Le personalità del bridge

Nato da famiglia ebrea nel 1889 a Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, George Simon Kaufman fu un celebre commediografo, direttore di teatro, produttore, umorista, giornalista e critico drammatico.

Si diplomò nel 1907 e iniziò la sua carriera come giornalista e critico drammatico al New York Times dove rimase dal 1917 al 1930.

Sposatosi nel 1917 con Beatrice Bakrow restò vedovo nel 1945 e quattro anni più tardi si risposò con Leueen McGrath che divenne anche sua collaboratrice fin quando non divorziarono nel 1959.

Kaufman fu anche un esperto bridgista e numerosi suoi divertenti pezzi che riguardano il gioco comparvero su The New Yorker, tra essi rimane famosa la rivolta degli angolisti.

George Simon Kaufman (November 16, 1889 – June 2, 1961) was an American playwright, theatre director and producer, humorist, and drama critic.

Born to a Jewish family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania he graduated from high school in 1907 and "tried law school for three months" but grew disenchanted and took on a series of odd jobs, including "selling hatbands".

Kaufman then began his career as a journalist and drama critic; he was the drama editor for The New York Times from 1917 through 1930.

Nearly a decade later he achieved great success as a playwright.

Kaufman took his editorial responsibilities very seriously. According to legend, on one occasion a press agent asked: "How do I get our leading lady’s name in the Times?" Kaufman: "Shoot her."

Kaufman was married in 1917 to Beatrice Bakrow until her death in 1945. Four years later, he married actress Leueen MacGrath on May 26, 1949, with whom he collaborated on a number of plays before their divorce in 1957.

Kaufman died in New York City at the age of 71.

In 1979, Donald Oliver compiled and edited a collection of Kaufman's humorous pieces, with a foreword by Dick Cavett.