Jimmy Fidler

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Jimmy Fidler (August 24, 1900 - August 9, 1988) was a Hollywood gossip columnist and a radio and television personality.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he became a syndicated columnist with his "Fidler in Hollywood" that appeared in major newspapers such as the New York Post and the Los Angeles Times. He also had a fifteen minute NBC radio show called "Hollywood on the Air" that was broadcast from the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. As well, Fidler did short Hollywood news reels that were part of Fox Movietone News in which he was seen talking with film stars.

Such was Fidler's influence that a negative comment by him could affect the box office drawing power of a star. According to Time magazine, in January of 1938 he was sued for libel by Constance Bennett for $250,000 in damages after he reported that she had snubbed comedian Patsy Kelly on a Hal Roach movie set and that studio workmen bought flowers for Kelly but none for Bennett.

In 1938 Jimmy Fidler made a short documentary film for MGM called Personality Parade that was about actors making the change from the silent film era to talkies and showing clips of more than sixty actors and actresses whose careers began in silent films.

During 1952-53, Fidler hosted the live television drama, "Hollywood Opening Night" on NBC.

For his contribution to the radio industry, Jimmy Fidler has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6128 Hollywood Blvd.