Eric Blau
Encyclopedia
Milton Eric Blau was the creator of the Off Broadway show Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
.
on June 1, 1921 to Hungarian immigrants who were residents of Manhattan
's Lower East Side
. He attended the City College of New York
, which he left before graduating following an argument with a professor about William Shakespeare
. Blau served in Europe during World War II
in the United States Army Signal Corps, where he wrote poems for French journals that he had translated into French.
After completing his military service, he founded the journal Masses and Mainstream and worked as a writer and in public relations. He was a ghostwriter
for sports instruction booklets on behalf of basketball player Bob Cousy
and baseball's Roger Maris
. Together with cartoonist Roy Doty
, he created The Adventures of Danny Dee, an early show for children with animation that broadcast starting in 1953 on the New York City affiliate of the DuMont Television Network
.
Though the similarity was lost as he grew older, Blau had an uncanny resemblance to Groucho Marx
, and would often be approached by fans of the comedian.
by his wife, Elly Stone
, who had first heard Brel's music through an acquaintance at a record company. Blau became infatuated with Brel's work and started translating his songs. Some of Blau's initial work appeared in O, Oysters!, a musical revue.
Together with composer Mort Shuman
, Blau came up with the concept of a play that would feature a night of Brel's songs, and the two worked together to translate the songs into English and add material to wrap around the music.
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
featured Shuman and Stone as part of a cast of four. The play debuted at The Village Gate
in early 1968 and ran for more than four years. Thereafter, it was performed by what may be thousands of theaters around the world.
A resident of Manhattan
, Blau died there at age 87 on February 17, 2009 due to pneumonia
, which he contracted following a stroke
. He was survived by his wife, three sons, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. His first marriage had ended in divorce.
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
.
Biography
Blau was born in Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
on June 1, 1921 to Hungarian immigrants who were residents of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
. He attended the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, which he left before graduating following an argument with a professor about William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
. Blau served in Europe during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the United States Army Signal Corps, where he wrote poems for French journals that he had translated into French.
After completing his military service, he founded the journal Masses and Mainstream and worked as a writer and in public relations. He was a ghostwriter
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
for sports instruction booklets on behalf of basketball player Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy
Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'1" , 175-pound Cousy played point guard with the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1951 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969–70 season...
and baseball's Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
. Together with cartoonist Roy Doty
Roy Doty
Roy Doty is an American cartoonist, artist, and illustrator from Columbus, Ohio. Doty served in World War II as a cartoonist and, shortly after, in 1946 began his career as a freelance cartoonist in New York City....
, he created The Adventures of Danny Dee, an early show for children with animation that broadcast starting in 1953 on the New York City affiliate of the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
.
Though the similarity was lost as he grew older, Blau had an uncanny resemblance to Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
, and would often be approached by fans of the comedian.
Jacques Brel
Blau was introduced to the music of Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques BrelJacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
by his wife, Elly Stone
Elly Stone
Elly Stone is an American singer and actress best known for her interpretations of the music of Jacques Brel.Stone began her career in the 1950s, singing in a variety of off-beat venues ranging from a carnival to a burlesque show. In 1962, she was Barbra Streisand’s understudy for the Broadway...
, who had first heard Brel's music through an acquaintance at a record company. Blau became infatuated with Brel's work and started translating his songs. Some of Blau's initial work appeared in O, Oysters!, a musical revue.
Together with composer Mort Shuman
Mort Shuman
Mort Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas"...
, Blau came up with the concept of a play that would feature a night of Brel's songs, and the two worked together to translate the songs into English and add material to wrap around the music.
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
featured Shuman and Stone as part of a cast of four. The play debuted at The Village Gate
The Village Gate
The Village Gate was a nightclub at the corner of Thompson and Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York.Art D'Lugoff opened the club in 1958, on the ground floor and basement of 158 Bleecker Street. The large 1896 Chicago School structure by architect Ernest Flagg was known at the time as...
in early 1968 and ran for more than four years. Thereafter, it was performed by what may be thousands of theaters around the world.
Personal
Blau wrote a number of works of poetry, novels and plays, but never again achieved the success of Jacques Brel. He was never affected by the disappointments, with his son Matthew noting that he had many ideas and "was a man who moved on."A resident of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, Blau died there at age 87 on February 17, 2009 due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, which he contracted following a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. He was survived by his wife, three sons, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. His first marriage had ended in divorce.