Helen Sioussat

"Head-shot," c. 1930's

Helen Sioussat was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1902. She came to radio broadcasting in the 1936, after diverse career experiences in business and government.

Sioussat attended Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. In the early 1920's she spent ten months touring on stage, headlining with partner Raphael Sanchez, as a Spanish Adagio dance team. Ending up in Kansas City, Missouri in 1927, she began a career in business.

Sioussat moved to Washington, DC in 1935, where she became Assistant to the Treasurer of the Planning & Coordinating Committee for the Petroleum Industry, during the last year of the National Recovery Act (NRA).

This "head shot" was taken early in Sioussat's broadcasting career.

Early career portrait, c. 1930's

Another portrait of Helen Sioussat taken early in her broadcasting career.

In Washington DC, Sioussat contacted Phillips H. Lord, an actor and producer of many popular radio programs. In 1935 she became a script-writer for his radio program "G-Men," which was the forerunner of the well-known radio show "Gang Busters."

To help facilitate getting official information from the closed files upon which the radio series was based, Sioussat was given an office next to J. Edgar Hoover in the Department of Justice. Her friendship with Hoover lasted for many years, and they kept up a correspondence until his death in 1972.

Profile in "Vocational Trends," 1947

This page from a 1947 profile of Helen Sioussat was featured in "Vocational Trends" and traces the outline of her career trajectory.

In 1936 she was hired by CBS radio as Assistant Director of the Talks and Public Affairs Department, headed by Edward R. Murrow. The following year, when Murrow went overseas to oversee the network's foreign correspondents, Sioussat took over his job as Director.

As Director, Sioussat was responsible for arranging the network's public affairs programming. She scheduled broadcasts--often more than 300 per year--by an array of speakers on various topics, and also took part in formulating policy for all CBS public service programs.

Cover of "Mikes Don't Bite," 1943

This is the cover of Helen Sioussat's book "Mikes Don't Bite," a light-hearted account of her career in radio broadcasting. It was published in 1943.

Along with various tales of live broadcast mishaps, Sioussat's book also gives tips on how to become an effective communicator, both over the air and in person.

From book publisher LB Fischer, 1943

This promotional press release from LB Fischer Publishing announces the upcoming publication of Helen Sioussat's book, "Mikes Don't Bite."

When the book was published in 1943, Bloomingdale's department store in New York featured a full window display with photos of Sioussat.

Original illustration from book, 1943

One of the amusing, simple, original illustrations used throughout Helen Sioussat's book.

Many of the illustrations feature a dark-haired, smartly suited female character, who bears more than a bit of a resemblance to Sioussat.

Announces an upcoming speech, 1946

As a woman with such an important and influential job, Helen Sioussat was often asked to speak, on a variety of topics, to organizations both large and small.

This 1946 "newspaper" announces such an upcoming address to be given by Sioussat at a joint meeting of the Baltimore Advertising Club and the Baltimore Women's Advertising Club.

Letter from Alger Hiss, 1946

This 1946 letter from Alger Hiss is one of many letters from prominent persons collected in the Papers of Helen Sioussat at the Library of American Broadcasting.

Over the course of her career Sioussat received mail from the likes of Mae West, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, and Jonas Salk, among many others.

Letter from actress Helen Hayes, 1946

This 1946 letter to Helen Sioussat comes from actress Helen Hayes, known as "the First Lady of the American Theatre." Hayes was a great friend of Sioussat's.

Sioussat & Eleanor Roosevelt, 1940's

Here Helen Sioussat is pictured with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

As Director of Talks and Public Affairs for CBS, Sioussat was responsible for over 300 broadcasts a year. Over the course of her career she would produce radio and television programs featuring such prominent personalities as Alfred Hitchcock, Herbert Hoover, Fannie Hurst, H.V. Kaltenborn, John Foster Dulles, and Robert Trout, along with innumerable others.

On the set of "Table Talk," c. 1940's

In 1941, long before most Americans had even heard of "television," Helen Sioussat created, produced and hosted the CBS-roundtable discussion program "Table Talk with Helen Sioussat."

Thus, it is very probable that Sioussat was the first female television talk show host in broadcasting history.

Sioussat honored by Panhellenic, 1957

This 1937 news clipping from the Washington, DC "Evening Star" makes note of an honor bestowed upon Helen Sioussat by the District of Columbia Professional Panhellenic Association.

Sioussat, Elsa Schiaparelli, & Carmel Snow

Helen Sioussat's radio work covered a wide spectrum of issues, from politics to popular culture to fashion.

Here, Sioussat (left) is pictured with two of the key names of 1930's haute couture: the influential designer Elsa Schiaparelli (center) and "Vogue" Editor-in-Chief, Carmel Snow (right). Sioussat and Snow were longtime friends.

Sioussat, Jennifer Jones & David O. Selznick

In this photograph Helen Sioussat (left) is pictured with actress Jennifer Jones (center) and her husband, the producer David O. Selznick.

Selznick, the producer of "Gone With the Wind," was married to Jones, an Oscar winner for her role in "The Song of Bernadette," from 1949 until his death in 1965.

Sioussat & Richard Nixon

Helen Sioussat is pictured here on the arm of Richard Nixon.

Due to the nature of her work in Public Affairs at CBS, Sioussat usually maintained very friendly relationships with all of the "first families," including the Trumans, the Kennedys, and the Johnsons. She also cultivated relationships with other influential members of government, like J. Edgar Hoover.

Portrait of Sioussat at her desk at CBS, c. 1950's

Helen Sioussat pictured at her desk at CBS, c. 1950.

Note the photos of Sioussat's various famous friends hanging on the wall behind her--including one of actress Miriam Hopkins, on the far left.

From National Federation of Press Women, 1940

Helen Sioussat received this honor in 1940 from the National Federation of Press Women, Inc. for her program "Which Way to Lasting Peace?"

Other organizations that honored Sioussat included: the American Jewish Tercentenary Committee, the Ladies Auxiliary [of] the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the US Treasury Department.

Certificate of Appreciation from USO, 1947

During her career, Helen Sioussat received many accolades. This one is from 1947, and was bestowed on her by the USO.

Sioussat was also honored by the National War Fund, the New York War Fund, the Women's City Club of New York, the National Veterans Day organization and the American Red Cross.

Sioussat wins Peabody Award, 1954

In 1954, Helen Sioussat (front row, far right) received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for "Best Educational Program" for her radio production "Man's Right to Knowledge."

Transcripts of these educational broadcasts were later published in journal form, and supplied by CBS to libraries and to the public.

Sioussat's musical composition, "Unathletic Me"

In addition to all of her other talents, Helen Sioussat was also a successful songwriter. She wrote the tune "Unathletic Me," which was later recorded by her friend Julie Wilson, pictured here.

Some of Sioussat's other compositions include "Meet Me at the Waldorf," "My Beloved," and "Beautiful Cat Cay."