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{{for|the American singer|Al Goodman (singer)}}
{{for|the American singer|Al Goodman (singer)}}
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2009}}
{{More citations needed |date=January 2021}}


{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Al Goodman
| name = Al Goodman
| image = Al Goodman 1938.JPG
| image = Al Goodman 1938.JPG
| image_upright =
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Goodman in 1938
| caption = Goodman in 1938
| background = non_performing_personnel
| native_name = Ал Гудман
| native_name = Ал Гудман
| native_name_lang = Russian
| native_name_lang = Russian
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| alias = Alfred Goodman
| alias = Alfred Goodman
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1890|08|12}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1890|08|12}}
| birth_place = [[Nikopol, Ukraine]], [[Russian Empire]]
| birth_place = [[Nikopol, Ukraine|Nikopol]], [[Russian Empire]] <br/>(present-day [[Nikopol, Ukraine|Nikopol]], [[Ukraine]])
| origin =
| origin =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1972|01|10|1890|08|12}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1972|01|10|1890|08|12}}
| death_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], USA
| death_place = New York City, USA
| genre = Musical
| genre = Musical
| occupation = [[musical director]]
| occupation = [[musical director]]
| instrument =
| instrument =
| years_active = 1907–1960s
| years_active = 1907–1960s
| label = [[RCA Victor]]
| label = [[RCA Victor]]; [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| associated_acts =
| associated_acts =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} -->
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} or {{Official URL}} -->
| module =
| module =
| module2 =
| module2 =
| module3 =
| module3 =
}}
}}
'''Al Goodman''' (August 12, 1890 in [[Nikopol, Ukraine]] – January 10, 1972 in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]) was a [[conducting|conductor]], [[songwriter]], stage composer, [[musical director]], [[arranger]], and [[pianist]].
'''Alfred Goodman'''<ref name="who">{{cite news |title=Who's Who on the Stage |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/103594176 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=May 10, 1925 |page=X 2|id={{ProQuest|103594176}} |via = [[ProQuest]]}}</ref> (August 12, 1890 – January 10, 1972) was a [[conducting|conductor]], [[songwriter]], stage composer, [[musical director]], [[arranger]], and [[pianist]].


==Early years==
Graduate of the [[Baltimore City College]] and the [[Peabody Conservatory]] in [[Baltimore]], musician in a nickelodeon, and chorus boy in one of the Milton Aborn's operettas, Goodman was first introduced to musical comedy by the late Earl Carroll, who persuaded him to collaborate in producing his musical, ''So Long Letty''.
Goodman was born in [[Nikopol, Ukraine]],{{Citation needed |date=January 2021}} (another source says that he was born in Odessa, Ukraine).<ref name=who/> His father, Tobias Goodman,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Spiegel |first1=Irving |title=Of Al (Not B.) Goodman |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/106969666 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 15, 1944 |page=X 7|id={{ProQuest|106969666}} |via = [[ProQuest]]}}</ref> was a cantor in a synagogue in Odessa. Goodman sang in a choir when he was 5 years old<ref name="cc">{{cite book |last1=Musiker |first1=Naomi |last2=Musiker |first2=Reuben |title=Conductors and Composers of Popular Orchestral Music: A Biographical and Discographical Sourcebook |date=25 February 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-91777-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CH3sAgAAQBAJ&q=%22Al+Goodman%22+music&pg=PT117 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and had become fluent in reading music by age 6. When he was about 7, the family left Russia to escape a [[pogrom]]. Disguised as farmers, they made their way to Romania. There they lost their money but escaped to the United States and settled in Baltimore. Goodman graduated from [[Baltimore City College]] and the [[Peabody Conservatory]] in [[Baltimore]]. He earned money by playing piano for films at the Pickwick Theatre in Baltimore.<ref name="who" />


==Career==
The success, followed by the hit "Sinbad," which he produced with [[Al Jolson]], led to positions as orchestra conductor for many [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions including the highly successful ''Flyin’ High'', ''[[The Student Prince]]'', and ''[[Blossom Time]]''. In all, during this period of his career, Goodman directed over 150 first-night performances and became one of the Great White Way's most popular conductors.
Goodman worked as a musician in a nickelodeon and chorus boy in one of the Milton Aborn's operettas.<ref name=":0" /> Before he was 20, Goodman began working in Chicago as orchestrator for [[M. Witmark & Sons]], a music publishing company. He moved to Los Angeles, where he began conducting in addition to composing and arranging. There, he met [[Al Jolson]], which led to his going to New York to become Jolson's conductor.<ref name="who" />


Goodman was first introduced to musical comedy by the late Earl Carroll, who persuaded him to collaborate in producing his musical, ''So Long Letty''. The success, followed by the hit "Sinbad,"<ref name=":0" /> which he produced with Al Jolson, led to positions as orchestra conductor for many [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions including the highly successful ''Flyin’ High'', ''[[The Student Prince]]'', and ''[[Blossom Time (operetta)|Blossom Time]]''. In all, during this period of his career, Goodman directed over 150 first-night performances and became one of the Great White Way's most popular conductors.{{Citation needed |date=January 2021}} He debuted as a musical director on Broadway with ''Canary Cottage'' (1917), and his final Broadway production was ''[[Hold On to Your Hats|Hold on to Your Hats]]'' (1940).<ref>{{cite web |title=Al Goodman |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/al-goodman-3927 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112080321/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/al-goodman-3927 |archive-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>
⚫
He was in such demand that it was not uncommon for him to conduct the orchestra of a show for the first few performances, and then hand the baton over to another while he prepared for a new production. In addition to his many assignments as one of [[RCA Victor]]'s most talented conductors and arrangers, Goodman was kept busy directing the music for various radio network shows including ''[[The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air]]'' (1932), ''[[Palmolive Beauty Box Theater]]'' (1935-1937), ''[[Your Hit Parade]]'' (1935-1938), ''[[The Fred Allen Show]]'' (1945-1949), and his pet program, ''The Prudential Family''.


⚫
He was in such demand that it was not uncommon for him to conduct the orchestra of a show for the first few performances, and then hand the baton over to another while he prepared for a new production. In addition to his many assignments as one of [[RCA Victor]]'s most talented conductors and arrangers, Goodman was kept busy directing the music for radio network shows.
During television's early years, Al Goodman was tapped to supervise and conduct the music for NBC's variety showcase ''[[Colgate Comedy Hour]]'' programs done from New York City.

Programs on which he worked included ''Al Goodman's Musical Album'' (1951-1953),<ref name="rp">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows|date=1999|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|isbn=978-0-7864-4513-4|page=19}}</ref> ''[[The Pepsodent Show|The Bob Hope Show]]'',{{r|rp|page1=47-48}} ''The Family Hour'',{{r|rp|page1=113-114}} ''[[The Fred Allen Show]]'' (1945-1949),{{r|rp|page1=121-122}} ''The Gulf Show'',{{r|rp|page1=141}} ''Hit the Jackpot'',{{r|rp|page1=152}} ''The Intimate Revue'',{{r|rp|page1=164}} ''The James Melton Show'',{{r|rp|page1=171}} ''[[Palmolive Beauty Box Theater]]'' (1935-1937),{{r|rp|page1=264}} ''The Prudential Family Hour'',{{r|rp|page1=276-277}} ''Showboat'',{{r|rp|page1=303}} ''[[Texaco Star Theater]]'',{{r|rp|page1=328-329}} ''[[Your Hit Parade]]'' (1935-1938),{{r|rp|page1=362}} and ''[[The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air]]'' (1932),{{r|rp|page1=364}}

On television, Goodman worked on ''[[Colgate Comedy Hour]]'',<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=199|edition=2nd}}</ref> ''[[The Donald O'Connor Show]]'',{{r|etvs|page1=276}} ''[[Fireball Fun for All]]'',{{r|etvs|page1=343}} and ''Sound Off Time''.{{r|etvs|page1=996}}


Goodman wrote some memorable songs such as "When Hearts Are Young", "Call of Love" and "Twilight". He also worked on several musicals such as ''[[The Band Wagon]]'', ''[[Good News (musical)|Good News]]'' and ''[[Ziegfeld Follies]]''.
Goodman wrote some memorable songs such as "When Hearts Are Young", "Call of Love" and "Twilight". He also worked on several musicals such as ''[[The Band Wagon]]'', ''[[Good News (musical)|Good News]]'' and ''[[Ziegfeld Follies]]''.


==Personal life and death==
Goodman was married to Fannie Sneidman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mrs. Al Goodman |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/115271292 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 15, 1961 |page=88|id={{ProQuest|115271292}} |via = [[ProQuest]]}}</ref> He died in New York City.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*Book: ''Broadway: An Encyclopedia'', by [[Ken Bloom]]
*Book: ''Broadway: An Encyclopedia'', by [[Ken Bloom (writer)|Ken Bloom]]


==External links==
==External links==
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* {{IBDB name|3927|Al Goodman}}
* {{IBDB name|3927|Al Goodman}}
* {{IMDb name|0328998|Al Goodman}}
* {{IMDb name|0328998|Al Goodman}}



{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:Imperial Russian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States]]
[[Category:Jewish American musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish American musicians]]
[[Category:RCA Victor artists]]
[[Category:RCA Victor artists]]
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[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]

[[Category:20th-century American songwriters]]

{{US-music-bio-stub}}
{{Conductor-stub}}
{{US-keyboardist-stub}}
{{US-songwriter-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:42, 17 February 2024

For the American singer, see Al Goodman (singer).
Al Goodman
Ал Гудман
Goodman in 1938
Background information
Also known asAlfred Goodman
Born(1890-08-12)August 12, 1890
Nikopol, Russian Empire
(present-day Nikopol, Ukraine)
DiedJanuary 10, 1972(1972-01-10) (aged 81)
New York City, USA
GenresMusical
Occupationmusical director
Years active1907–1960s
LabelsRCA Victor; Columbia

Alfred Goodman[1] (August 12, 1890 – January 10, 1972) was a conductor, songwriter, stage composer, musical director, arranger, and pianist.

Early years

[edit]

Goodman was born in Nikopol, Ukraine,[citation needed] (another source says that he was born in Odessa, Ukraine).[1] His father, Tobias Goodman,[2] was a cantor in a synagogue in Odessa. Goodman sang in a choir when he was 5 years old[3] and had become fluent in reading music by age 6. When he was about 7, the family left Russia to escape a pogrom. Disguised as farmers, they made their way to Romania. There they lost their money but escaped to the United States and settled in Baltimore. Goodman graduated from Baltimore City College and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. He earned money by playing piano for films at the Pickwick Theatre in Baltimore.[1]

Career

[edit]

Goodman worked as a musician in a nickelodeon and chorus boy in one of the Milton Aborn's operettas.[2] Before he was 20, Goodman began working in Chicago as orchestrator for M. Witmark & Sons, a music publishing company. He moved to Los Angeles, where he began conducting in addition to composing and arranging. There, he met Al Jolson, which led to his going to New York to become Jolson's conductor.[1]

Goodman was first introduced to musical comedy by the late Earl Carroll, who persuaded him to collaborate in producing his musical, So Long Letty. The success, followed by the hit "Sinbad,"[2] which he produced with Al Jolson, led to positions as orchestra conductor for many Broadway productions including the highly successful Flyin’ High, The Student Prince, and Blossom Time. In all, during this period of his career, Goodman directed over 150 first-night performances and became one of the Great White Way's most popular conductors.[citation needed] He debuted as a musical director on Broadway with Canary Cottage (1917), and his final Broadway production was Hold on to Your Hats (1940).[4]

He was in such demand that it was not uncommon for him to conduct the orchestra of a show for the first few performances, and then hand the baton over to another while he prepared for a new production. In addition to his many assignments as one of RCA Victor's most talented conductors and arrangers, Goodman was kept busy directing the music for radio network shows.

Programs on which he worked included Al Goodman's Musical Album (1951-1953),[5] The Bob Hope Show,[5]: 47-48  The Family Hour,[5]: 113-114  The Fred Allen Show (1945-1949),[5]: 121-122  The Gulf Show,[5]: 141  Hit the Jackpot,[5]: 152  The Intimate Revue,[5]: 164  The James Melton Show,[5]: 171  Palmolive Beauty Box Theater (1935-1937),[5]: 264  The Prudential Family Hour,[5]: 276-277  Showboat,[5]: 303  Texaco Star Theater,[5]: 328-329  Your Hit Parade (1935-1938),[5]: 362  and The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air (1932),[5]: 364 

On television, Goodman worked on Colgate Comedy Hour,[6] The Donald O'Connor Show,[6]: 276  Fireball Fun for All,[6]: 343  and Sound Off Time.[6]: 996 

Goodman wrote some memorable songs such as "When Hearts Are Young", "Call of Love" and "Twilight". He also worked on several musicals such as The Band Wagon, Good News and Ziegfeld Follies.

Personal life and death

[edit]

Goodman was married to Fannie Sneidman.[7] He died in New York City.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Who's Who on the Stage". The New York Times. May 10, 1925. p. X 2. ProQuest 103594176. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ a b c Spiegel, Irving (October 15, 1944). "Of Al (Not B.) Goodman". The New York Times. p. X 7. ProQuest 106969666. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ Musiker, Naomi; Musiker, Reuben (25 February 2014). Conductors and Composers of Popular Orchestral Music: A Biographical and Discographical Sourcebook. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-91777-7. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Al Goodman". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  6. ^ a b c d Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  7. ^ "Mrs. Al Goodman". The New York Times. October 15, 1961. p. 88. ProQuest 115271292. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via ProQuest.
  • Book: Broadway: An Encyclopedia, by Ken Bloom
[edit]
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