Hugh Fordin oral history interview, April 25, 1995
Scope and Contents
Interviewed by Chris Paton. In this interview, Hugh Fordin discusses his impressions of Johnny Mercer, gained during interviews of Mercer that Fordin conducted for his book on Arthur Freed in 1974. Topics discussed include Mercer's personality, his collaborators, his work for Broadway and films, his work on The Harvey Girls, the founding of Capitol Records, Blues Opera, Mercer as he appeared and behaved during the last two years of his life, and the quality and value of Mercer's lyrics. The interview was conducted in Mr. Fordin's offices in New York City.
Dates
- Creation: April 25, 1995
Creator
- Fordin, Hugh (Interviewee, Person)
Restrictions on Access
Oral history available for research.
Biographical Note
Hugh Fordin was born in 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at Syracuse University (B.S., 1957). Fordin began his multi-faceted career as the producer of several touring shows in New York and New England in the 1950s. In the 1960s he turned to film, producing such well-known works as Hello Dolly! and M.A.S.H. During the decade of the seventies, he was the author of several biographies of important figures in the theater and film industries, including Arthur Freed (The Freed Unit, 1974), Oscar Hammerstein II (Getting To Know Him, 1977), and Jerome Kern (The Jerome Kern Story, 1979). He has also served for many years as the director of DRG Records.
Extent
2 item(s) (audio (46:23 duration) transcript (30 pages))
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
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