Mel Gussow: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox journalist |
{{Infobox journalist |
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| name = |
| name = Mel Gussow |
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| birth_date = [[December 19]] [[1933]] |
| birth_date = [[December 19]] [[1933]] |
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| birth_place = [[New York City]] |
| birth_place = [[New York City]] |
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| death_place = [[New York City]] |
| death_place = [[New York City]] |
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| occupation = Theatre critic, movie critic, author |
| occupation = Theatre critic, movie critic, author |
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| gender = |
| gender = male |
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| status = |
| status = married, 1963 |
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| parents = |
| parents = Don and Betty Gussow |
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| spouse = Ann Beebe Gussow |
| spouse = Ann Beebe Gussow |
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| children = Ethan Meredith Gussow |
| children = Ethan Meredith Gussow |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
'''Mel Gussow''' ([[December 19]] [[1933]] – [[April 29]] [[2005]]) was an influential [[USA|American]] theatre critic who wrote for ''[[The New York Times]]'' for 35 years. His writing helped further the careers of: actors such as [[Kevin Kline]], [[Meryl Streep]], [[Matthew Broderick]] and [[Sigourney Weaver]]; playwrights, including [[Sam Shepard]], [[David Mamet]], [[John Guare]], [[Harold Pinter]], [[Edward Albee]] and Sir [[Tom Stoppard]]; and theatre wunderkinds such as [[Robert Wilson (director)|Robert Wilson]], [[Charles Ludlam]], [[Richard Foreman]], and [[Julie Taymor]]. He also enhanced the influence of Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theatres.{{fact|date=November 2007}} |
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He was born in New York City to parents |
He was born in New York City to parents Don and Betty Gussow, grew up in [[Rockville Centre, New York]] on [[Long Island]], and attended [[South Side High School (Rockville Centre, New York)|South Side High School]].<ref>Gussow, Mel. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E1DF1E39F931A25752C1A961958260 "AT LUNCH WITH: Doris Kearns Goodwin; Foundations of a Lifetime, Found in the Box Scores"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[November 12]], [[1997]]. Accessed [[December 12]], [[2007]]. "In common with Ms. Goodwin, I grew up in Rockville Centre. Her older sister, Jeanne, was a classmate of mine at South Side High School."</ref> He went to [[Middlebury College]], where he was editor of ''The Campus'', graduating in [[1955]] with a Bachelors degree in American literature. He earned a Masters degree from the [[Columbia University]] Graduate School of Journalism in [[1956]]. |
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[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E1DF1E39F931A25752C1A961958260] "AT LUNCH WITH: Doris Kearns Goodwin; Foundations of a Lifetime, Found in the Box Scores"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[November 12]], [[1997]].</ref>. "In common with Ms. Goodwin, I grew up in Rockville Centre. Her older sister, Jeanne, was a classmate of mine at South Side High School."</ref> He went to [[Middlebury College]], where he was editor of ''The Campus'', graduating in [[1955]] with a Bachelors degree in American literature. He earned a Masters degree from the [[Columbia University]] Graduate School of Journalism in [[1956]]. |
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After two years in the U.S. Army as a newspaper writer for ''The Army Heidelberg'', he was hired by ''[[Newsweek]]'', where he became a movie and |
After two years in the U.S. Army as a newspaper writer for ''The Army Heidelberg'', he was hired by ''[[Newsweek]]'', where he became a movie and theatre critic. His first review of a Broadway play was ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' in 1962. This began a life-long relationship with the play's author, Edward Albee, resulting in Gussow's 1999 biography of the playwright, ''Edward Albee: A Singular Journey''. |
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He wrote reviews for The |
He wrote reviews for The New York Times starting in 1969. He authored eight books, including a series of four which were "conversations" with playwrights [[Arthur Miller]], [[Samuel Beckett]], Harold Pinter, and Sir [[Tom Stoppard]]. Jesse McKinley notes that Gussow's interview collections became "staples of college drama curriculums and the libraries of gossip-loving theater fans." He brought many new talents to public attention, including Athol Fugard, Mac Wellman, Michael Gambon, Bill Irwin, Spalding Gray, and [[Whoopi Goldberg]]. |
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He kept working until [[April 6]] [[2005]], just three weeks before his death, writing an obituary, along with fellow New York Times writer Charles McGrath, for [[Saul Bellow]]. |
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In [[1970]] he and his |
In [[1970]] he, and his family, as well as actor [[Dustin Hoffman]], lived in a townhouse at 16 West 11th Street. The building next door, 18 West 11th Street, was destroyed in an explosion. It was inhabited by five members of the The Weathermen who had a bomb factory in the basement with enough explosives that potentially could have leveled everything on both sides of West 11th Street and West 10th Street. |
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Gussow also owned and operated a [[New York City]] real estate agency.<ref>"Real Estate Agents & Agencies - Residential & Commercial", "New York Listings", ''LOOBOO.com'' [http://www.looboo.com/list/US/NY/New_York/realtors#Gussow].</ref>. |
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He died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital from [[bone cancer]]. He was 71 and lived in Greenwich Village, New York City, with his wife Ann Gussow. <ref>"Mel Gussow, Critic, Dies at 71: A Champion of Playwrights", ''The New York Times'', 1 May 2005.</ref>. |
He died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital from [[bone cancer]]. He was 71 and lived in Greenwich Village, New York City, with his wife Ann Gussow. <ref>"Mel Gussow, Critic, Dies at 71: A Champion of Playwrights", ''The New York Times'', 1 May 2005.</ref>. |
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In 2008, he was posthumously inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. |
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==Family== |
==Family== |
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Gussow is survived by his wife, Ann, and their son, Ethan |
Gussow is survived by his wife, Ann, and their son, Ethan and a younger brother, Paul Gussow, a resident of [[Brooklyn, New York]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gussow, |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gussow, Mel}} |
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[[Category:People from New York City]] |
[[Category:People from New York City]] |
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[[Category:People from Town of Hempstead, New York]] |
[[Category:People from Town of Hempstead, New York]] |
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Revision as of 20:53, 4 March 2008
Mel Gussow | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 19 1933 |
| Status | married, 1963 |
| Died | April 29 2005 |
| Occupation(s) | Theatre critic, movie critic, author |
| Notable credit(s) | The New York Times; Newsweek; The Army Heidelberg; |
| Spouse | Ann Beebe Gussow |
| Children | Ethan Meredith Gussow |
| Parent(s) | Don and Betty Gussow |
Mel Gussow (December 19 1933 – April 29 2005) was an influential American theatre critic who wrote for The New York Times for 35 years. His writing helped further the careers of: actors such as Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, Matthew Broderick and Sigourney Weaver; playwrights, including Sam Shepard, David Mamet, John Guare, Harold Pinter, Edward Albee and Sir Tom Stoppard; and theatre wunderkinds such as Robert Wilson, Charles Ludlam, Richard Foreman, and Julie Taymor. He also enhanced the influence of Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and regional theatres.[citation needed]
He was born in New York City to parents Don and Betty Gussow, grew up in Rockville Centre, New York on Long Island, and attended South Side High School.[1] He went to Middlebury College, where he was editor of The Campus, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelors degree in American literature. He earned a Masters degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1956.
After two years in the U.S. Army as a newspaper writer for The Army Heidelberg, he was hired by Newsweek, where he became a movie and theatre critic. His first review of a Broadway play was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1962. This began a life-long relationship with the play's author, Edward Albee, resulting in Gussow's 1999 biography of the playwright, Edward Albee: A Singular Journey.
He wrote reviews for The New York Times starting in 1969. He authored eight books, including a series of four which were "conversations" with playwrights Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Sir Tom Stoppard. Jesse McKinley notes that Gussow's interview collections became "staples of college drama curriculums and the libraries of gossip-loving theater fans." He brought many new talents to public attention, including Athol Fugard, Mac Wellman, Michael Gambon, Bill Irwin, Spalding Gray, and Whoopi Goldberg.
He kept working until April 6 2005, just three weeks before his death, writing an obituary, along with fellow New York Times writer Charles McGrath, for Saul Bellow.
In 1970 he, and his family, as well as actor Dustin Hoffman, lived in a townhouse at 16 West 11th Street. The building next door, 18 West 11th Street, was destroyed in an explosion. It was inhabited by five members of the The Weathermen who had a bomb factory in the basement with enough explosives that potentially could have leveled everything on both sides of West 11th Street and West 10th Street.
He died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital from bone cancer. He was 71 and lived in Greenwich Village, New York City, with his wife Ann Gussow. [2].
In 2008, he was posthumously inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
Family
Gussow is survived by his wife, Ann, and their son, Ethan and a younger brother, Paul Gussow, a resident of Brooklyn, New York.
References
- ^ Gussow, Mel. "AT LUNCH WITH: Doris Kearns Goodwin; Foundations of a Lifetime, Found in the Box Scores", The New York Times, November 12, 1997. Accessed December 12, 2007. "In common with Ms. Goodwin, I grew up in Rockville Centre. Her older sister, Jeanne, was a classmate of mine at South Side High School."
- ^ "Mel Gussow, Critic, Dies at 71: A Champion of Playwrights", The New York Times, 1 May 2005.