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. 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 the film ''Playthings of Passion'', signing it "Abel". 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".

After Silverman died in 1933, Green took over as editor of ''Variety''. Green was responsible for the creation of much of ''Variety'' characteristic jargon, including the 1935 headline "Sticks Nix Hick Pix"; in his obituary, ''Time'' said that if ''Variety'' was the Bible of show business, then Green "was its King James". In 1951, Green collaborated with Joe Laurie Jr. on ''Show Biz: From Vaude to Video'', a history of show business. He also edited ''The Spice of Variety'' in 1952, a compilation of ''Variety'' articles.

Green co-wrote the 1933 film '' Mr. Broadway'' with Ed Sullivan. He appeared in the 1947 film '' Copacabana''.

He married Grace Fenn on June 3, 1921, and was married for 52 years. Like Silverman, Green always wore a bowtie.

He died of a heart attack at his home at 55 Central Park West.

Bibliography

*''Inside "Variety": The Story of the Bible of Show Business (1905-1987)'' by Peter Besas. Madrid: Ars Millenii, 2000.
*''God Wears a Bow Tie: A Novel of Show Business'' by Lyle Stuart. New York: Greenberg, 1949.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Abel
1900 births
1973 deaths
American editors
New York University alumni
20th-century American non-fiction writers
Variety (magazine) editors