Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

George Antheil

Role / Field:

American avant-garde composer, pianist, and inventor known for modernist works.

Born:

1900-07-08

Died:

1959-02-12

Century / Era:

1900s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

George Johann Carl Antheil ( AN-tyle; July 8, 1900 – February 12, 1959) was an American avant-garde composer, pianist, author, and inventor whose modernist musical compositions explored the sounds – musical, industrial, and mechanical – of the early 20th century. Spending much of the 1920s in Europe, Antheil returned to the United States in the 1930s, and thereafter composed music for films, and eventually, television. As a result of this work, his style became more tonal. A man of diverse interests and talents, Antheil was constantly reinventing himself.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He wrote magazine articles, an autobiography, a mystery novel, and newspaper and music columns. In 1941, Antheil and the actress Hedy Lamarr developed a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes that used a code (stored on a punched paper tape) to synchronize frequency changes, referred to as frequency hopping, between the transmitter and receiver. It is one of the spread spectrum techniques that became widely used in modern telecommunications. This work led to their induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014. Antheil was born George Johann Carl Antheil, and grew up in a family of German immigrants...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Copland — Contemporary (Born in 1900) (1900): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Adolf Dassler — Contemporary (Born in 1900) (1900): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Agnes Moorehead — Contemporary (Born in 1900) (1900): Iconic American actress celebrated for stage, film, and television roles.
• Abraham Flexner — Contemporary (Died in 1959) (1959): Pioneering American educator known for reforming US and Canadian medical and higher education.
• Ahlam Mosteghanemi — Contemporary (Born in 1959) (1959): Pioneering Algerian poet and novelist, celebrated for her evocative Arabic literature.
• Allison Janney — Contemporary (Born in 1959) (1959): Acclaimed American actress known for roles in The West Wing and Masters of Sex.
• Albert of Saxony (philosopher) — Shared historical date (07-08 · Died) (1390): German philosopher and mathematician known for logic and physics, and Bishop of Halberstadt.
• Alexander Grin — Shared historical date (07-08 · Died) (1932): A celebrated Russian writer known for romantic fantasy novels and sea adventures.
• 13th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (02-12 · Born) (1876): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Abraham Lincoln — Shared historical date (02-12 · Born) (1809): 16th President of the United States; guided the nation through the Civil War.
• 1900 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1900
• July 8 (07-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 8
• 1959 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1959
• February 12 (02-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 12

Frequently Asked Questions about George Antheil