Allen Zwerdling
Encyclopedia
Allen Zwerdling was a co-founder of Back Stage
, the "casting bible" for theater performers.
, New York
and performed with the Players Guild of Manhattan from 1936 to 1941. before enlisting in the Army Air Force. In the Army during World War II, Zwerdling directed plays and edited a military newspaper. Following his military service, he established the American Players Theater in Zurich
, Switzerland
and became director of the Kansas City Resident Theater.
After returning to New York City
in 1948, he was hired by Show Business
as an editor. Ira Eaker
was the advertising manager for the publication and the two developed a vision for a publication listing casting notices. The two approached The Village Voice
with the idea of adding a section to that paper listing notices, but were rejected.
They went out on their own and started Back Stage in 1960 with a run of ten thousand copies per week, reaching a peak circulation of 32,000. The companion Back Stage West was established in 1994 to reach Los Angeles-area readers and has 24,000 readers. The Backstage.com web site has 20,000 paid subscribers. despite the seemingly small circulation numbers, the various versions of Back Stage are often passed on between actors and others in related professions looking for work and information about the industry.
Back Stage was sold to Billboard Publications
in 1986. His partner, Ira Eaker, died in 2002.
Zwerdling died at age 86 on January 12, 2009 at his home in Rosendale, New York
, where he had retired to a farm there after selling Back Stage. He had been married to Shirley M. Zwerdling who died a month before him. He was survived by two daughters, a son and a grandson.
Back Stage
Back Stage is an entertainment-industry brand aimed at people working in film and the performing arts, with a special focus on casting, job opportunities, and career advice.Back Stage publishes a weekly tabloid-sized trade magazine in the U.S...
, the "casting bible" for theater performers.
Biography
Zwerdling was born on October 12, 1922 in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and performed with the Players Guild of Manhattan from 1936 to 1941. before enlisting in the Army Air Force. In the Army during World War II, Zwerdling directed plays and edited a military newspaper. Following his military service, he established the American Players Theater in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and became director of the Kansas City Resident Theater.
After returning to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1948, he was hired by Show Business
Show Business Weekly
Show Business, also known as Show Business Weekly, is a performing arts trade magazine published by Manhattan-based publisher Show Business Inc. The magazine's editorial mission is to guide actors, singers and dancers toward success in their performing arts careers...
as an editor. Ira Eaker
Ira Eaker (Back Stage)
Ira Eaker was a co-founder of Back Stage, a weekly newspaper aimed at the theater, television and movie industries that is considered a "must-read" for actors and other professionals looking for jobs and industry information....
was the advertising manager for the publication and the two developed a vision for a publication listing casting notices. The two approached The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
with the idea of adding a section to that paper listing notices, but were rejected.
They went out on their own and started Back Stage in 1960 with a run of ten thousand copies per week, reaching a peak circulation of 32,000. The companion Back Stage West was established in 1994 to reach Los Angeles-area readers and has 24,000 readers. The Backstage.com web site has 20,000 paid subscribers. despite the seemingly small circulation numbers, the various versions of Back Stage are often passed on between actors and others in related professions looking for work and information about the industry.
Back Stage was sold to Billboard Publications
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
in 1986. His partner, Ira Eaker, died in 2002.
Zwerdling died at age 86 on January 12, 2009 at his home in Rosendale, New York
Rosendale, New York
Rosendale is a town in the center of Ulster County, New York, United States. It once contained a village of the same name, which was dissolved through a vote. The population was 6,075 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, where he had retired to a farm there after selling Back Stage. He had been married to Shirley M. Zwerdling who died a month before him. He was survived by two daughters, a son and a grandson.