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Jo Coppola

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Jo Coppola
Born
Josephine Coppola

(1920-02-22)February 22, 1920
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 22, 1982(1982-10-22) (aged 62)
EducationHoly Name School
Bay Ridge High School
OccupationNewspaper columnist
Years active1944 - 1959

Josephine "Jo" Coppola (February 22, 1920 – October 22, 1982)[1][2][3] was a prominent 1950s American columnist and television critic,[a] employed by Newsday and the New York Post.[8][9][10] She was the first TV critic Newsday ever had,[11] and also wrote for Commonweal,[12] and others.[b]

Early life and career

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Born and raised in Brooklyn, Coppola was the youngest of six children born to Anna (née Capiello) and watchmaker Francesco Coppola.[15][16][17][18] A frequent correspondent with columnist / children's author Elsie-Jean, Coppola attended Holy Name School and Bay Ridge High School, graduating in 1938.[19][20][21][22]

In 1959 she wrote the script for the short film Summer of Decision, a 30-minute-long film produced by the Council on Social Work Education, directed by William A. Graham and starring Suzanne Pleshette, Kevin McCarthy and Nicholas Pryor.[23]

In April 1973, Coppola, along with William Casselman, Nathan W. Goldstein, and Arthur Sylvester, was named to the Board of Governors of the Society of the Silurians.[24]

Death

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Coppola died at the age of 62, on October 22, 1982.[1]

Notable quotations

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  • Good comedy is social criticism—although you might find that hard to believe if all you ever saw were some of the so-called clowns of videoland.... Comedy is dying today because criticism is on its deathbed ... because telecasters, frightened by the threats and pressure of sponsors, blacklists and viewers, helped introduce conformity to this age... In such a climate, comedy cannot flourish. For comedy is, after all, a look at ourselves, not as we pretend to be when we look in the mirror of our imagination, but as we really are. Look at the comedy of any age and you will know volumes about that period and its people which neither historian nor anthropologist can tell you.

    — as quoted in The Realist issue 1, 1958[25]

  • "Please be assured...of our continued efforts to avoid giving offense to any segment of our viewing public." [...] this edict would mean death for true comedy. A comedian, for instance, could satirize war only if he didn't offend nuclear scientists, the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the State Department, certain businessmen and our veterans... true comedy... must induce self-laughter, which is nothing but mature criticism. Since we live in an age when criticism is not welcome, is it any wonder then that true comedy, which reflects its age, is dying?

    — Commonweal[26]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Lest the word "prominent" be viewed as simply editorial puffery (a not unfounded suspicion, considering how far Coppola's star had apparently fallen by the time of her unreported passing in 1982), an amusing, yet dramatic illustration of that prominence–which, evidently, Coppola continued to enjoy, at least amongst her peers, for at least a decade past her last published byline—was provided, albeit unwittingly, in 1969, when, amidst widespread reports of an upcoming Heaven Can Wait remake (pairing writer-director Francis Ford Coppola and star Bill Cosby), another noted TV columnist / critic, Charles Witbeck (who, although Coppola's contemporary, had started in the business roughly a decade later, in 1953, affiliated primarily with King Features Syndicate[4][5][6]), inadvertently described yet another upcoming Cosby-Coppola collaboration—likewise never realized—as being directed by "the young Frances Jo Coppola".[7]
  2. ↑ Coppola’s byline appeared on at least two occasions in the New York Daily News.[13][14]

References

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  1. 1 2 "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K9X-N3QD : Sat Oct 18 18:04:12 UTC 2025), Entry for Josephine Coppola and Frank Coppola.
  2. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1958", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24TR-SSK : Sun Apr 13 00:03:48 UTC 2025), Entry for Josephine Coppola, 1950.
  3. ↑ Coppola, Jo (Sep 20, 1950). "Vishinsky Gives Jo Ruskie Brushoff". Newsday. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "Nobody has ever classified me as an expert on foreign relations. But I watched Andrei Vishinsky's various brushes with the United Nations on television yesterday with as much interest as if I had a job in the State Department. You see, I had just completed a trans-oceanic trip on the Queen Elizabeth as a fellow passenger of Mr. Vishinsky, and you might It all started on the train from Paris to Cherbourg, from whence I was to regretfully board the Liz on the final lap of my first trip to Europe."
  4. ↑ "Obituaries/Funeral Announcements". The Los Angeles Times. January 3, 1993. p. A22. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "WITBECK, Charles Ainsworth age 72; died on December 31, 1992 after a gallant 54-year battle with arthritis. He leaves many who will miss him, especially Maybelle Wolfe and his sisters, Harriet Pohlman, and Marion Witbeck. A columnist for T. V. Key since 1953, he valued his co-workers in the television industry. According to his wishes, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis National Research Foundation."
  5. ↑ Shubilla, Thom "Beefstew" (2022). Primetime 1966-1967: The Full Spectrum of Television's First All-Color Season. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-4766-8344-7.
  6. ↑ Witbeck, Charles (May 1, 1982). [ "Anne Jillian Tackles Role Of Mae West"]. The St. Augustine Record. p. 9-C. Retrieved April 26, 22026. "Copyright 1982 by TV KEY. Distributed by King Features Syndicate." See also:
  7. ↑ Witbeck, Charles (Apr 5, 1969). "Bil Cosby's Career Takes Off; He'll Do a TV Special Wednesday". The Roanoke Times-World News Quickline. p. 11. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "After a season of concerts and taking it easy, Cosby & Singer [sic] shift into high gear with a Warner's movie contract of 5 pictures, of which two must star Bill, beginning with 'Here Comes The Judge,' directed by the young Frances Jo Coppola."
  8. ↑ "Critics Who Voted for the 1944 Ten Best". The Film Daily. January 15, 1945. p. 17. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "Betty Etter, Movie Life, New York. Josephine Coppola, Newsday, Hempstead, N.Y. T.H. Wenning, Newsweek, New York."
  9. ↑ Kearns, Audrey, editor (1948). Motion Picture Production Encyclopedia : 1948. Hollywood, CA: The Hollywood Reporter. p .772. "Endicott — Bulletin (6,856) — Robert Eckert (mp). Hempstead — Newsday (64,119) — Josephine Coppola (mp). Oneonta — Star (12,004) — Francis Forrest (mp, th)."
  10. ↑ Williams (1958) Commonweal, Volume 69 p. 287 quote: "Miss Coppola is well known for her work as a television critic for Newsday and the NY Post"
  11. ↑ Keeler, Robert F. (1990) Newsday: a candid history of the respectable tabloid. p. 281
  12. ↑ John Hadjuk (2008) Channels of Dissent: Ed Murrow, Mort Sahl, and Television's Lost Promise in The Montana Professor 18.2 Spring 2008
  13. ↑ Coppola, Jo (December 28, 1952) "Troubles Come Triply; Triplets' mothers organize to exchange clothes and helpful hints". New York Daily News. p. 375. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  14. ↑ Coppola, Jo (June 21, 1959). "The 'Unwanted Children' A Million Couples Want". New York Daily News. pp. 82, 83. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ "United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4NR-2VF : Wed Jul 10 19:01:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Frank Cappola and Anna Cappola, 1930.
  16. ↑ "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ1Y-JZG : Wed Jan 15 11:45:54 UTC 2025), Entry for Emery Cappola and Rosalie Cappola, 1940.
  17. ↑ New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CK-HN93 : Wed Mar 26 12:25:34 UTC 2025), Entry for Francesco Coppolo and Anna Cappiello, 27 November 1910.
  18. ↑ "Society". Brooklyn Eagle. October 30, 1945. p. 13. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "The marriage of Miss Rosalie Coppola, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Coppola of 636 11th St., to Joseph S. D'Aleo [...] took place Saturday in St. Saviour's Church. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Jospehine Coppola, as matron of honor. [...] The bride is a graduate of Bay Ridge High School."
  19. ↑ Jean, Elsie (November 30, 1931). "Here's the Work of Winners of Spare Time Contest for Nov. 18". The Brooklyn Daily Times. p. 13. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "Children, Josephine Coppola, who lives at 348 17th st., Brooklyn, and who is a very nice little girl, for I know her, would like to receive letters from other Happy Timers. Josephine is 11 years old."
  20. ↑ Jean, Elsie (September , 1933). "Elsie Jean Gives Happy Timers More Data on Museum Clubs". Times Union. p. 15. Retrieved April 26, 2026 "THE BEST RESOLUTION I EVER MADE Resolved: I be faithful to Elsie-Jean. I believe this is the best resolution I ever made. When we make a resolution, we must bear in mind the fact that we are making a promise. By being faithful, I mean joining contests, sendIng famous poems, and remembering Elsie-Jean as a friend, loving and forgiving. When I made this resolution, I promised to enjoy myself and make a friend happy; I promised to occupy spare time in good work as in the pursuit of pleasure. If this resolution is carried out, I shall not only be doing good for myself, but I shall make others happy as well. – JOSEPHINE COPPOLA, age 12, card 15,892, 348 17th st., Holy Name School, grade 7B.'"
  21. ↑ Jean, Elsie (Oct 22, 1935). "Elsie-Jean Recommends Book of Poetry for Older Children". Times Union. p. 16. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "MR. BONES An open door, And a patch of sun Where a comrade used to be, And a little phantom brown-eyed tramp Is somewhere waiting the step of me. [...] I ask no mansions wrought of gold, Nor streets of precious stones. . . . Dear God, build just a little house For me-and Mr. Bones. – DIXIE WILLSON. Sent by JOSEPHINE COPPOLA, Age 15, 348 17th st. Bay Ridge H.S., Term 4."
  22. ↑ "Thousands Are Graduated at Exercises in Brooklyn and Queens High Schools: Girl, 14, Graduated By Bay Ridge High". Brooklyn Eagle. February 4, 1938. p. 19. Retrieved April 26, 2026. "Mildred Coles. Pearl Cooper. Josephine Coppola. Mary Criscuolo. Anne Crutchley."
  23. ↑ Not a TV Pilot – Summer of Decision (1959)
  24. ↑ [ "Silurians Choose Dudley B. Martin"]. New York Daily News. April 27, 1973. p. 43. Retrieved April 26, 2026. " Martin of The New York Times has been elected president of the Society of the Silurians, an organization of veteran journalists, it was announced yesterday. Others elected were Charles Hagedorn, first vice president; Paul Buiar, second vice president; Barnett Bildersee, secretary; Charles B. Crisman, treasurer, and Victor House, counsel. Named to the board of governors were William Casselman, Jo Coppola, Nathan W. Goldstein and Arthur Sylvester. They will be installed at the Silurians' annual awards dinner Tuesday in the Hotel Americana."
  25. ↑ Krassner, Paul (1958) An angry Young Magazine, in The Realist, Issue No. 1, June–July 1958, p.2
  26. ↑ Jo Coppola, "Comedy on Television," Commonweal, 12 December 1958: 288

Further reading

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