Sidney Skolsky Sidney Skolsky Sidney Skolsky (2 May 1905 – 3 May 1983) was an American writer best known as a Hollywood gossip columnist. He ranked with Hedda Hopper (with whom he shared a birthday) and Louella Parsons as the premier Hollywood gossip columnists of the first three decades of the sound picture era. A radio personality in addition to having his own syndicated newspaper column, Skolsky also was a screenwriter and movie producer who occasionally acted in the radio and in the movies. Skolsky claimed to be the person who gave the nickname "Oscar" to the Academy Award and was credited
The Ford Show the singer/ actress Ann Blyth as his guest. On January 7, 1960, Ford had two big-name guests, Dean Martin and Jack Bailey, host of the "Queen for a Day" daytime series. In the skit Martin drops by as Ford and Bailey poke fun at Martin's Rat Pack friends. Gossip columnist Hedda Hopper was among the many guests on the program. On June 8, 1961, South African golfer Gary Player, then twenty-five, guest starred in a comedy skit in which Player presumes to give Ford golfing lessons. On April 28, 1960, Ford presented one of his only five programs without guest