Jerome Weidman

{{short description|American playwright and novelist (1913–1998)}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Jerome Weidman

| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=y|1913|04|04}}

| birth_place = New York City, United States

| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=y|1998|10|06|1913|04|04}}

| death_place = New York City, United States

| spouse = Peggy Wright (1942–1998)

| children = 2

| education = City College of New York
New York University

| awards = Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1960)

}}

Jerome Weidman (April 4, 1913, New York City – October 6, 1998, New York City) was an American playwright and novelist. He collaborated with George Abbott on the book for the musical Fiorello! with music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. All received the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.

Biography

Weidman was born in Manhattan, New York City, and moved with his family to The Bronx after finishing high school at DeWitt Clinton. His parents were Jewish immigrants and his father Joseph worked in the garment trade. He also worked in the garment industry, which later provided him with book material, and attended City College of New York and New York University Law School, all the while writing stories and finally novels.Gussow, Mel.[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/07/theater/jerome-weidman-dies-at-85-author-of-novels-and-plays.html Jerome Weidman Dies at 85; Author of Novels and Plays,"]The New York Times, October 7, 1998

In his work he wrote about the "rough underside of business and politics -- and daily life -- in New York." The Independent obituary states: "There was precious little hope of salvation - indeed, precious little hope - in his early novels and often dazzling and highly crafted short stories, many of which inevitably found their way into Harold Ross's New Yorker during its Golden Age of the late Thirties and early Forties."Adrian, Jack.[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-jerome-weidman-1177954.html Obituary: Jerome Weidman]The Independent, 13 October 1998

In the 1950s he used his ability for "speakable dialogue" in writing for the movies, which led to working with George Abbott on the musical Fiorello! in 1959.

He wrote the book for the musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale which was based on his first novel, and was Barbra Streisand's Broadway debut. The book was the source for a 1951 movie starring Susan Hayward, but used mainly the title.

He married Peggy Wright in 1942 and had two sons, John and Jeffrey.

Bibliography

= Novels =

I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1937)
What's in It for Me? (1938)
I'll Never Go There Any More (1941)
The Lights Around the Shore
Too Early to Tell (1946)
The Price Is Right (1949)
Give Me Your Love (1952)
The Hand of the Hunter (1953)
The Third Angel (1953)
Your Daughter Iris (1955)
The Enemy Camp (1958)
Before You Go (1960)
The Sound of Bow Bells (1962)
Word Of Mouth (1964)
Other People's Money (1967)
The Centre of the Action (1969)
Fourth Street East (1970)
Last Respects (1971)
Tiffany Street (1974)
A Family Fortune (1978)
Counselors-at-law (1980)

= Short stories =

"The Horse That Could Whistle 'Dixie'"
"The Captain's Tiger"
"A Dime a Throw"
"My Father Sits in the Dark"
"Good Man, Bad Man"
"Slipping Beauty"
"Shoe-shine"
"The Night I Met Einstein"
"Monsoon"
"The Tuxedos"

= Theatre=

Fiorello! (1959)
Tenderloin (1960)
I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1962)
Duke Ellington's Pousse-Cafe (1966)
The Mother Lover (1969) one performance
Asterisk! A comedy of terrors (1969)

=Film and television=

House of Strangers (1949) based upon the novel "I'll Never Go There Any More" (1941) by Jerome Weidman
The Damned Don't Cry (1950)
Invitation (1952) based on Weidman's short story "R.S.V.P."
The Eddie Cantor Story (1953)
Broken Lance (1949) based upon the novel "I'll Never Go There Any More" (1941)
"Wanted: Poor Boy" (1955) (TV episode of Star Tonight)
Slander (1956)
"The Hole Card" (1957) (TV episode of Schlitz Playhouse of Stars)
"All I Survey" (1958) (TV episode of General Electric Theater)
The Big Show (1961) based upon the novel "I'll Never Go There Any More" (1941)
The Reporter (1964) with Harry Guardino

= Essays=

Letter of Credit
Traveler's Cheque
Back Talk

References

External links

Jewish Virtual Library: [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/weidman-jerome “Jerome Weidman”] Encyclopaedia Judaica © 2007.
[https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/guides/Playwrights Jerome Weidman Collection] at the Harry Ransom Center
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{{IMDb name|917783}}
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=Alistair%20Cooke Alistair Cooke delivered an oral obituary in his Letter from America dated 20 Oct 2003 and entitled Separated by language.]