Samuel Goldwyn
Polish-American film producer and pioneer of the American studio system.
Chronology: 1882-08-17 – 1974-01-31
Origins & Early Life
Samuel Goldwyn ( GOHLD-win; born Szmuel Gelbfisz; Yiddish: שמואל געלבפֿיש; July 1879 or 1882 – January 31, 1974) was a Polish-born American film producer and pioneer in the American film industry, who produced the United States's first major motion picture. He was best known for being the founding contributor and executive of several motion picture studios. He was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (1973), the Irving G.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Thalberg Memorial Award (1947), and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1958). == Early life == Goldwyn was born as Szmuel Gelbfisz in Warsaw to Hasidic Jewish parents, Aaron Dawid Gelbfisz, a peddler, and Hanna Frymet (née Fiszhaut). He was likely born in July 1879, although he claimed his birthday to be August 27, 1882. At the time, most Jews fabricated their ages to prevent future conscription for the Imperial Russian Army. He left Congress Poland penniless after his father's death and made his way from Warsaw to Hamburg.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
There he stayed with acquaintances of his family where he trained as a glove maker. On November 26, 1898, Gelbfisz left Hamburg for Birmingham, England, where he remained with relatives for six weeks under the name Samuel Goldfish...
Source: Wikipedia