Abel Green

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Abel Green (June 3, 1900 – May 10, 1973) was an American journalist best known as the editor of Variety for forty years. Sime Silverman first hired Green as a reporter in 1918, and Green's byline first appeared on May 30, 1919.

Biography[]

Green was born in New York, the son of Seymour A. Green and Berta Raines.[1] He attended Stuyvesant High School, but dropped out of New York University. The first time his signature appeared in Variety was in the May 30, 1919 issue, when he reviewed a film called Playthings of Passion, signing it "Abel".[2] By 1925 he penned a column in the music section headed "Abel's Comment". Later, in 1928 he wrote a weekly column in Variety called "Around New York" and one called "Radio Rambles".[3]

After Silverman died in 1933, Green took over as editor of Variety.[1] Green was responsible for the creation of much of Variety's characteristic jargon, including the 1935 headline "Sticks Nix Hick Pix";[4] in his obituary, TIME said that if Variety was the Bible of show business, then Green "was its King James".[5] In 1951, Green collaborated with Joe Laurie, Jr. on Show Biz: From Vaude to Video, a history of show business.[6] He also edited The Spice of Variety in 1952, a compilation of Variety articles.[1][7]

Green co-wrote the 1933 film Mr. Broadway with Ed Sullivan.[1] He appeared in the 1947 film Copacabana.[6]

He married Grace Fenn on June 3, 1921 and was married for 52 years.[6][1] Like Silverman, Green always wore a bowtie.[6]

He died of a heart attack at his home at 55 Central Park West.[1]

Bibliography[]

  • "Inside Variety" by Peter Besas. Madrid: Ars Millenii,2000.
  • "God Wears a Bowtie" by Lyle Stuart. New York: Greenberg, 1949.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Freeman, William M. (May 11, 1973). "Abel Green, Editor of Variety And Language Stylist, 72, Dies". The New York Times. p. 42. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Playthings of Passion". Variety. May 30, 1919. p. 75 – via Archive.org.
  3. ^ "Radio Rambles". Variety. December 5, 1928. p. 49.
  4. ^ Besas, Peter. "Abel Green". Simesite. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  5. ^ "King James to the End". TIME. 1973-05-21. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Abel Green, 72, Editor of Variety, Dies; 52 Years on Show Beat". Variety. May 16, 1973. p. 1.
  7. ^ Nichols, Lewis (November 16, 1952). "Abel Green's Guest Night". The New York Times. p. 14. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
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