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Sam Levene

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Not to be confused withSamm Levine.

Sam Levene
Levene inGung Ho!(1943)
Born
Scholem Lewin

(1905-08-28)August 28, 1905
Šack,Belarus[1]
DiedDecember 28, 1980(1980-12-28)(aged 75)
New York City, U.S.
Resting placeMount Carmel Cemetery,Glendale, Queens
Alma materAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Years active1927–1980
Spouse(s)Constance Kane
(m.1953;div.19??)
Children1

Sam Levene(bornScholem Lewin;August 28, 1905 – December 28, 1980) was an AmericanBroadway,films, radio, and televisionactoranddirector.In a career spanning over five decades, he appeared in over 50 comedy and drama theatrical stage productions. He also acted in over 50 films across the United States and abroad.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Levene was born as Scholem Lewin in Belarus,[1]the youngest of five children by a dozen years.[3]He immigrated to the United States when he was two years old. He grew up on theLower East Sideof Manhattan on Avenue D and 8th Street and attended Public School 64.[4]In 1923, Levene dropped out ofStuyvesant High School.Since he had been in the class of Broadway for over five decades, the illustrious dropout was given a special award, his Stuyvesant High School diploma, in a 1976 ceremony held at the New York'sPrinceton Club.[5]

Broadway

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On April 20, 1927, Levene made his Broadway stage debut[6]earning 60 dollars a week with his firstActor's Equitycontract. A five-line role, Levene acted as District Attorney William Thompson in the original Broadway melodramaWall Street,[7]a play that only ran for three weeks[8]at theHudson Theatre.[9]

In 1980, Levene's last and thirty-ninth Broadway credit was his starring role as Daniel Horowitz in the 1980 comedyHorowitz and Mrs. Washingtondirected byJoshua Loganwhich closed after a run of only 10 previews and six performances at theJohn Golden Theatre.[10]Although theHenry Denkercomedy was panned, Levene's star power and comedic performance enabled a five-month tour ofHorowitz and Mrs. Washingtonwhich went on Christmas hiatus on Saturday December 13, 1980, and turned out to be Levene's final stage performance in Canada, just two weeks prior to his death on December 28, 1980.[11]

Levene's Broadway career began with five years of steady employment in nondescript roles in ten Broadway plays, including a series of flops. One titledSolitaire(1929), was a Broadway play about a Coney Island midget that only ran four performances at the now demolishedWaldorf Theatre,partially financed with a $500 last-minute investment from Levene's older brother Joe.[12][13]

Emanuel Azenbergand Eugene Wolsk worked with Levene twice in two Broadway productions and two national tours; the first time as company managers when Levene replacedAlan Kingin the starring role of Dr. Jack Kingsley in the original Broadway production ofThe Impossible Years(1966), which Levene performed 322 times on Broadway and later headlined and starred in the national tour. Six years later, Azenberrg and Wolsk were lead producers when Levene was cast as Al Lewis oppositeJack Albertsonas Willie Clark to co-star inNeil Simon'sThe Sunshine Boys(1972); after performing the role of Al Lewis 466 times in the original Broadway production, Levene and Albertson headlined the subsequent national tour. In his December 21, 1972, review of the original Broadway production ofThe Sunshine BoysinThe New York Times,theatre criticClive Barneswrote, "Jack Albertson as the heart-stricken comic never puts a line wrong. He is always pathetic but never enough to make you cry. Lovely. His acerbic partner, Sam Levene, is as tough as vintage chewing gum, and yet with a sort of credible lovability."[14]

Theatrical career

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Vivian Blaineas Miss Adelaide and Sam Levene as Nathan Detroit in the original 1950 Broadway production ofGuys and Dolls

Levene appeared in over 50 theatrical stage productions in the United States and abroad. A master of farce and comedy, Levene was equally effective in drama as well. Levene's Broadway credits include performances in 39 Broadway productions, 33 of which were performances Levene created in the original Broadway productions, and a 10-monthUSOtour.[15]

Over his 54-year Broadway career, Levene performed in 39 Broadway productions at 29 different Broadway Theaters, and at some Theaters, several times. Levene performed over 1,600 times at the now demolishedPlayhouse Theaterin four original Broadway productions, three of which Levene had starring roles after first appearing inStreet Scene(1929),Three Men on a Horse(1935),Make a Million(1958) andThe Impossible Years(1966). In a 1976 interview with Tom McMorrow for theNew York Daily News.[16]

Playbillcover of Sam Levene as Dr. Jack Kingsley in the original Broadway production ofThe Impossible Years,a role he performed 322 times.

Levene's Broadway credits include starring roles in three Broadway revivals, portraying businessmen Boss Mangan inGeorge Bernard Shaw'sHeartbreak House(1959) directed byHarold Clurman,recreating his original Broadway performance as Patsy, the racetrack gambler originated three decades earlier, in the acclaimed all-star Broadway revival of the smash hit farceThree Men on a Horse(1969) and performing the role of veteran theatre producer Oscar Wolfe in the all-star 1975-19976 Broadway revival ofGeorge S. KaufmanandEdna Ferber'sThe Royal Family(1975) directed byEllis Rabb;the production was filmed for the seriesGreat Performanceson November 9, 1977.[17]

Levene starred in two major UK productions; in 1953, he recreated his original Broadway performance as Nathan Detroit in the first UK production ofGuys and Dollswhich opened atThe Coliseuma few days before the 1953 Coronation which had a run of 553 performances.[18]In 1954, Sam Levene originated the role of Horace Vandergelder in the world premiere production ofThornton Wilder'sThe Matchmaker(1954), initially at theEdinburgh Festivalin Scotland.[19]

Levene originated the "craps-shooter extraordinaire" Nathan Detroit in the American musical Guys and Dolls on the Great White Way in the original 1950 Broadway production directed by the inimitable George S. Kaufman. Levene has been synonymous with the role ofNathan Detroitfor seven decades;Guys and Dollsbook co-authorAbe Burrowsspecifically crafted the role ofNathan Detroitaround and for Levene who signed for the project long before Burrows ever wrote a single word of dialogue, a similar break Burrows said he had when he wroteCactus FlowerforLauren Bacall.InHonest, Abe: Is There Really No Business Like Show Business?,Burrows recalled: "I had the sound of their voices in my head. I knew the rhythm of their speech and it helped make the dialogue sharper and more real." Burrows had the advantage of writing dialogue built around Sam Levene[20]'s New York Jewish cadences. The creative talent ofGuys and Dollsagreed Levene was perfect for the role of Nathan Detroit (Damon Runyonhad been one of Levene's fans). Frank Loesser agreed it was easier adjusting the music to Levene's limitations than substituting a better singer who couldn't act. Levene is the reason the lead role of Nathan Detroit has one major song, the duet "Sue Me".[21]

Hundreds of productions ofGuys and Dollsare staged annually and Sam Levene's comedic performance as Nathan Detroit still makes headlines, largely because it became the gold standard classic.[22]Frank Rich,Chief Theatre Critic,The New York Times,like most critics, lauded the 1992Guys and Dollsrevival directed byJerry Zaksstating: "this is an enchanting rebirth of the show that defines Broadway dazzle." However, regarding Nathan Lane's performance as Nathan Detroit, Frank Rich observed, "The supremely gifted actorNathan Lanedoes not remotely echo the first Nathan Detroit, Sam Levene, for whose New York Jewish cadences the role was written. Mr. Lane is more like a youngJackie Gleasonand usually funny in his own right, though expressions like 'all right, already' and 'so nu?' do not fall trippingly from his tongue. "[23]Los Angeles TimesCritic Emeritus Sylvie Drake reviewed the 1993Guys and Dollstouring production also directed byJerry Zaksat the Hollywood Pantages Theatre had a similar observation, comparingDavid Garrison's portrayal of Nathan Detroit to Sam Levene's original 1950 Broadway performance, writing: "The wiry Garrison's Detroit physically harks back more to the 1950 original played by Sam Levene, than to Nathan Lane, who played the role on Broadway last year. But unlike Levene, Garrison doesn't come across down, dirty or gritty. Knowing this actor's talent, one finds his amiable New York gangster surprisingly bloodless and almost genteel."[24]

Vivian Blaineand Sam Levene meetQueen Elizabethafter Royal Command Variety Performance ofGuys and DollsNovember 2, 1953

Levene performed the role of Nathan Detroit inGuys and Dollsover 1,600 times, initially 41 times in the 1950 pre-Broadway Philadelphia tryout where each performance was different, two years performing his classic role in the original Broadway production, a week's stint at London's Bristol Hippodrome before co-starring with Vivian Blaine for a year in the first UK production, six months performing the role twice daily in a one and half hour version of the Broadway hit at the Royal Nevada's Theatre-in-the Desert, the first Las Vegas production and the 15th anniversary six week production, three weeks in Mineola, New York and three weeks in Paramus, New Jersey in 1965.[25]

Levene reprised his performance as Nathan Detroit on theDecca's original cast recording of the Broadway musicalGuys and Dollsaccording toVariety,original cast album sales totaled 250,000 as of September 1, 1954.Guys and Dollscomposer and lyricistFrank Loesserspecifically wrote "Sue Me" in one octave for Levene and structured the song so he andVivian Blainenever sang their show-stopping duet number together; the son of a cantor, Levene was fluent in Yiddish: "Alright, already, I'm just a no-goodnick; alright, already, it's true, so nu? So sue me." Frank Loesser felt "Nathan Detroit should be played as a brassy Broadway tough guy who sang with more grits than gravy." Levene sang "Sue Me" with "such a wonderful Runyonesque flavor that his singing had been easy to forgive, in fact it had been quite charming in its ineptitude."[26]

Alan Alda,son ofGuys and Dollsco-starRobert Alda,recalls watching Levene perform Nathan Detroit while standing in the wings. InNever Have Your Dog Stuffed; And Other Things I’ve Learned,Alan Alda recalls, "Watching Sam Levene was thrilling. He could ride a moment as if a wild animal. New meanings occurred to him on the spot. Not only did he play the same lines differently every night, but the laughs rolled in from the audience in different places. How did he do it? This kind of spontaneity and this utter commitment to the moment became what I wanted to have. As good as my father was, what I was seeing as they played together a few feet away was the difference between burlesque and theatre, between performing and acting. I chose acting. I wanted to be Sam."[27]

For three decades Levene reprised his role as Patsy fromThree Men on a Horse(1935) numerous times on stage, film, TV and radio; the first time when he made his motion picture debut inThree Men on a Horse(1936) directed and produced byMervyn LeRoy;three times on radio, twoUSOtours playing 200 shows to 120,000 servicemen, the first legitimate U.S. theatrical production mounted overseas. Due to security, the USO cast was reduced from 12 to 7 without losing a minute of running dialogue. According to a May 26, 1945Billboardinterview, Levene said, "the G.I.s' gratefulness is absolutely embarrassing. They express it not only by applause but by meeting you personally and giving you objects which they have fought and bled for. They lose sight of the fact that they are the ones fighting the war."[28]

Playbillcover 1935 original Broadway productionThree Men on a HorseatThe Playhouse Theaterstarring Teddy Hart,Shirley Boothand Sam Levene

Levene as Patsy andShirley Boothas Mabel reprised their original Broadway roles in two ABC radio versions produced by theTheatre Guild on the Air,the first adapted by playwrightArthur Milleraired January 6, 1946;[29]the second aired June 1, 1947 withDavid Wayneas Erwin. Three decades after creating the role of Patsy in the Broadway production ofThree Men On A Horse,Levene reprised the role of Patsy on Broadway inLet It Ride(1961), a Broadway musical which had an abbreviated run of 69 performances at theEugene O'Neill Theatre.Let It Ride(1961) boasted a score by the songwriting team ofJay LivingstonandRay Evans,best known for creating three Oscar-winning songs,Buttons and Bows,Mona LisaandQue Sera, Seraand two other movie songs that were smash hits,Silver BellsandTammy;on television, the team wrote theBonanzaandMister Edtheme songs.[30]Levene performed theLet It Ridetitle song on the Let It Ride float in the 1961Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.Levene performed the role of Patsy one last time in the 1969 all-star Broadway revival ofThree Men On A Horsedirected byGeorge Abbott,the original Broadway director and co-author which was preceded by a national tour Levene directed, starring Levene as Patsy andBert Parksas Erwin. In a 1969 review of the all-star Broadway revival ofThree Men on a Horse,The New York Timestheatre criticClive Barneswrote[31]"Sam Levene originated the role of Patsy in 1935—by now it’s his. Still looking like a man whose eyes have been allocated the wrong size eyelids, still mugging, double taking, offering his celebrated impersonation of an actor impersonating a character that would based himself on Damon Runyon, Mr. Levene is great. No one in the world plays Mr. Levene as he does, And what’s more, no one ever will".

After making his Broadway debut 43 years earlier, Levene made his Off-Broadway debut, starring inIrv Bauer'sA Dream Out of Timeat the Promenade Theatre,[32]Levene's only Off-Broadway appearance.[33]In 1976, Levene was cast as Tubal, Shylock's business partner, in the Broadway production ofThe Merchantbased on an adaptation ofThe Merchant of Venicebut withdrew from the Philadelphia tryout afterZero Mostel,the play's star and Levene's lifelong dear friend died after first collapsing in his dressing room; Levene observed, "I was too close to Zero and a play we both loved, to do it without him."[34]WhenJohn Dexter,the director, asked Levene if he would continue in the show, Levene told Dexter, "We just had one death; we don't need two." Understudy Joseph Leon replaced Zero Mostel for the Broadway production ofThe Merchantwhich closed November 19, 1977, after five performances.[35]Levene's final Broadway credit was performing the starring role of Samuel Horowitz in the Broadway comedyHorowitz and Mrs. Washington(1980) co-starringEsther Rolle,directed byJoshua Logan.[36]In 1980, Levene starred in a summer stock and national tour ofHorowitz and Mrs. Washingtonco-starringClaudia McNeil.

Film career

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Nine years after making his Broadway debut, Levene was lured and moved to Hollywood in 1936 when he made his motion picture debut as Patsy in theWarner Bros.filmThree Men on a Horse(1936) directed and produced byMervyn LeRoy.Levene earned $1,000 a week to recreate on film his comedic Broadway role as Patsy he had played for seventy weeks in the original Broadway production ofThree Men on a Horse(1935).[2]

TrailerforSunday Punch(1942)

Levene had 50 film credits. Levene worked with every major Hollywood studio over his five-decade Hollywood career; 14 of Levene's films were atMGM,which include two appearances as Police Lieutenant Abrams in theThin Manseries:After the Thin Man(1936) andShadow of the Thin Man(1941), plusYellow Jack(1938),The Shopworn Angel(1938),Married Bachelor(1941),Sunday Punch(1942),Grand Central Murder(1942),Whistling in Brooklyn(1943),I Dood It(1943),Shoe Shine Boy(1943 short),Dial 11191950,The Opposite Sex(1956),Designing Woman(1957) andThe Champ(1979). Levene appeared in five RKO films, includingThe Mad Miss Manton(1938);Sing Your Worries Away(1942);The Big Street(1942) andA Likely Story(1947) andCrossfire,the firstB pictureto receive abest picturenomination. Levene appeared in sixUniversal Picturesfilms:Destination Unknown(1942),Gung Ho!(1943),The Killers(1946),Brute Force(1947),Slaughter on Tenth Avenue(1957), andKathy O'(1958). His final film was...And Justice for All(1979).

Levene worked withBarbara Stanwyckin two films, in 1938, Sam Levene co-starred as Lieutenant Brent who "steals a few scenes with his great delivery of lines",[37]inThe Mad Miss Manton(1938), a screwball comedy that starredHenry Fonda;31-year-old Stanwyck earned $60,000 for the film; 33-year-old Fonda earned $25,000, and 35-year-old Sam Levene earned $1,500 a week.[38]The following year Levene appeared as Siggie in film version ofGolden Boy,replacing John Garfield who performed the role in the original Broadway production of theClifford Odetsplay about the brutality of prizefighting; critics praised the performance ofWilliam Holdenas boxer Joe Bonaparte, but it was 27-year-oldLee J. Cobbas the senior Bonaparte and Sam Levene as Holden's taxi driver brother-in-law who walked away with the picture and the reviews.[38]

Film noir

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Levene established himself as one of the stalwarts offilm noir.He is one of several veterans of the genre who are graduates of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, includingLauren Bacall,Hume Cronyn,Kirk Douglas,Nina Foch,Agnes Moorehead,Thelma RitterandEdward G. Robinson.Levene's best known film noir credits include his performance as Samuels, the murdered GI, inCrossfire(1947) and as Lieutenant Lubinsky inThe Killers(1946).[39]The Killersfeatures the movie debut ofBurt Lancaster,who just a year prior was professionally credited as Burton Lancaster when Levene helped the former circus acrobat land a part in the original Broadway production ofA Sound of Huntingstarring Levene. InThe Killers,Sam Levene plays Police Lt. Sam Lubinsky, a childhood friend of the Swede, played by Lancaster; Levene's co-starring role was fortuitous as he was credited in making Lancaster feel at ease in his motion picture debut.It was lucky he was on the set with Burt Lancastermaintained actorJeff Coreybecause Burt didn't feel too comfortable in his first film. Sam would frequently get on his ass. C'mon, c'mon. Do the goddamn thing. You pick up the piece of jewelry. Can't you do that and say the f....ing line?Lancaster was never offended. He appreciated, because he loved Sam; everyone did.[40]When several Hollywood studios initially wanted to sign Lancaster, Levene, who was Lancaster's co-star in the 1946 Broadway melodramaA Sound of Hunting,agreed to represent him; eventually the two actors became lifelong friends. Together Lancaster and Levene fielded offers fromDavid O. Selznick,20th Century-FoxandHal B. Wallis,who had a deal atParamount Pictures,ultimately introducing Lancaster toHarold Hecht,who became Lancaster's long-time agent and Hollywood film production partner. Burt Lancaster and Sam Levene also worked together in two other film noirs, the 1947Brute Force,directed byJules Dassin,Lancaster's second film, which appears on several film noir lists[41][42]and the acclaimed film noirSweet Smell of Success[43][42]included on AFI's Catalogue of Feature Films.[44]

Other Sam Levene noir credits include: Dave Woods, as a newspaper reporter,who gives a performance not to be missed who steals the show as a dirt digging journalist who is ultimately fighting for righteousness,[45]writing hard-hitting articles attacking the police[46]inElia Kazan's crime film noirBoomerang,[47][48]Dr. John Faron, a psychiatrist inDial 1119,[49]Capt. Tonetti in the 1950Guilty Bystander[50][51]and Howard Rysdale in the 1957Slaughter on Tenth Avenue(1957).[52]Alan K. Rode observed "Slaughter on Tenth Avenuewas bolstered by a terrific ensemble cast headed byRichard Egan,Jan Sterling,Julie Adams,Walter Matthau,Dan Duryea,Charles McGrawand Sam Levene, who performs yeoman work as a realpolitik Manhattan district attorney, forced to temper the hard-charging idealism of assistant Egan who inevitably triumphs in the end ".[53]

Radio

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For most of his early film and Broadway stage career, Sam Levene straddled an active schedule with starring roles in a range of productions on all radio networks, including comedic performances and skits along with dramatic and comedy roles in abridged versions of important theatrical stage productions and adaptations on leading series, often reprising roles he had previously played on the Broadway stage and on film. Levene co-starred withOrson Wellesin two important adaptations of stage productions for Welles'The Campbell Playhouse,first as Lefty inBurlesque,February 17, 1939[54]and five weeks later, March 24, 1939, as Owen O'Malley, the John Barrymore part, inTwentieth Century.[55]Levene starred in nineTheatre Guild on the Airproductions; two radio versions ofThree Men on a Horsethe first adapted byArthur Miller[56]aired January 6, 1946; the second June 1, 1947 withDavid Waynejoining the cast as Erwin. A thirdThree Men on a Horseproduction sponsored byLady Estherfor theScreen Guild Playersaired February 28, 1944[57]with Levene as Patsy andCharlie Rugglesas Erwin. OtherTheatre Guild on the Airradio appearances include performing the role of "Banjo" withFred Allenas Sheridan Whiteside in George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart'sThe Man Who Came to Dinner.Levene recreated his original Broadway performance as Sidney Black, the loud-mouth producer, in Moss Hart'sLight Up the SkyoppositeJoan BennettandThelma Ritterfor the Theatre Guild on the Air, April 16, 1951, a role he performed in a live performance on Ford Theatre on CBS TV.[58]

Levene reprised his film role as Dave Woods, the reporter inElia Kazan'sBoomerangforTheatre Guild on the Air;and appeared as Moody, the fight manager, inGolden BoybyClifford Odetsopposite long-time friend and co-starJune HavocandDana Andrewswhom Levene had just worked with filmingBoomerang.For Suspense Radio on CBS, Levene reprised his film role as Samuels, the murdered Jewish soldier, inCrossfire,April 10, 1948. Levene andHavocworked with each many times in radio, film, theatre and television. In 1942, Havoc and Levene co-starred in theRKOfilmSing Your Worries Away.In 1957, Havoc and Levene guest-starred onThe Mother Bitin Season 9 of TV'sStudio Oneseries; in 1959 Levene and Havoc were guest stars inThe Larry Fay Storyfor Season 2 ofThe Untouchables;in a dramatic role, Sam Levene was nightclub owner and mob bossLarry Fay,accused of price fixing milk and June Havoc was Sally Kansas, Fay's lover, who also appeared as a lounge singer in one of Fay's nite clubs.[59]

Levene frequently appeared onFred Allen'sTexaco Star Theatrein a sketch comedy segment known asAllen's Alley.Sam Levene along with 12 major Hollywood and Broadway stars, includingHelen Hayes,Fredric MarchandRalph Bellamycreated 13 episodes ofLest We Forget,a series of radio programs that directly addressed prejudice and discrimination. Created by the Institute for Democratic Education and Boston University Radio Institute, Sam Levene starred as a cab driver who becomes in a hero inHey Cabbie,an episode that unabashedly addresses anti-semitism.[60]Levene along withEdward G. RobinsonandFrank Sinatramade a series of appearances inWe Will Never Die,a memorial pageant dedicated to the victims of theHolocaust;performed around the country at major venues, includingMadison Square Gardenand theHollywood Bowl,the elaborate production, also broadcast on radio, was co-authored byBen HechtandKurt Weilland directed byMoss Hart.On a lighter note, Levene made a New Year's Eve appearance onThe Big Showwith his Guys and Dolls co-star Vivian Blaine on December 31, 1950; Levene performed a skit withTallulah Bankheadwho had declined an invitation to appear on Ken Murray's show so that she could obtain theatre tickets toGuys and Dolls.[61]

Jewish heritage

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Sam Levene inCrossfire(1947)

Sam Levene was one of the few Jewish actors who played characters who had a Jewish name in the 1930s and 1940s; notably inAfter the Thin Man(1936) as Lieutenant Abrams, inThe Purple Heart(1944) Levene played the role of Lt. Wayne Greenbaum, a level-headed, brave, New York-bred Jewish lawyer who is defender and spokesman for a group of eight aviators brought to trial when they are downed in Japanese-held territory; inThe Killers(1946), he was Police Lt. Sam Lubinsky; inCrossfire(1947), Levene was cast as Samuels, a Jewish civilian who was murdered at the start of the film; in a 1947 personal appearance, Levene said "Crossfireis a powerful denunciation of anti-Semitism and naturally I played the Jew and naturally I was killed. "Cy Feuer,co-producer of the original Broadway production ofGuys and Dolls(1950) said in aNew York Timesinterview "Sam Levene was the ultimate Jew," referring to the original Nathan Detroit.[62]"It was perfect casting. He created the character by living." Unanimous raves greeted Sam Levene for his portrayal of the skeptical but good-hearted Jewish doctor, Dr. Aldo Mayer, in the 1961 Broadway production of "The Devil's Advocate".[63]

Levene lost the role ofNathan DetroittoFrank Sinatrain thefilm version."You can't have a Jew playing a Jew; it wouldn't work on screen," producerSamuel Goldwynargued, explaining why he wanted Sinatra rather than Levene—who had originated the role—to play the part of Nathan Detroit in thefilm versioneven though film directorJoseph L. Mankiewiczwanted Levene, the original Broadway star.[64]Mankiewicz said, "If there could be one person in the world more miscast as Nathan Detroit thanFrank Sinatrathat would beLaurence Olivierand I am one of his greatest fans; the role had been written for Sam Levene who was divine in it. "[65]

Fordham University Professor of Music Larry Stempel, author ofShowtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theater,said if given a choice, he would cast Levene, who created the role on Broadway, as the ideal Nathan Detroit instead ofNathan Lane,who played the part in the Broadway revival, orFrank Sinatra,who played the part on film, stating, "Musically, he may have been tone-deaf, but he inhabitedFrank Loesser’s world as a character more than a caricature. "[66]

Caricatures

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Over five decadesAl Hirschfeld,considered the greatest caricaturist of the 20th century, created nine caricatures capturing seven original Broadway performances created by Levene, the first in 1935, the last 1975.[67]A Hirschfeld caricature of Levene captures his performance as Nathan Detroit wearing his pinstripe suit designed byAlvin Coltin the original 1950 Broadway production ofGuys and Dollsand published inThe New York TimesNovember 19, 1950.[68]In 2000, theGuys and Dollscaricature included inThe Museum of The City of New Yorkexhibition "Guys and Dolls: The Fabled Musical of Broadway".[69]In 2015, the caricature was exhibited in "The Hirschfeld Century" atThe New York Historical Society.The first time Hirschfeld captured Levene was his Broadway performance as Patsy along withShirley Boothas Mabel in the 1935 original Broadway production ofThree Men on a Horse;a second caricature of Levene and Booth featuring the Broadway casts fromTobacco RoadandThe Children's Hourpublished in theNew York Herald TribuneJune 7, 1936 celebrates Broadway long-runs.[70][71]Hirschfeld created two caricatures of Levene's critically acclaimed performance as Max Gordon, the shoestring producer, in the original 1937 Broadway production ofRoom Service,published in theNew York Herald Tribune[72]andThe Brooklyn Eagle.[73]Hirschfeld captured Levene's poignant performance as Al Lewis giving Willie Clark "the finger" in the original Broadway production ofThe Sunshine Boyspublished inThe New York Timeson December 13, 1972.[74]Hirschfeld also captured Levene's original Broadway performances inMargin For ErrorandLight Up The Sky.Other notable caricaturists who memorialized Levene's stage performances includeSam Norkin,Al Frueh andWilliam Auerbach-Levy.Al Frueh, who created caricatures of Broadway shows, mostly forThe New Yorkerfor three decades until 1962, captured six of Levene's original Broadway performances, including Busch from the original Broadway production ofYellow Jack(1934), Patsy from the original Broadway production ofThree Men on a Horse(1935), Sidney Black from the original Broadway production ofLight Up The Sky,Nathan Detroit from the 1950 original Broadway production ofGuys and Dolls;[75]Boss Mangan in the 1959 all-star Broadway revival ofHeartbreak House,[75]directed and co-starringMaurice Evansand Officer Finkelstein, the Jewish policeman, in the 1939 original Broadway production ofMargin for Error.[76][77]Over a period of four decadesWilliam Auerbach-Levy(1889-1964) created 15 caricatures celebrating ten Sam Levene original Broadway starring performances[78]including: Nathan Detroit inGuys and Dolls(1950), five caricatures; Patsy inThree Men on a Horse(1935), Officer Finkelstein inMargin for Error[79](1939), Pvt. Dino Collucci inA Sound of Hunting(1945), Sidney Black inLight Up The Sky(1948), Lou Winkler inFair Game(1957), Sid Gray inMake A Million(1958), Odilon inThe Good Soup(1960), Patsy inLet It Ride(1961), Dr. Aldo Meyer inThe Devil's Advocate(1961), Morris Seidman inSeidman and Son(1962).

Personal life

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Levene married Constance Kane in 1953. The couple had one son together, Joseph K. Levene, before their divorce. On December 28, 1980, Levene died of an apparent heart attack in New York City.[80]He was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery,Glendale, Queens.[81]

Filmography

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Main article:List of Sam Levene performances

Awards

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Nominated for the 1961 Tony Award for Best Actor in a play[82]forThe Devil's Advocate,Levene never received aTony Award;by the time the Tony Award's were established in 1947, Levene had already created roles in 19 original Broadway shows, none Tony eligible, including performances in the original Broadway productions ofDinner at Eight(1932),Three Men on a Horse(1935),Room Service(1937) andMargin for Error(1939). In 1960, Levene was awarded theActors Fund Medal of Honor,at the time, the second actorawardedthe honor.[83]

On April 9, 1984, Levene was posthumously inducted in theAmerican Theatre Hall of Fame;his son, Joseph K. Levene, accepted the American Theatre Hall of Fame award fromDorothy Loudonwho co-starred as Mabel with Levene in 1969 all-star revival ofThree Men on a Horse.[84][85]

In 1998, Sam Levene,Robert Alda,Vivian Blaine,Isabel Bigleyand Pat Rooney, Sr. were posthumously inducted into theGrammy Hall of Famefor the 1950 Decca original cast album ofGuys and Dolls.[86]

In a 1996New Yorkletter to the editor, Sam Levene's son Joseph K. Levene, thanked film criticDavid Denbystating, “My father, the late great Sam Levene, has received many kudos illuminating his career as an actor, none recalled the passion for the theater more clearly than David Denby's comment in his review ofEveryone Says I Love You:Sam Levene playing Nathan Detroit in the originalGuys and Dollscouldn't sing a note but his gruff toneless outbursts could break your heart. Levene was not cautious and that made all the difference. Joseph added, "There were no Tony's in his career but thanks for the Denby."[87]

References

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  1. ^ab"New York, U.S. District Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WM2Z-NRZM:8 March 2021), Samuel or Scholem Levine or Lewin, 1937.
  2. ^abLane, Stewart F. (April 26, 2017).Jews on Broadway: An Historical Survey of Performers, Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists and Producers(2d ed.). McFarland.ISBN978-1-4766-2877-6.
  3. ^Bernard Carragher, "Confessions of a Pair of Hoofers", 1972
  4. ^"Landmarks Preservation Commission June 20, 2006, Designation List 377 LP-2189 (Former) PUBLIC SCHOOL 64, 605 East 9 Street (aka"(PDF).home2.nyc.gov.RetrievedMarch 9,2020.[dead link]
  5. ^"Notes on People".The New York Times.May 7, 1976.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 28,2019.
  6. ^"Today's Birthdays 4/20 (Message Board)".BroadwayWorld.RetrievedFebruary 7,2020.
  7. ^"Wall Street – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB".www.ibdb.com.
  8. ^"Wall Street, original Broadway Play".
  9. ^"Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History: April 20".
  10. ^"Horowitz and Mrs. WashingtonBroadway @ John Golden Theatre ".Playbill.RetrievedAugust 29,2022.
  11. ^"Obituaries: Actor Sam Levene Secumbs at 75".Santa Cruz Sentinel.December 29, 1980. p. 24.RetrievedDecember 20,2021– via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  12. ^"SOLITAIRE' OPENS TUESDAY.; Principal Figure in Play at Waldorf Theatre Will Be Midget".The New York Times.March 9, 1929.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 20,2021.
  13. ^"Solitaire" Cast Not Cooperative ".The New York Times.March 17, 1929.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
  14. ^Barnes, Clive (December 21, 1972)."Theater: Neil Simon's'Sunshine Boys'".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 1,2020.
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  16. ^McMorrow, Tom (April 18, 1976). "Sacred Cows Slaughtered by Sam".The Sunday News.,page 3 Leisure.
  17. ^"Television This Week: Of Special Interest".The New York Times.November 6, 1977.RetrievedSeptember 23,2016.
  18. ^"Guys and Dolls the stage musical in London up to 21 August 2016".ThisisTheatre.com.RetrievedMarch 11,2020.
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  25. ^Hopper, Hedda (June 15, 1955). "Hollywood".The Daily News.
  26. ^Loesser, Susan (2000).A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser and the Guys and Dolls in His Life: a Portrait by His Daughter.Hal Leonard Corp.ISBN978-0-6340-0927-3.
  27. ^Alda, Alan (September 13, 2005).Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned.Random House. p.88.ISBN978-1-5883-6492-0.Watching Sam Levene was thrilling. He could ride a moment as if a wild.
  28. ^"G.I.'s Overwhelm Entertainers with Gratitude —Levene".Billboard.May 26, 1945. p. 34.RetrievedDecember 20,2021.
  29. ^"Arthur Miller: An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center".Harry Ransom Humanities Cesearch Center.Container 180.9-10, B10.2.
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  31. ^"'Three Men on a Horse' Revived ".The Theater.The New York Times.October 17, 1969. p. 35.
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  35. ^Calta, Louis (September 13, 1977)."Joseph Leon Gets Mostel Role As 'The Merchant'".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 28,2019.
  36. ^"Horowitz and Mrs. Washington – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB".
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  38. ^abWilson, Victoria (November 12, 2013).A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940.Simon and Schuster.ISBN978-1-4391-9998-5.
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  55. ^Steinhouser, Si (March 24, 1939)."Kenny Baker Isn't Such a Sap As Roles on Radio Picture Him".The Pittsburgh Press.p. 33.RetrievedDecember 20,2021– via Newspapers.com.Sam Levene has John Barrymore part in Twentieth Century starring Orson Welles and Elissa Landi.
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