Walter Winchell’s Personal Notebook of Fritz Kuhn’s German American Bund

Description: Walter Winchell's Personal Notebook of Fritz Kuhn's German American Bund Title: Walter Winchell's Personal Notebook of Fritz Kuhn's German American Bund Publication: circa 1930s Description: Walter Winchell's Personal Notebook of Fritz Kuhn's German American Bund, circa 1930s11 ⅜" x 10 ¾" original, blue cloth-covered three-ring binder.184 numbered photostat pp. signatures and German text + [1] p. translation on onion skin paper, very good.Evidence of one important journalist's fight against fascism and Nazi Germany: Walter Winchell's personal collection of photostats of the names and locations of Fritz Kuhn's German American Bund in the United States.Winchell was born in New York City in 1897, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. He left school in the sixth grade and started performing in Gus Edwards' vaudeville troupe, the Newsboys Sextet, which also featured Eddie Cantor and George Jessel. He served as lieutenant commander in the United States Navy during World War I. Winchell started his journalism career with the Vaudeville News in 1920 and was hired by the New York Daily Mirror in 1929. There he became the author of the first syndicated gossip column, "On-Broadway." He was read by millions and heard by millions more on his famed Sunday night broadcast from 1930 to the late 1950s. Winchell was a close personal friend of J. Edgar Hoover and befriended hundreds of politicians, entertainers and journalists as he developed a large network of sources.Winchell was one of the first American commentators to attack Adolf Hitler. He was scathing in his remarks on the American pro-Nazi organization the German American Bund, including personal attacks on its leader, Fritz Julius Kuhn. He was also an outspoken supporter of civil rights for African Americans, and frequently attacked the Ku Klux Klan and other racist groups. Winchell used this notebook in his campaign against Fritz Kuhn and the German American Bund. In a 1933 column, Winchell stated: "Fritz Kuhn, who poses as a chemist for a motor magnate, is Hitler's secret agent in the United States." The notebook contains the names and cities of members of the German America Bund and lists 50 chapters in 14 states.Winchell biographer Neal Gabler claimed that his popularity and influence "turned journalism into a form of entertainment." Winchell played himself in several films and television productions, and is credited for coining the word "frienemy" in an article published by the Nevada State Journal in May 1953. He died in Los Angeles in 1972.This binder was acquired in the 1990 Butterfield & Butterfield "Walter Winchell Files" auction. It serves as important historical evidence of both World War II and the life of a noted commentator and journalist. The New York Public Library holds Winchell's papers but we note no evidence of his anti-Nazi work in the collection. Seller ID: 1779 Subject: Archival Material, Militariana Stellar Books & Ephemera is an on-line antiquarian dealer offering a wide variety of unique, unusual and rare artifacts of American History ranging from letters, manuscripts, archives and diaries to 19th century photography and 20th century letterpress. We specialize in the ephemeral and occasionally offer finer books which strike our fancy. If we stock it, you know it's unique. Terms All items are guaranteed to be as described or they may be returned within 30 days of receipt.This listing was created by Bibliopolis.

Price: 893 USD

Location: Moab, Utah

End Time: 2024-11-30T23:47:36.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8 USD