Walter Winchell (April 7 1897 - February 20, 1972), an American newspaper and radio commentator, invented the gossip column at the "New York Evening Graphic". He broke the journalistic taboo against exposing the private lives of public figures, permanently altering the shape of journalism and celebrity. Wikipedia
One of the most popular and controversial figures in radio, Walter Winchell was born April 7, 1897 in New York City. Winchell left school after the sixth grade and spent several years in vaudeville as part of Gus Edwards’ “Newsboys Sextet.” Winchell was www.radiohof.org/news/walterwinchell.html
The rise and fall of the most powerful and feared journalist of his time, Walter Winchell, recorded by veteran journalist Ralph D. Gardner. www.evesmag.com/winchell.htm
The definitive Wikipedia entry for Walter Winchell. Wikipedia is the biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Winchell