KAUFMAN, GEORGE SIMON

KAUFMAN, GEORGE SIMON
KAUFMAN, GEORGE SIMON (1889–1961), U.S. playwright and stage director. Born in Pittsburgh, Kaufman began his career as a journalist, but in 1918 turned to writing for the stage. His name is linked with over 30 hits, almost all his plays having been written in collaboration with others, such as Marc Connelly, Edna Ferber, Morrie Ryskind, and Moss Hart. For each year from 1921 to 1941, Kaufman, as either writer or director, had at least one hit Broadway show. He was an acknowledged master of stage technique and comedy, and plays such as Once in a Lifetime (1930), You Can't Take it With You (1937, Pulitzer Prize), and The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939) have found their way into many anthologies. In 1946 he wrote his dramatic version of The Late George Apley, the novel by J.P. Marquand, an admirable example of his skill in adapting from one artistic medium to another. Kaufman's versatility was shown in the musicals The Coconuts (1925) and Animal Crackers (1928), written for the Marx Brothers; Strike up the Band (1930); The Band Wagon (1931); and Of Thee I Sing (1932, Pulitzer Prize). Perhaps his most serious play, inspired by the prejudices and hatreds of the Hitler era, was The American Way (1939). Other successes by Kaufman include Dinner at Eight (1932), Stage Door (1936), George Washington Slept Here (1940), and The Solid Gold Cadillac (1951). He directed such stage hits as Front Page (1928), Of Mice and Men (1937), and Guys and Dolls (1950). Kaufman's early experience as a columnist and as a dramatic critic on New York newspapers developed his sensitivity to language and the demands of the theater. His plays made exciting entertainment and his satirical flashes poked fun at weaknesses in American life. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: J.M. Brown, Broadway in Review (1940), 88–94, 169–76; idem, Seeing Things (1946), 205–11; E.M. Gagey, Revolution in American Drama (1947), 217–20; J. Mersand, Traditions in American Literature (1939), 14–24; A.H. Quinn, History of the American Drama, 2 (1937), 220–5. ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY: S. Meredith, George S. Kaufman and His Friends (1975). (Joseph Mersand / Robert L. DelBane (2nd ed.)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • Kaufman,George Simon — Kauf·man (kôfʹmən), George Simon. 1889 1961. American playwright noted for many collaborations, including Dinner at Eight (1932) with Edna Ferber and You Can t Take It with You (1936) with Moss Hart. * * * …   Universalium

  • Kaufman, George Simon — (1889–1961)    US playwright. His superb knowledge of stagecraft and acute sense of comedy dialogue made Pittsburg born Kaufman sought after as a collaborator by other distinguished American playwrights, notably Moss HART and Edna FERBER. He was… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • George Simon Kaufman — (meist George S. Kaufman; * 16. November 1889 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; † 2. Juni 1961 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Bühnen und Drehbuchautor …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kaufman, George S. — (1889 1961)    George Simon Kaufman was born in Pittsburgh and worked for newspapers in Washington, D.C., and New York before teaming with playwright Marc Connelly. Their first play, Dulcy (1921), was a hit and made a star of Lynn Fontanne.… …   The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater

  • George Simon Kaufman — noun United States playwright who collaborated with many other writers including Moss Hart (1889 1961) • Syn: ↑Kaufman, ↑George S. Kaufman • Instance Hypernyms: ↑dramatist, ↑playwright …   Useful english dictionary

  • George S. Kaufman — George Simon Kaufman George Simon Kaufman (meist George S. Kaufman; * 16. November 1889 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; † 2. Juni 1961 in New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Bühnen und Drehbuchautor …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kaufman — /kawf meuhn/, n. George S(imon), 1889 1961, U.S. dramatist. * * * (as used in expressions) Ida Kaufman Ada Kaufman Kaufman George Simon * * * …   Universalium

  • George S. Kaufman — noun United States playwright who collaborated with many other writers including Moss Hart (1889 1961) • Syn: ↑Kaufman, ↑George Simon Kaufman • Instance Hypernyms: ↑dramatist, ↑playwright …   Useful english dictionary

  • Kaufman — noun United States playwright who collaborated with many other writers including Moss Hart (1889 1961) • Syn: ↑George S. Kaufman, ↑George Simon Kaufman • Instance Hypernyms: ↑dramatist, ↑playwright …   Useful english dictionary

  • Simon — /suy meuhn/; Fr. /see mawonn / for 7, n. 1. the original name of the apostle Peter. Cf. Peter. 2. Simon the Zealot, one of the twelve apostles. Matt. 10:4. 3. the Canaanite, one of the twelve apostles. Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15. 4. a… …   Universalium

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