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| '''David Freedman''', "King of the Gag-writers," (] ]-] ]) was born in Botoşani, Romania—the first child, and only son of Sara and Israel Freedman. Israel, a political refugee, immigrated with his young family to the United States in 1900, where four years later, David’s sister Sophie became the first Freedman born in the U.S.A. David matriculated to the City College of New York, graduating in 1918. David was he the first in his family to complete a formal education beyond high school, and stood out from his peers by winning medals in History and Oratory, and a highly coveted Phi Beta Kappa key. | '''David Freedman''', "King of the Gag-writers," (] ]-] ]) was born in Botoşani, Romania—the first child, and only son of Sara and Israel Freedman. Israel, a political refugee, immigrated with his young family to the United States in 1900, where four years later, David’s sister Sophie became the first Freedman born in the U.S.A. David matriculated to the City College of New York, graduating in 1918. David was he the first in his family to complete a formal education beyond high school, and stood out from his peers by winning medals in History and Oratory, and a highly coveted Phi Beta Kappa key. | ||
| In September 1918, David married Beatrice (nee Rebecca Goodman), a fellow New Yorker, who was born in the city on ] ] (her parents had fled from Kishinev, Russia (today ], ])—well in advance of the troubles there in 1904). Within five years, three sons joined them: Benedict (1919), Noel (1922 - now known as ]), and Toby (1924). A decade later their only daughter, who is now known as Laurie Hayden, arrived. | In September 1918, David married Beatrice (nee Rebecca Goodman), a fellow New Yorker, who was born in the city on ] ] (her parents had fled from Kishinev, Russia (today ], ])—well in advance of the troubles there in 1904). Within five years, three sons joined them: Benedict (1919), Noel (1922 - now known as ]), and Toby (1924). A decade later their only daughter, who is now known as Laurie Hayden, arrived. | ||
| From 1924 on, David was a self-employed writer. He created sketches for musicals and had shows on Broadway almost every year from 1926 through 1937. His first play, ''Mendel, Inc.'', debuted in 1929. When radio replaced vaudeville, David—who already enjoyed a reputation as a popular, versatile writer—pre-empted the territory. He was prolific, creating as many as six entertainment programs a week for several years. In time, Freedman’s skills were sought for the next new entertainment medium—this time, the big screen. | |||
| David also wrote about industry insiders, including Broadway’s greatest showman, Florenz Ziegfeld (1867-1932). ''Ziegfeld: the Great Glorifier'' (1934), written by David (in collaboration with Eddie Cantor), was used for the film ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1945). Similarly, ''Phantom Fame'' (1931) became the basis for the movie ''The Half-Naked Truth'' (1932). David’s first biography, the autobiography of Eddie Cantor (1892-1964), ''My Life Is in Your Hands'' (1928 as ‘told to’ Freedman by Cantor), became a best seller and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. | |||
| David suffered a massive heart attack on the evening of Monday, ] ]. By the morning of the 8th, he was dead, leaving Beatrice, his partner of 18 years, and their four children, who ranged in age from just under 17 to just under 2 years. Freedman also left behind countless fans, most of whom did not know his name. Time will soon tell if Freedman’s passing was too untimely for his work to be properly remembered. It is unlikely that contemporary audiences would appreciate most of his writing (though his jokes about the stock market still ring true), because it typically played on the peculiarities and sensitivities of his era. | |||
| David’s stories, however, have a timeless quality. As the years passed, his family honored his memory with the posthumous publication of ''The Intellectual Lover'' (1940), a collection of David’s beautifully written short stories that were originally published individually between 1922 and 1928. | |||
| Of the countless pieces Freedman wrote between 1920 and 1936, ''Mendel, Inc.'' (1929), is the only fully realized play. A product of the beginning of his extraordinary and tragically brief career, it reveals wisdom beyond its author’s years. It embodies and expresses the mature thoughts of a deep-thinking humorist/playwright. On ] ], this classic comedy about an immigrant Jewish family living in the uncertain times of 1929 of the Lower East Side was read to a packed house at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach, CA. | |||
| '''Select Anthology''' | '''Select Anthology''' | ||
Revision as of 23:44, 26 September 2006
David Freedman, "King of the Gag-writers," (April 26 1898-December 8 1936) was born in Botoşani, Romania—the first child, and only son of Sara and Israel Freedman. Israel, a political refugee, immigrated with his young family to the United States in 1900, where four years later, David’s sister Sophie became the first Freedman born in the U.S.A. David matriculated to the City College of New York, graduating in 1918. David was he the first in his family to complete a formal education beyond high school, and stood out from his peers by winning medals in History and Oratory, and a highly coveted Phi Beta Kappa key.
In September 1918, David married Beatrice (nee Rebecca Goodman), a fellow New Yorker, who was born in the city on September 27 1899 (her parents had fled from Kishinev, Russia (today Chişinău, Moldova)—well in advance of the troubles there in 1904). Within five years, three sons joined them: Benedict (1919), Noel (1922 - now known as David Noel Freedman), and Toby (1924). A decade later their only daughter, who is now known as Laurie Hayden, arrived.
From 1924 on, David was a self-employed writer. He created sketches for musicals and had shows on Broadway almost every year from 1926 through 1937. His first play, Mendel, Inc., debuted in 1929. When radio replaced vaudeville, David—who already enjoyed a reputation as a popular, versatile writer—pre-empted the territory. He was prolific, creating as many as six entertainment programs a week for several years. In time, Freedman’s skills were sought for the next new entertainment medium—this time, the big screen.
David also wrote about industry insiders, including Broadway’s greatest showman, Florenz Ziegfeld (1867-1932). Ziegfeld: the Great Glorifier (1934), written by David (in collaboration with Eddie Cantor), was used for the film Ziegfeld Follies (1945). Similarly, Phantom Fame (1931) became the basis for the movie The Half-Naked Truth (1932). David’s first biography, the autobiography of Eddie Cantor (1892-1964), My Life Is in Your Hands (1928 as ‘told to’ Freedman by Cantor), became a best seller and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
David suffered a massive heart attack on the evening of Monday, 7 December 1936. By the morning of the 8th, he was dead, leaving Beatrice, his partner of 18 years, and their four children, who ranged in age from just under 17 to just under 2 years. Freedman also left behind countless fans, most of whom did not know his name. Time will soon tell if Freedman’s passing was too untimely for his work to be properly remembered. It is unlikely that contemporary audiences would appreciate most of his writing (though his jokes about the stock market still ring true), because it typically played on the peculiarities and sensitivities of his era.
David’s stories, however, have a timeless quality. As the years passed, his family honored his memory with the posthumous publication of The Intellectual Lover (1940), a collection of David’s beautifully written short stories that were originally published individually between 1922 and 1928.
Of the countless pieces Freedman wrote between 1920 and 1936, Mendel, Inc. (1929), is the only fully realized play. A product of the beginning of his extraordinary and tragically brief career, it reveals wisdom beyond its author’s years. It embodies and expresses the mature thoughts of a deep-thinking humorist/playwright. On June 2 2004, this classic comedy about an immigrant Jewish family living in the uncertain times of 1929 of the Lower East Side was read to a packed house at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach, CA.
Select Anthology
Books
The Intellectual Lover and Other Stories (1940 and 1986); Ziegfeld: the Great Glorifier (1934) Your Next President! (1932); Phantom Fame: The Anatomy of Ballyhoo (1931); Yoo-Hoo Prosperity! The Eddie Cantor Five-year Plan (1931); Between the Acts (1930); Caught Short! a Saga of Wailing Wall Street (1929); My Life Is in Your Hands (1928 and 2000); and Mendel Marantz (1925 and 1986)
Shows
The Show is On; White Horse Inn; Ziegfeld Follies of 1936; Life Begins at 8:40; Ziegfeld Follies of 1934; Forward March; Crazy Quilt; Sweet and Low; Mendel, Inc.; and Betsy
Films
Ziegfeld Follies; The Half Naked Truth; The Heart of New York; and Palmy Days
FMI, see: