{{Short description|American journalist (1908–1989)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox person |name = Hy Gardner |image = Hy Gardner.jpg |image_size = |caption = Hy Gardner on ''The Hy Gardner Show''. |birth_name = |birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|12|2}} |birth_place = New York City, U.S. |death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|6|17|1908|12|2}} |death_place = Miami, Florida, U.S. |other_names = |known_for = |education = |alma_mater = |occupation = Journalist<br />Television personality<br />Game show panelist |years_active = |spouse = |partner = |children = }}
'''Hy Gardner''' (December 2, 1908 – June 17, 1989) was an American entertainment reporter and syndicated columnist for the ''New York Herald Tribune'', host of ''Hy Gardner Calling'', ''The Hy Gardner Show'', and ''Celebrity Party'', and an original celebrity panelist on the first incarnation of ''To Tell the Truth'', along with Ralph Bellamy, Polly Bergen, Kitty Carlisle and host Bud Collyer.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last=Goldman|first=Ari L.|title=Hy Gardner, 80, Gossip Columnist And a Celebrity in His Own Right|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/19/obituaries/hy-gardner-80-gossip-columnist-and-a-celebrity-in-his-own-right.html|accessdate=4 April 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 19, 1989}}</ref> In 1957, Gardner also appeared on the show made up as a clown along with guest-challenger (famous clown) Paul Jung. Gardner also played himself in the 1963 movie ''The Girl Hunters'' with writer/friend Mickey Spillane, who included Gardner in several of his Mike Hammer novels.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|last=Staff and Wire Reports|title=Hy Gardner, 80; Newspaper Celebrity Columnist|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-20-mn-2377-story.html|access-date=4 April 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 20, 1989}}</ref>
==Career== In the early 1950s, Gardner began interviewing celebrities on the radio on his own show, ''Hy Gardner Calling''. He had wanted to be a columnist for entertainment news as a young boy, and in 1951 he was hired by the ''New York Herald Tribune'' where he continued until 1966 when the paper closed. ''The New York Times'' described his writing style as an "art form".<ref name=nyt/>
In 1953, Marilyn Boshnick became Hy Gardner's secretary. They married in 1958. At that time, Gardner was the interviewer of the guests on Spike Jones's short-lived ''Club Oasis'' comedy/variety show on NBC. In 1967, the couple began a gossip column together. Titled ''Glad You Asked That'' it was soon syndicated.<ref name=nyt/>
Gardner's television interviews began in 1954 and continued until 1965. Mickey Spillane, who cast him in a mystery film in 1963, said upon Gardner's death: "He was an innovator. He did the split screen before Edward R. Murrow." Gardner also provided rocking chairs to help relax his interview guests.<ref name=nyt/>
After split-screen interviews were replaced by in-studio interviews, the show was renamed ''The Hy Gardner Show''. ''The Herald Tribune'' folded in 1966, and Hy and Marilyn Gardner moved from New York City to Miami. ''The Hy Gardner Show'' continued on television, and ''Celebrity Party'' debuted on radio and was syndicated.<ref name=latimes/> Interviews continued until the mid-1980s.
==Death== Gardner died of pneumonia on June 17, 1989, at the North Shore Hospital in Miami. He was 80 years old.<ref name=nyt />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2011/05/hy-gardner-calling-with-guest-steve.html Hy Gardner Calling with guest Steve Allen (1958)]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Hy}} Category:1908 births Category:1989 deaths Category:Television personalities from New York City Category:American radio personalities Category:Writers from Miami Category:Journalists from Miami Category:Journalists from New York City Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers Category:20th-century American male writers Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Florida Category:20th-century American male journalists