 Wilder's childhood was spent at Daytona Beach, Florida.Following a stint in the U.S. Army during World War I, he was educated at Stetson University and Columbia University.At various times in his life, Mr. Wilder was a soda jerk, a ship fitter, a theater usher, a shipping clerk, a newspaper copyboy, leader of a criminal gang, "a publicity agent" (Claudette Colbert was among his clients), a radio executive, and a journalist (for "The New York Sun").