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| birth_place = ] | birth_place = ]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|12|22|1912|07|04}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1998|12|22|1912|07|04}}
| death_place = ], New York City | death_place = ]
| death_cause = ] | death_cause = ]
| restingplace =
| spouse = Harry Guttenberg (1935–1980; his death); 1 daughter
| occupation = Television personality}} | occupation =
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⚫ '''Virginia Graham''', born '''Virginia Komiss''', (July 4, 1912 – December 22, 1998)<ref>Ancestry.com, '']'' . Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.</ref><ref>"Virginia Graham, Popular Host of Early Television Talk Shows," ''New York Times'', Dec. 25, 1998, p. B11.</ref> was a daytime television ] host from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. On television, Graham hosted the ] programs ''Food for Thought'' (1953–1957),<ref>"On Television," ''New York Times'', March 11, 1953, p. 41.</ref> ''Girl Talk'', which debuted in January 1963 and ran until 1969 <ref> "Program Shifts Set on Channel 7." Boston Herald, January 4, 1963, p. 13 </ref>; and ''The Virginia Graham Show'' (1970–1972). 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 <ref> Marian Christy. "Yes, Virginia, There's Always An Audience." Boston Globe, July 7, 1974, p. 56. </ref> She graduated from the Frances Parker School in Chicago, and in 1931, received her degree from the University of Chicago, where she had studied anthropology. She later got a Master's degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. In 1935, she married Harry William Guttenberg, a costume manufacturer. They remained married till his death in 1980. <ref> Marian Christy. "Straight Talk From Virginia Graham." Boston Globe, May 18, 1988, p. 29 </ref>
⚫ '''Virginia Graham''', born '''Virginia Komiss''', (July 4, 1912 – December 22, 1998)<ref>Ancestry.com, '']'' . Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.</ref><ref>"Virginia Graham, Popular Host of Early Television Talk Shows," ''New York Times'', Dec. 25, 1998, p. B11.</ref> was a daytime television ] host from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. On television, Graham hosted the ] programs ''Food for Thought'' (1953–1957),<ref>"On Television," ''New York Times'', March 11, 1953, p. 41.</ref> ''Girl Talk'', which debuted in January 1963 and ran until 1969;<ref>"Program Shifts Set on Channel 7." Boston Herald, January 4, 1963, p. 13</ref> and ''The Virginia Graham Show'' (1970–72). She was also a guest on many other programs.


⚫ She was described as "a bright, alert, talkative woman of ripe, tart-edged candor."<ref>Howard Thompson, "Life As the Girls Live It," ''New York Times'', July 11, 1965, p. X13.</ref> Another writer said she looked like "] doing a ] performance."<ref>Richard L. Coe, "Virginia Graham in 'Wednesday' at the Hayloft," ''Washington Post'', Sept. 30, 1977, p. C28.</ref>
==Personal life/education==
⚫ Graham was born and raised in Chicago. Her father, an immigrant from Germany, was a successful businessman who owned the ] chain.<ref>Marian Christy. "Yes, Virginia, There's Always An Audience." Boston Globe, July 7, 1974, p. 56.</ref> She graduated from the ] in Chicago. She attended the ], where she majored in ], and was a member of ]. She then studied journalism at ], and received a ]. <ref>http://www.poemhunter.com/virginia-graham/biography/</ref>


⚫ She attended the ], where she majored in ], and was a member of ]. She then studied journalism at ], and received a ]. After World War II, she wrote scripts for such radio ]s as '']'', '']'', and '']''. She hosted her first radio talk show in 1951.<ref>Thompson, ''ibid.''.</ref> Graham was a panelist on the ] panel show '']'' (1952-53). She succeeded ] in 1956 as co-host of the ] radio show ''Weekday'', teamed with ].<ref>"M-G-M Bars Use of 'Annie' on TV," ''New York Times'', Feb. 24, 1956, p. 51.</ref>
==Marriage==
In 1935, she 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 .<ref>Marian Christy. "Straight Talk From Virginia Graham", ''Boston Globe'', May 18, 1988, p. 29</ref>


⚫ In 1982, Graham played fictional talk show host Stella Stanton in the final episodes of the soap opera '']''. Her book about her husband's death, ''Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood'', became a ] in 1988. Harry Guttenberg, who died in 1980, had owned and run a theatrical costume company.
⚫ She was described by noted writer Howard Thompson in the ] as "a bright, alert, talkative woman of ripe, tart-edged candor."<ref>Howard Thompson, "Life As the Girls Live It", ''New York Times'', July 11, 1965, p. X13.</ref> Another writer, Richard L. Coe, said she looked like "] doing a ] performance."<ref>Richard L. Coe, "Virginia Graham in 'Wednesday' at the Hayloft," ''Washington Post'', September 30, 1977, p. C28.</ref>


Graham, a cancer survivor, was a fundraiser for the ]. A former smoker, she denounced smoking whenever the opportunity arose. Still, when asked on her program what she would do if she knew the world would end tomorrow, she confessed she would smoke.
==Career==
⚫ After World War II, she wrote scripts for such radio ]s as '']'', '']'', and '']''. She hosted her first radio talk show in 1951.<ref>Thompson, ''ibid.''.</ref> Graham was a panelist on the ] panel show '']'' (1952–53). She succeeded ] in 1956 as co-host of the ] radio show ''Weekday'', teamed with ].<ref>"M-G-M Bars Use of 'Annie' on TV", ''New York Times'', Feb. 24, 1956, p. 51.</ref>

While co-hosting ''Weekday'', Graham read a letter from a listener that caused her to collapse into hysterics, much to Wallace's chagrin. The segment was not aired at the time, but has since become a staple of ] records and retrospectives.<ref>http://www.tvparty.com/70-virginia-graham.html</ref>

⚫ In 1982, Graham played fictional talk show host "Stella Stanton" in the final episodes of the soap opera '']''. Her book about her husband Harry Guttenberg's death, ''Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood'', became a ] in 1988. Graham, a ] survivor, was a fundraiser for the ]. A former smoker, she denounced smoking whenever the opportunity arose.<ref>http://www.poemhunter.com/virginia-graham/biography/</ref>


==Books== ==Books==
* ''There Goes What's Her Name: The Continuing Saga of Virginia Graham'' (with Jean Libman Block), 1965.
{{lacking ISBN|section|date=October 2013}}
* ''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.
* ''Don't Blame the Mirror'' (with Jean Libman Block), 1967
* ''If I Made It, So Can You'', 1978 * ''Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood'', 1988.
* ''Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood'', 1988 * ''Look Who's Sleeping in My Bed!'', 1993. Memoir.
* ''Look Who's Sleeping in My Bed!'', 1993

==Death==
Virginia had a heart attack on December 11, 1998, and died at a New York hospital on December 22. She was 86.


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0334344}} *{{imdb name|0334344}}
* "", ''Time'', June 7, 1968. * "", ''Time'', June 7, 1968.
* *


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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->

| NAME = Graham, Virginia
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 4 July 1912
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 22 December 1998
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Virginia}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Virginia}}
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{{US-tv-journalist-stub}}

Revision as of 20:47, 27 July 2016

Virginia Graham
Graham in 1972
BornVirginia Komiss
(1912-07-04)July 4, 1912
Chicago, Illinois
DiedDecember 22, 1998(1998-12-22) (aged 86)
New York City, New York
Cause of deathheart attack

Virginia Graham, born Virginia Komiss, (July 4, 1912 – December 22, 1998) was a 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), Girl Talk, which debuted in January 1963 and ran until 1969 ; and The Virginia Graham Show (1970–1972). 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 She graduated from the Frances Parker School in Chicago, and in 1931, received her degree from the University of Chicago, where she had studied anthropology. She later got a Master's degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. In 1935, she married Harry William Guttenberg, a costume manufacturer. They remained married till his death in 1980.

She was described as "a bright, alert, talkative woman of ripe, tart-edged candor." Another writer said she looked like "Sophie Tucker doing a Carol Channing performance."

She attended the University of Chicago, where she majored in anthropology, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She then studied journalism at Northwestern University, and received a master's degree. After World War II, she wrote scripts for such radio soap operas as Stella Dallas, Our Gal Sunday, and Backstage Wife. She hosted her first radio talk show in 1951. Graham was a panelist on the DuMont panel show Where Was I? (1952-53). She succeeded Margaret Truman in 1956 as co-host of the NBC radio show Weekday, teamed with Mike Wallace.

In 1982, Graham played fictional talk show host Stella Stanton in the final episodes of the soap opera Texas. Her book about her husband's death, Life After Harry: My Adventures in Widowhood, became a bestseller in 1988. Harry Guttenberg, who died in 1980, had owned and run a theatrical costume company.

Graham, a cancer survivor, was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. A former smoker, she denounced smoking whenever the opportunity arose. Still, when asked on her program what she would do if she knew the world would end tomorrow, she confessed she would smoke.

Books

  • 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

  1. Ancestry.com, Social Security Death Index . Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.
  2. "Virginia Graham, Popular Host of Early Television Talk Shows," New York Times, Dec. 25, 1998, p. B11.
  3. "On Television," New York Times, March 11, 1953, p. 41.
  4. "Program Shifts Set on Channel 7." Boston Herald, January 4, 1963, p. 13
  5. Marian Christy. "Yes, Virginia, There's Always An Audience." Boston Globe, July 7, 1974, p. 56.
  6. Marian Christy. "Straight Talk From Virginia Graham." Boston Globe, May 18, 1988, p. 29
  7. Howard Thompson, "Life As the Girls Live It," New York Times, July 11, 1965, p. X13.
  8. Richard L. Coe, "Virginia Graham in 'Wednesday' at the Hayloft," Washington Post, Sept. 30, 1977, p. C28.
  9. Thompson, ibid..
  10. "M-G-M Bars Use of 'Annie' on TV," New York Times, Feb. 24, 1956, p. 51.

External links

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