Hedda Hopper
A Hollywood gossip columnist whose sharp pen and political crusades wielded immense power, shaping careers and fueling the Red Scare.
1885–1966 (age 81)·American gossip columnist and actress·Birthday: May 2·The Lost Generation
Biography
Hedda Hopper began as a middling actress but found her true calling in the gossip column, building a media empire from a perch at the Los Angeles Times. With her trademark flamboyant hats and even more flamboyant prose, she became one of the two most feared women in Hollywood, locked in a bitter feud with rival Louella Parsons. Hopper's influence went beyond starlets and scandals; she was a fervent anti-communist who used her column to name names and champion the Hollywood blacklist, actively collaborating with the House Un-American Activities Committee. At her peak, her words reached over 35 million readers, making her a kingmaker and a destroyer. Her legacy is a complex tapestry of journalistic hustle, personal vendetta, and potent political force in the golden age of cinema.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Hedda was born in 1885, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hedda Was Born
The biggest hits of 1885
Hedda's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1885Born
Karl Benz builds the first gasoline-powered automobile
President: Grover Cleveland
1890Started school
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1898Became a teenager
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1901Could drive
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1903Could vote
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Turned 21
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Turned 30
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 40
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 50
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 60
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 70
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 80
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1966Died at 81
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
Key Achievements
- Her syndicated gossip column reached a peak readership of over 35 million people daily in the 1940s.
- Was a vocal and influential supporter of the Hollywood blacklist, using her column to target suspected communists.
- Authored the book 'From Under My Hat', which detailed her life and career in Hollywood.
- Hosted a popular radio show that extended her influence beyond print journalism.
- Maintained her column for nearly three decades, from 1938 until her death in 1966.
Did You Know?
She was born Elda Furry and chose her stage name, Hedda Hopper, from a hat shop sign she saw.
Before journalism, she appeared in over 120 films, usually in small supporting roles.
Her feud with Louella Parsons was so intense their newspapers banned mentioning the other's name.
She was famously portrayed by Judy Davis in the 1994 television film 'The Reagans'.
She owned an extensive and famous collection of over 150 elaborate hats.
“I have a heart, but it isn't on my sleeve. It's in the right place.”
