Arthur Freed(1894-1973)
- Producer
- Music Department
- Actor
Producer, songwriter and author, brother to
Ralph Freed, Walter and Ruth Freed. He was
educated at the Phillips Exeter Academy, and became associated with
Gus Edwards musical acts. He
performed in vaudeville with
Louis Silvers, with whom he wrote
revues for New York restaurants. During World War I, he staged military
shows, then managed a theatre, eventually producing his own musical
shows, finally joining MGM under contract. His Academy Award winning
films include
An American in Paris (1951),
_Gigi(1958)_ and
Irving Thalberg Awards. In 1964, he
became President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Joining ASCAP in 1924, his chief musical collaborator was
Nacio Herb Brown, and also included
Gus Arnheim,
Al Hoffman and
Harry Warren.