Notable people · Entertainment · News
Dorothy Fuldheim
Born in Passaic, New Jersey; Cleveland lecturer and radio commentator who joined WEWS-TV in 1947 and anchored news there for 37 years, billed as the first woman in the U.S. to anchor a television news broadcast. Ohio Women's Hall of Fame 1980; Ohio historical marker at WEWS 2003.
At a glance
- Born
- 1893-06-26
- Died
- 1989-11-03
- Known as
- Entertainment, News
- Organizations
- WEWS-TV, WTAM
Life story
Dorothy Violet Snell was born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1893 and grew up in Milwaukee. She taught elementary school before turning to public speaking.
Jane Addams recruited her to speak on social causes in 1918, and over twenty years she gave about 3,500 lectures. She interviewed Hitler (1932) and Engelbert Dollfuss (1934).
Her radio career began December 12, 1929, on WTAM in Cleveland. She joined WEWS-TV on December 17, 1947, and worked there 37 years. Her 'Highlights of the News' (1959) is described as the first TV news analysis program hosted by a woman in the U.S.
A 1984 stroke after interviewing President Reagan ended her TV career. She died in 1989 at 96, was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1980 and has an Ohio historical marker (2003).
Timeline
- 1893-06-26: Born in Passaic, New Jersey (Passaic, NJ) source
- 1918: Recruited by Jane Addams as lecturer (Milwaukee, WI) source
- 1929-12-12: Radio career starts on WTAM (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1944-06: News commentaries on WJW radio (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1947-12-17: Joins WEWS-TV (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1959: Creates Highlights of the News (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1970: Kent State on-air remarks (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1984-07-27: Stroke ends her TV career (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1989-11-03: Dies at 96 (Cleveland, OH) source
What Dorothy is known for
- Joined WEWS-TV 1947-12-17; 'First Lady of Television News'
- Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, 1980
- Highlights of the News (1959)
- About 3,500 lectures
Honors and things named for them
- Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, 1980
- Ohio historical marker, 2003
Places in Ohio to see
- Dorothy Fuldheim historical marker 44-18 (marker)
3001 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44115 (approximate) · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County · official page
Ohio places
Where Dorothy Fuldheim was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Worked: Cleveland (WEWS-TV), Cuyahoga County ZIP 44114 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Myths and corrections
- 'First woman to anchor TV news' is her billing; Wikipedia says first woman to host a TV news analysis show.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Dorothy Fuldheim (Wikipedia) born Passaic NJ 1893-06-26; died Cleveland 1989-11-03; WEWS 1947-12-17; first woman to anchor TV news claim; 1984 stroke