When his mother, on complaint from the neighbors, forbade him to practice the songs and dances he imitated for hours, he transferred his activity to school. A failure as a pupil, he was a success as the class entertainer. After being hired as an usher at the Imperial Theater, along with George Jessel, he formed a trio which led the audience in sing-alongs during intermissions. Dreaming of a stage career, Winchell continued to fail in school and finally quit after he was held back in the sixth grade for the third time. He was twelve when he left home to join a vaudeville act, "Gus Edward's School Days." Besides Winchell and his pal Jessel, the act included Eddie Cantor, George Price, Jack Weiner, and Lila Lee.
Winchell's school became the theater, where he developed a taste for the backstage gossip with its tangy jargon, malice, and sexual innuendo. He was entranced with the headliners and acquired a lifelong adoration of stars. He was also learning showmanship--what excited people and how to manipulate them. Recognizing that he was reaching an age at which he must leave the "School Days" act, Winchell was developing a solo song-and-dance routine spiced with patter so he could go on his own.
This is a free page. This page contains 191 words. This
biography contains 3,446 words (approx. 11 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Biography with our Walter Winchell Access Pass.
