Samuel Tecumseh Zolotow[1] (May 18, 1898 – October 21, 1993)[2] was an American theater reporter for The New York Times who was known for his tenacity in getting the details about how Broadway shows were performing, relentlessly pursuing producers, press agents and the crowds attending opening nights to get the details he needed for his stories and columns during his half century at the newspaper.
Zolotow served in the United States Navy, enlisting in 1916. After completing his military service, he was hired in December 1919 by The Times to work as a copyboy, though it was not until the 1930s that he had earned his own byline.[3]
Arthur Gelb, a former theater critic and later managing editor of The Times described Zolotow as someone who could get any theater information he sought, as long as he had "a corned-beef sandwich, a cigar and a telephone... even if it took him all day and all night". Once on the phone with producer Max Gordon, trying to pump him for details with little success, Gordon had to tell Zolotow over the phone "Sam, don't look at me that way". Attending theater openings for decades, he could get his best information by working the crowds. During a 1930s call to Elmer Rice, Zolotow insisted on getting accurate numbers for Rice's current production and was left dumbfounded when Rice retorted "how much money did The New York Times take in last week?"[3]
On the side, Zolotow wrote a guide for new theater productions, ran a messenger service and early on would take wagers on horses. He once left a note that he had left on vacation to spend a week at Belmont Park.[3]
Deathedit
A resident of Santa Monica, California, Zolotow died of stomach cancer on October 21, 1993, at age 94 at the Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles.[3] He was survived by two daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. His wife of 70 years had died in 1991.[3]
Referencesedit
^Mantle, Burns (April 21, 1935). "Which Is the Season's Prize Play?". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 103 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Samuel Zolotow in Social Security Death Index". Fold3. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
^ abcdefCollins, Glenn. "Sam Zolotow, a Theater Reporter For Many Decades, Is Dead at 94", The New York Times, October 23, 1993. Accessed October 18, 2009.
^Gilroy, Harry. "Broadway Hails Sam Zolotow Of Times at Retirement Fete", The New York Times, May 10, 1969. Accessed October 19, 2009.
zolotow, samuel, tecumseh, zolotow, 1898, october, 1993, american, theater, reporter, york, times, known, tenacity, getting, details, about, broadway, shows, were, performing, relentlessly, pursuing, producers, press, agents, crowds, attending, opening, nights. Samuel Tecumseh Zolotow 1 May 18 1898 October 21 1993 2 was an American theater reporter for The New York Times who was known for his tenacity in getting the details about how Broadway shows were performing relentlessly pursuing producers press agents and the crowds attending opening nights to get the details he needed for his stories and columns during his half century at the newspaper Contents 1 Theater reporting 2 Death 3 References 4 External linksTheater reporting editZolotow served in the United States Navy enlisting in 1916 After completing his military service he was hired in December 1919 by The Times to work as a copyboy though it was not until the 1930s that he had earned his own byline 3 Arthur Gelb a former theater critic and later managing editor of The Times described Zolotow as someone who could get any theater information he sought as long as he had a corned beef sandwich a cigar and a telephone even if it took him all day and all night Once on the phone with producer Max Gordon trying to pump him for details with little success Gordon had to tell Zolotow over the phone Sam don t look at me that way Attending theater openings for decades he could get his best information by working the crowds During a 1930s call to Elmer Rice Zolotow insisted on getting accurate numbers for Rice s current production and was left dumbfounded when Rice retorted how much money did The New York Times take in last week 3 Over his 50 years with the paper Zolotow had written five columns weekly arriving early and doing his best to advocate for inclusion of the copy he wrote for each day s paper He worked alongside such critics as Brooks Atkinson Clive Barnes George S Kaufman Stanley Kauffmann Walter Kerr Howard Taubman and Alexander Woollcott 3 A May 1969 retirement party was attended by 500 at the Playbill Restaurant in the Royal Manhattan Hotel with best wishes sent by individuals from the theater such as Alfred Lunt Lynn Fontanne and Leslie Uggams as well as from Mayor John Lindsay Senator Jacob K Javits and President Richard Nixon 4 On the side Zolotow wrote a guide for new theater productions ran a messenger service and early on would take wagers on horses He once left a note that he had left on vacation to spend a week at Belmont Park 3 Death editA resident of Santa Monica California Zolotow died of stomach cancer on October 21 1993 at age 94 at the Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles 3 He was survived by two daughters two sons eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren His wife of 70 years had died in 1991 3 References edit Mantle Burns April 21 1935 Which Is the Season s Prize Play Daily News New York New York p 103 via Newspapers com Samuel Zolotow in Social Security Death Index Fold3 Retrieved 2021 04 15 a b c d e f Collins Glenn Sam Zolotow a Theater Reporter For Many Decades Is Dead at 94 The New York Times October 23 1993 Accessed October 18 2009 Gilroy Harry Broadway Hails Sam Zolotow Of Times at Retirement Fete The New York Times May 10 1969 Accessed October 19 2009 External links editSam Zolotow papers 1944 1967 bulk 1962 1967 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sam Zolotow amp oldid 1217823398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
