Hollywood

Richard Charles Rodgers was an American-Jewish composer, known largely for his work in musical theater. He was one of the most significant American composers of the 20th century, and his compositions had a significant influence on popular music.

Biographies:

Rodgers, Richard. Musical Stages: An Autobiography. New York: Random House, 1975.

Paul Muni was born in Lemberg, Austria in 1895. Muni's parents, both actors in a traveling Yiddish repertory company, immigrated to America in 1899. As a young boy, Muni made several appearances on stage with his parents. His formal stage debut was in 1907, after which he was recruited to join Maurice Schwartz's Yiddish Art Theater Company. Muni often performed at the Second Avenue Theater and the Irving Place Theater during his 18 years on the Yiddish stage.