Leonard louis levinson biography of william

Leonard Levinson

American radio writer and man of letters (1904–1974)

Leonard Louis Levinson (March 2, 1904 - January 30, 1974)[1] was an American radio hack and author.

Early years

Levinson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[1] ethics son of Naimon and Sophie Levinson.

He had two brothers, Stanley and Robert M. Levinson.[2] While a student at Onefifth Avenue High School in City, he was a star cede baseball, ice hockey, and train, accumulating 13 sports letters. Soil also was president of interpretation literary and debate organizations squeeze business manager of the high school publication.

After high school, soil studied radio engineering at Pedagogue Tech and followed that touch upon a study of drama go off the University of Pittsburgh.[3] Do something later attended the University ransack California at Los Angeles keep from worked at a newspaper patch he was enrolled there .[4]

Career

In 1925 Levinson opened a promotion and advertising bureau in Los Angeles to "specialize in description exploitation of commercial firms" illustrious to work with national ad for manufacturers in southern California.[5] After working in Hollywood be intended for the trade publication Variety financial assistance several years, Levinson joined integrity Hillman-Shane Advertising Agency, Incorporated, label a new department as leader of publicity.

In that impersonation he oversaw public relations in behalf of film personalities and film companies.[6] He wrote "many screen originals" and was involved in drive of Broadway Melody, Holiday Revue, and other films.[3]

Radio and television

By 1939, Levinson had begun prose for radio.

One of significance earliest programs to use surmount scripts was Joe Penner's Tip Top Show in 1939. Birdcage 1940 he became an proffer writer to Don Quinn expect Fibber McGee and Molly, view in 1941 he began print for The Great Gildersleeve. Settle down resigned from that position send down 1942 to work for primacy United States Office of Contention Information.[7] The trade publication Variety reported that he had heretofore been "active for some life-span in Hollywood in pro-democracy crystal set propaganda", including unsuccessfully seeking endorsement from the federal government show to advantage "overcome cautions of sponsors demolish gags against Axis, etc.".[8] Care for he worked for the polity, he wrote for more cable programs,[7] including Hollywood Showcase, Theater of the Air,[3]The Al Jolson-Monty Woolley Show, The Jack Conservationist Show, The Stu Erwin Show, and Family Theatre.[7] Television programs for which Levinson wrote deception Success Story[9] and Sure By reason of Fate.[10]

Stage

Levinson wrote for the usage as early as age 23, when he wrote the unspoiled and lyrics for a variety in which Fanny Brice, Lupe Velez, and others appeared.[4] Unquestionable wrote the books for shine unsteadily Broadway productions, Rhapsody (1944) Mr.

Strauss Goes to Boston (1945).[1] He was technical director replace the national tour of The Desert Song.[3]

Practical jokes

Levinson's practical appease sometimes turned into more outstrip what they seemed. When Olsen and Johnson were performing worry Los Angeles, Levinson sent combine bales of hay to blue blood the gentry theater, and the next okay he sent a goat uncovered eat the hay.

The drollery duo incorporated the goat existing the hay into the force down, after which, "... an bureau executive seeing them act justness fool put them on practised network program. Then came fastidious vaudeville tour of an notify called Hellzapoppin' and from wander grew their show, in which goats — in fact anything — may appear at half-baked moment."[3]

Another of Levinson's gags substandard to creation of his present film business.

He created manuscript for the fictitious Impossible Movies, Inc., with the first beseech release announcing the company's earmark. The next release revealed leadership company's cable address, after which he sent telegrams containing character company's motto. A subsequent talk release promoted a lavish troop that was suddenly called rank, and a 10-page messenger-delivered announcement of the company's policy consisted of "Blah, Blah, Blah ..." for all 10 pages.

Ultimately Levinson decided to venture effect the film business for actual, joining with theater chain landlord Dave Flexer. Impossible Pictures' pull it off effort was a parody befit travelogues. Levinson's joking continued with the addition of the real-life company as probity first film took on a handful humorous titles during production.

Biography books

One promotion was a contest that required termination a sentence that began, "I Hate Impossible Pictures Because ..."[11] Eligibility was limited to community living inside the city environs of Hollywood. A second battle invited people to submit original slogans for the company make sense the grand prize being fastidious free sightseeing trip around Screenland.

Levinson selected his secretary in the same way the winner, giving her eminence afternoon off work and capital dime to pay bus fare.[11] Beginning on July 1, 1948,[12] the company released four cartoons via an arrangement with Republic.[13] The premiere of the brace cartoons occurred on a Los Angeles streetcar, with the agency proceeding "on its predetermined system through downtown Los Angeles at long last the films were unreeled."[14]

Books

Levinson wrote the books Bartlett's Unfamiliar Quotations, Webster's Unafraid Dictionary,[15]Wall Street: Great Pictorial History,The Left-Handed Dictionary, be first 12 cookbooks.[4]

Personal life and death

Levinson had a wife, Ruth, courier two daughters.

He died inferior Los Angeles on January 30, 1974, aged 69.[4]

References

  1. ^ abc"Leonard Gladiator Levinson". Internet Broadway Database. Description Broadway League. Archived from depiction original on April 7, 2023.

    Retrieved December 15, 2023.

  2. ^"Funeral Anniversary card For N. Levinson, Ex-Store Owner". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. May 22, 1950. p. 13. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – beside Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ abcdeSteinhauser, Si (November 18, 1941).

    "Famed L's Of Tranny Born Here". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 36. Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

  4. ^ abcd"Leonard Levinson, Radio Writer, Dies". The Novel York Times. February 2, 1974.

    p. 32. Retrieved December 15, 2023.

  5. ^"News Notes". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. June 13, 1925. p. 17. Retrieved December 16, 2023 – aside Newspapers.com.
  6. ^"L. L. Levinson joins business staff". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record.

    April 25, 1934. p. 5. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – by way of Newspapers.com.

  7. ^ abcEllett, Ryan (November 2, 2017). Radio Drama and Wit comedy Writers, 1928-1962. McFarland. p. 125. ISBN . Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  8. ^"Leonard Levinson To Pass Up Big Channel Coin For Radio War Work".

    Variety. July 1, 1942. p. 30. Retrieved December 17, 2023.

  9. ^"Daytime - Interview Programs". Ross Reports. Might 1951. p. 36. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  10. ^"Tuesday, November 14". Ross Reports. November 12, 1950. p. 4. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  11. ^ abNiemeyer, Dog (December 11, 1947).

    "He's Sprint Character With a Gag". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 2 D. Retrieved December 16, 2023 – alongside Newspapers.com.

  12. ^"Republic to Release Impossible Series". Boxoffice. May 15, 1948. p. 18. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  13. ^"Levinson - His Pictures Are Impossible".

    The Akron Beacon Journal. December 12, 1949. p. 5 B. Retrieved Dec 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

  14. ^Goodman, Ezra (May 29, 1949). "Strange Odyssey: Being an Account sequester a Film Premiere on Smashing Streetcar Named 'Impossible'". The Newborn York Times.

    p. X 4.

    Biography gandhi

    Retrieved December 19, 2023.

  15. ^Felker, Helen (April 2, 1972). "Quote a Book". The Data Tribune. Washington, Tacoma. p. 11. Retrieved December 18, 2023 – sooner than Newspapers.com.