Kup's Chicago - Irv Kupcinet [55]
(And every one of our drama critics, I might add, is as proficient, as painstaking, and as professional as any in New York.)
The Tribune Tower harbors many other eminent holders of press cards. Robert Cromie, author of The Great Chicago Fire and John Dillinger, edits a lively book section with great personal enthusiasm, supported by the distinguished Fanny Butcher, Literary Editor, and veteran Baker Street Irregular, Vincent Starrett At the city desk, you will find feature writer Norma Lee Browning and political correspondent George Tagge. The sports section, recognized as one of the finest in the country, is directed by Wilfrid Smith, with the assistance of the dean of professional football writers, George (“Coach”) Strickler, and David Condon, who writes the column, “Wake of the News.” Tom Morrow’s column, “Line o’ Type,” enlivens the editorial page, and Herb Lyon conducts “Tower Ticker.”
And then there is the Tribune’s Chester Gould, creator of Dick Tracy, who draws his internationally syndicated comic strip in a studio on his farm in nearby Woodstock, Illinois (where the landscaping once included a cemetery with markers for Pruneface, B-B Eyes, The Brow, and other cartoon villains that the indomitable Tracy has laid to rest).
The staff of Chicago’s American, headed by Publisher Stuart List and Editor Lloyd Wendt, has many distinguished members. Luke Carroll, who was formerly with the New York Herald Tribune, is recognized as an expert managing editor. Sports columnist Warren Brown is a master of devastating humor. Veteran sports editor Leo Fischer is the McCormick member of a remarkable newspaper family – his brother Ritz Fischer is city editor of the Daily News, and another brother, Jo Fischer, the cartoonist, draws the delightful “9 to 5” strip for the Sun-Times. Columnists Jack Mabley (general), Ann Marsters (movies), and Maggie Daly entertain readers with their lively reporting.
Maggie, who succeeded the late Nate Gross, has demonstrated that there is room for beauty on the night-club beat – a quality that Charlie Dawn, Bill Leonard, Herb Lyon, Tony Weitzel, and I cannot pretend to offer. (But we weigh more!) Maggie is one of the well-known Daly sisters – others are Revlon vice-president Kay, and authors Maureen and Sheila John – and the mother of Hollywood starlet Brigid Bazlen. Whenever Maggie and I meet, our first topics of conversation are the latest accomplishments of her actress-daughter Brigid, and my actress-daughter Karyn.
Yes, the competition is brilliant. But I’m sure you will forgive my provincialism when I insist that the greatest pool of newspaper talent in town can be found in my own paper, the Sun-Times.
In all probability, there would never have been a “Kup’s Column” if it had not been for Russ Stewart. He was managing editor of the old Times early in 1943, when he and editor Richard J. Finnegan summoned me into the front office and I emerged with “Kup’s Column.”
Stewart did much more for me. Because of his show-business background (he had come to the Times from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer exploitation department in Hollywood), he had many connections in the entertainment field. In the early days, he would make the rounds with me every night. He would lead me from night club to night club, introducing me to celebrities and giving me expert tips on how to handle “items.” There were many nights when we both staggered home in the small hours. Russ still makes the rounds with me from time to time, but these occasions have become increasingly rare as he has shouldered more and more responsibility as vice-president of the Field