Abel Green

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. 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. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  6. "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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