Alexander Woollcott

Alexander Woollcott – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life, wit, and legacy of American critic and raconteur Alexander Woollcott (1887–1943). From his New Yorker columns and radio broadcasts to his sharp humor and cultural influence — here is the full biography, memorable quotes, and lessons from his life.

Introduction

Alexander Humphreys Woollcott (January 19, 1887 – January 23, 1943) was an American drama critic, essayist, radio personality, and member of the famed Algonquin Round Table. He was known for his acerbic wit, social presence, literary commentary, and flamboyant public persona. Woollcott wielded influence in New York’s cultural life of the early 20th century — both through his critiques and his rollicking personality.

He is perhaps best remembered via his New Yorker column “Shouts & Murmurs”, his radio show The Town Crier, his friendships with celebrated writers and actors, and his being a model for fictional characters (notably Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner).

In this article, you’ll learn about his early life, career, influence, notable quotations, and enduring lessons from his world of criticism and commentary.

Early Life and Family

Alexander Woollcott was born on January 19, 1887, in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey, USA. Alexander Humphreys Woollcott.

His family home was an eccentric place: the property was formerly part of the North American Phalanx, a utopian commune/practical social experiment which had been dissolved earlier.

When he was a child, his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, for a period, where he experienced formative cultural exposure and developed a love for theater and literature.

Later, the family returned to the Phalanx area (in New Jersey), and Alexander continued schooling in that region, attended grammar school and high school in various locales (Philadelphia, Germantown, etc.).

He went on to attend Hamilton College in New York, graduating in 1909.

Career and Achievements

Journalism and Drama Criticism

After graduating, Woollcott began his professional life in journalism. He joined The New York Times in 1909 as a cub reporter.

During World War I, he volunteered in the medical corps, and later worked with Stars and Stripes (the American military newspaper), contributing to its founding and editorial structure. New York Herald and The World.

Woollcott was known for his flamboyant, biting style: he could praise or savage with equal force. Indeed, at times Broadway producers barred him from reviewing their shows because his critiques could be crushing.

The New Yorker, Shouts & Murmurs, and Radio

Perhaps his most lasting public presence came through The New Yorker and radio. In 1929, he began writing the column “Shouts & Murmurs”, a humor-oriented section known for sharp observations, satire, and comedic essays.

Simultaneously, he transitioned into radio. His show The Town Crier (starting in the 1930s) opened with the ringing of a bell and “Hear ye, hear ye!” and delivered his literary and cultural commentary punctuated with anecdotes.

He also occasionally performed on stage and co-wrote or appeared in theatrical productions. For example, he co-wrote The Dark Tower with George S. Kaufman.

One vivid legacy: he is widely acknowledged as one model for the character Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner, the acerbic, domineering house guest in the play by Kaufman and Moss Hart.

Later Years and Final Works

In his later years, Woollcott continued his public commentary. A notable project was As You Were, an anthology he compiled for U.S. servicemen during World War II. He waived his royalties and intended its proceeds for welfare organizations.

He maintained his radio work until the end. On January 23, 1943, while participating in a broadcast for a Writers’ War Board panel on the CBS program The People’s Platform, he collapsed during the show, reportedly of a cerebral hemorrhage, and died that day in New York.

His ashes were interred at Hamilton College (though there was a postal mishap sending them first to Colgate University).

Historical Context & Influence

• Algonquin Round Table: Woollcott was part of the circle of wits, writers, journalists, and actors who gathered at the Algonquin Hotel in New York in the 1920s. This group — including Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, and others — helped shape American literary and cultural criticism.

• Rise of mass media and radio: Woollcott’s transition into radio exemplified how critics and commentators could reach wider audiences in the early 20th century, blending literary judgment with entertainment.

• Blending criticism and showmanship: His persona showed that criticism could itself be a performance — the critic as public personality, not hidden voice behind bylines.

• Meta-criticism and self-reference: He sometimes parodied or critiqued the critic’s role itself, playing with the boundaries between commentary, gossip, and humor.

His influence is felt in how later critics and literary commentators adopted more public faces. Also, his quips and style remain quoted, studied, and appreciated by aficionados of literary wit.

Personality and Talents

Woollcott’s public persona was flamboyant, witty, and often abrasive. He liked being the center of attention. He had a reputation for sharp tongue, social dominance in literary circles, and abundant self-confidence. Yet behind that was a man who loved literature, friends, conversation, and theater.

His talents included:

• Oratory & verbal dexterity — his quips, turns of phrase, and critiques often lingered.

• Cultural breadth — he could speak knowledgeably about theater, books, music, gossip, and social milieu.

• Raconteur’s skill — he could weave anecdotes, gossip, and observations into a narrative that entertained.

• Networking & influence — his friendships and social circle gave him access to cultural figures and power to shape reputations.

While he could be merciless with commentary, those close to him often reported warmth, loyalty, and generosity behind the public mask.

Famous Quotes of Alexander Woollcott

Below are some memorable statements by Woollcott that capture his wit, worldview, and tone. Sources vary, but many are well attributed.

1. “All the things I really like to do are either illegal, immoral or fattening.”

2. “I’m tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn’t work. Of course it doesn’t work. We are supposed to work it.”

3. “The two oldest professions in the world — ruined by amateurs.” (referring to acting and prostitution)

4. “There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day.”

5. “To all things clergic, I am allergic.”

6. “While Rome Burns” (as the title of one of his collections) alludes to one of his ways of seeing society: that cultural commentary must be carried out even amidst crisis.

7. “Los Angeles is seven suburbs in search of a city.” (a witty commentary)

These quotes reflect his ironic, sharp, and sometimes self-deprecating style. He often juxtaposed high and low, critique and humor.

Lessons from Alexander Woollcott

From Woollcott’s life and work, we can draw several insights:

• Criticism as art: He shows that critique, when handled with wit, narrative, and personality, can itself be a creative act, not simply negative response.

• The importance of voice: His public persona was as much part of his power as his writing — voice matters, presence matters.

• Balancing erudition with accessibility: He bridged serious cultural commentary with popular media (radio) so that literary voices could reach wider audiences.

• Owning contradictions: He was both beloved and reviled; sharp but generous; entertainer and critic. Great figures often live in tension.

• End with purpose: Even in compiling As You Were for servicemen, he framed his last work as service, not self-glory.

• Legacy via persona and text: His life reminds us that how one brings one’s voice to public life can matter as much as what is in it.

Conclusion

Alexander Woollcott remains a vivid figure in 20th-century American cultural life — a critic, wit, broadcaster, and social force. His sharp judgments, literary wit, and flamboyant persona left an imprint on how public intellectuals and critics are seen. Through his columns, radio work, theatrical engagement, and friendships, he shaped the cultural conversation of his era.

His life also offers a caution: brilliance and acerbity can polarize, but they can also animate public discourse. His quips continue to echo, and his model of combining critique with personality inspires writers and commentators to this day.