 1998, and International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Portrayal in film

Sarah Silverman plays Heldman in the 2017 movie Battle of the Sexes.

References

  1. "Gladys Heldman, 81; Recognized for Her Pivotal Role in Boosting Women's Tennis". Los Angeles Times. June 26, 2003.
  2. "DRIVEN: A DAUGHTER'S ODYSSEY by Julie Heldman". DRIVEN: A DAUGHTER'S ODYSSEY by Julie Heldman.
  3. Cochrane, Kira (June 23, 2013). "Billie Jean King: 'It's not about the money. It's about the equality message'". The Guardian. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  4. Lincoln, Adam. "Gladys Heldman's trailblazing contribution to women's tennis is remembered in the film 'Battle of the Sexes', in which Sarah Silverman portrays her". WTA Tennis. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  5. "Gladys Heldman". International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  6. "Gladys M. Heldman". ITA Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  7. "Gladys Heldman". www.jewishsports.net.
  8. Hipes, Patrick (March 23, 2016). "Sarah Silverman A Match For 'Battle Of The Sexes'". Deadline. Retrieved March 25, 2016.

External links

Members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Men
Master players
Players
Recent players
Court tennis players
Women
Master players
Players
Recent players
Contributors
Categories: