Maurice Zolotow
Encyclopedia
Maurice Zolotow was a show business
biographer. He wrote books and magazine articles. His articles appeared in publications including Life
, Collier's Weekly
, Reader's Digest
, Look
, Los Angeles, and many others. His book Marilyn Monroe
was the first written on the iconic actress and the only one published during her lifetime.
Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, where he met his future wife, Charlotte Shapiro. In 1936, after graduation, Zolotow took a job at Billboard
, then a publication covering not just the music business, but all aspects of show business. Zolotow was an early jazz
lover and gave Duke Ellington
his first national review. Zolotow remained devoted to pop culture, literature (one of his closest friends was poet Delmore Schwartz
), politics, and magic. As a child, Zolotow recalled seeing Harry Houdini
perform at Coney Island
and based his novel, The Great Balsamo, on the famous magician. In later life, Zolotow befriended contemporary magician Ricky Jay
.
Other biographies by Zolotow include Shooting Star, about John Wayne
, Stagestruck: The Romance of Alfred Lunt
and Lynn Fontanne
, concerning the husband and wife Broadway legends, and Billy Wilder in Hollywood, about the Oscar-winning director and screenwriter. He also wrote shorter celebrity profiles on such entertainers as Tallulah Bankhead
, Walter Matthau
, Grace Kelly
, and Milton Berle
. References to his magazine work and his compilation of shorter profiles, It Takes All Kinds, may be found in Wikipedia under entries for Jack Webb
, Samuel Sorenson Adams
, and Richard Himber
.
Zolotow also wrote occasionally on food and alcohol, including several articles on the latter for Playboy
. One, a 1971 piece on absinthe, has been widely reprinted. His book, Confessions of a Race Track Fiend, describes Zolotow's own experiences playing the horses at Southern California tracks.
He lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
, for much of his adult life, but moved to Los Angeles, California
, after his divorce. He had two children, poker enthusiast Steve Zolotow
and author Crescent Dragonwagon
. His former wife, to whom he was married from 1938 to 1969, is children's author and editor Charlotte Zolotow
.
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
biographer. He wrote books and magazine articles. His articles appeared in publications including Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
, Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
, Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
, Los Angeles, and many others. His book Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
was the first written on the iconic actress and the only one published during her lifetime.
Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, where he met his future wife, Charlotte Shapiro. In 1936, after graduation, Zolotow took a job at Billboard
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...
, then a publication covering not just the music business, but all aspects of show business. Zolotow was an early jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
lover and gave Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
his first national review. Zolotow remained devoted to pop culture, literature (one of his closest friends was poet Delmore Schwartz
Delmore Schwartz
Delmore Schwartz was an American poet and short story writer from Brooklyn, New York.-Biography:Schwartz was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Harry and Rose, both Romanian Jews, separated when Schwartz was nine, and their divorce had a profound effect on him. Later, in 1930,...
), politics, and magic. As a child, Zolotow recalled seeing Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
perform at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
and based his novel, The Great Balsamo, on the famous magician. In later life, Zolotow befriended contemporary magician Ricky Jay
Ricky Jay
Richard Jay Potash , better known by the stage name Ricky Jay, is an American stage magician, actor, and writer. He is a sleight-of-hand expert and is notable for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter.-Life and career:...
.
Other biographies by Zolotow include Shooting Star, about John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, Stagestruck: The Romance of Alfred Lunt
Alfred Lunt
Alfred Lunt was an American stage director and actor, often identified for a long-time professional partnership with his wife, actress Lynn Fontanne...
and Lynn Fontanne
Lynn Fontanne
Lynn Fontanne was a British actress and major stage star in the United States for over 40 years. She teamed with her husband Alfred Lunt.She lived in the United States for more than 60 years but never relinquished her British citizenship. Lunt and Fontanne shared a special Tony Award in 1970...
, concerning the husband and wife Broadway legends, and Billy Wilder in Hollywood, about the Oscar-winning director and screenwriter. He also wrote shorter celebrity profiles on such entertainers as Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an award-winning American actress of the stage and screen, talk-show host, and bonne vivante...
, Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau
Walter Matthau was an American actor best known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon, as well as his role as Coach Buttermaker in the 1976 comedy The Bad News Bears...
, Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
, and Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
. References to his magazine work and his compilation of shorter profiles, It Takes All Kinds, may be found in Wikipedia under entries for Jack Webb
Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
, Samuel Sorenson Adams
Samuel Sorenson Adams
Soren Sorensen "Sam" Adams was an inventor and manufacturer of novelty products, including the Joy Buzzer.-Biography:...
, and Richard Himber
Richard Himber
Richard Himber was an American bandleader, composer, violinist, magician and practical joker.-Early life:He was born as Herbert Richard Imber in Newark, New Jersey to the owner of a chain of meat stores...
.
Zolotow also wrote occasionally on food and alcohol, including several articles on the latter for Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
. One, a 1971 piece on absinthe, has been widely reprinted. His book, Confessions of a Race Track Fiend, describes Zolotow's own experiences playing the horses at Southern California tracks.
He lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in the southwest part of the town of Greenburgh. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 7,849. It lies on U.S. Route 9, "Broadway" in Hastings...
, for much of his adult life, but moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, after his divorce. He had two children, poker enthusiast Steve Zolotow
Steve Zolotow
Steve Zolotow is an American businessman and professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has won two bracelets at the World Series of Poker. He was one of the regulars at the famed Mayfair Club while he lived in New York City.-New York Years:...
and author Crescent Dragonwagon
Crescent Dragonwagon
Crescent Dragonwagon is an author, writer, teacher, and performer. She has written two novels, several cookbooks, and one book of poetry....
. His former wife, to whom he was married from 1938 to 1969, is children's author and editor Charlotte Zolotow
Charlotte Zolotow
Charlotte Zolotow is an American author, poet, editor, and publisher of many books for children ....
.