Dorothy Fuldheim Became The First Woman To Host The Nightly News Right Here In Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published August 11, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
As incredible as it is to consider, the role that women have played in the growth of America and the world as we know it started in rather small ways. In 1776, Abigail Adams urged her now-famous husband to “remember the ladies” in a private note. Around the same time, Mercy Otis Warren was fighting for women’s rights in the only way she knew how… with a pen, paper, and a bit of ingenuity. Here in Cleveland, ladies fought for their place in history in a number of ways. Through the establishment of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), by making a bit of cash at the garment factory to fuel the economy and earn their keep, and by establishing social organizations, women in Cleveland helped make history. One did so in a different way, however, and she was a trailblazer in recent history. Her name was Dorothy Fuldheim, and she was the first woman in history to anchor the nightly news and then to host her own show. In addition to being a trailblazer, Fuldheim was a personality like no other. Here’s how one Jazz Age transplant to Cleveland changed the world:
During the 1940s, women in Cleveland were making huge strides for gender equality.
As Cleveland's male population was largely drafted for the war, local ladies were stepping up. They began changing the face of the labor force, establishing social organizations, and making sure things ran smoothly at home while their men were away.
In the post-war era, Cleveland enjoyed a modern age of prosperity and growth.
In 1946, the Cleveland Browns entered the All-American Football Conference. By the end of the decade, Cleveland was recognized as an all-American city, and its sports teams were thriving.
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1947 also brought another exciting development in Cleveland history: WEWS News Channel 5 did their first broadcast ever.
As the first television station in Ohio, WEWS was already a trailblazer. On December 17, 1947, it officially went on the air. As the only major station between New York and Chicago, save Detroit, this channel would prove to be an important piece of Cleveland history.
Dorothy Fuldheim was born in New Jersey, but she moved to Cleveland in the 1920s. She started in radio, but her move to WEWS made her the first woman in the country with her own nightly news show. Here she is pictured with Euclid Municipal Judge Robert Steele, conducting an interview in her familiarly friendly way.
Locals loved Dorothy, from her position on the nightly news to her time in the spotlight with her afternoon spot, "The One O'Clock Club."
With her fiery red hair and equally fiery attitude, Fuldheim captivated audiences from her first broadcast in 1947 to her last broadcast in 1984. She's thought to have completed some 15,000 interviews during her life.
For many Clevelanders, news of major world events was delivered to them by none other than Dorothy Fuldheim.
Not everyone loved Dorothy, of course, as she had some strong opinions and didn't mind making them known. However, when a blood clot was discovered near her brain, so many people called the station wishing her a speedy recovery and asking for updates on her well-being that WEWS had to set up an automated message to provide updates. This was one beloved Clevelander.
Dorothy ultimately passed away in 1989, but her title of "First Lady of Television News" is used to describe her to this day.
Dorothy was a trailblazer, and she was a role model for newscasters everywhere. Up until the end of her career, Fuldheim maintained that same sense of charm that initially caught the attention and interest of viewers. Check out this video of her covering the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana Spencer in 1981, uploaded to YouTube by News 5 Cleveland:
Dorothy Fuldheim became the first woman in history to anchor the nightly news in Cleveland, and she spent the majority of her career here. She’s a local legend, and rightfully so. Even in this modern age where women can do anything, Fuldheim’s long-lasting career and willingness to hop into the spotlight just as her youth had faded is almost unheard of. Did you ever have the pleasure of meeting this incredible soul? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments!
Love local history? All sorts of incredible moments in time have helped shape our community, from the very first local wedding to the organization of the Cleveland Grays.
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