Paul Beisman
Paul Beisman | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 16, 1898 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | October 19, 1958 (aged 60) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Theatre manager |
| Spouse(s) | Zona Keiffer (m. 1921; died 1945) Louise Bernero (m. 1948) |
Paul Beisman (January 16, 1898 – October 19, 1958)[1] was an American theater manager.[2] He was manager of the St. Louis, Missouri's Orpheum Theater.[3] Beisman was honored with the Special Tony Award at the 2nd Tony Awards.[3]
Early life and career
Born in St. Louis on January 16, 1898,[4][5][6] Beisman was one of two children, both boys, born to Anna (née Goldman) and Julius Beisman.[7] Less than a year later, his father died, and after a decade of strained relations between son and stepfather (Max A. Davis[8]) Beisman was sent to live with his grandparents in Downtown St. Louis,[5] where he graduated from Central High School in 1915.[a]
Personal life and death
From 1921 until her death in 1945, Weisman was married to Berryville, Arkansas native Zona Kieffer, with whom he had three children, all sons.[11] In 1948, he married Louise Bernero.[12]
On October 19, 1958, aged 60, Beisman died of lung cancer at Barnes Hospital, more than two months after having entered the hospital and undergone surgery. Survived by his wife and his three sons from the prior marriage, Beisman was eulogized at Armbruster Funeral Home in Clayton, and his body buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Louis.[13]
Notes
- ^ Although an extensive profile published in 1943 by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat has Beisman graduating in 1916,[5], contemporaneous stories published by both the G-D and Post-Dispatch|Post-Dispatch clearly include Paul Beisman in their lists of Central High's 81-member Class of 1915.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Paul Beisman, 60, Dies; Theatre Manager Headed St,! Louis Municipal Opera". The New York Times. October 20, 1958. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Klein, Francis (April 11, 1948). "Paul Beisman Wins Fame for St. Louis and a Gold Medal for Himself From New York's Best in the Theatrical World". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 57. Retrieved June 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Tony Awards Winners / 1948". Tony Awards. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLXB-6QNG : Fri Apr 11 16:03:06 UTC 2025), Entry for Paul Beisman and Zona A Beisman, 14 Feb 1942.
- ^ a b c "31 Years in Show Business but Never on the Stage; Paul Beisman Recalls Experiences of Some of the Theatrical Greats Who Have Appeared in St. Louis". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. October 31, 1943. p. C2. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
Paul Beisman, the ticket-seller, hasn't wound up yet. But, at 45, he has spent 45 years gayly and successfully in the theater [...] His father died when Paul was less than a year old and the youngster, unable to get along with his stepfather, left his home in Brooklyn, Ill., at the age of 10 and moved in on his grandparents. Downtown St. Louis—1016 Morgan street—was his home and his stamping ground.
- ^ "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WCBF-ZNPZ : Sat May 16 06:11:42 UTC 2026), Entry for Paul Beisman and Anna Davis, from 1917 to 1918.
- ^ "MRS. ANNIE DAVIS IS DEAD: MOTHER OF PAUL BEISMAN". The St. Louis Star-Times. June 29, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
Mrs. Davis, 64 years old, died yesterday at her Semple avenue, of a heart attack. The former Miss Goldman, she was first married to the late Julius Beisman. After his death some years ago, she married Max Davis, a clothing merchant, who died three years ago. Survivors include five daughters, Mrs. Jeanette Cutler of Philadelphia, Mrs. Florence Miller, Mrs. Lucille Lipsitz and the Misses Juanita and Virginia Davis, all of St. Louis, and three other sons, Joseph Davis of Arcola, Miss., and Max Beisman and Lawrence Davis of St. Louis.
- ^ "MAX A. DAVIS DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. May 13, 1936. p. 13A. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
Max A. Davis, retired dry goods merchant and a former department store salesman, died yesterday at the Barnes Hospital following a lingering illness. He was 60 and resided at 1400 Semple avenue. Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Anna Beisman Davis; four sons, Joseph and Lawrence Davis, and Paul and Patrolman Max Beisman, stepsons, and five daughters, Mrs. Florence Miller, Mrs. Lucille Lipsitz and Misses Juanita, Jeanette and Virginia Davis. Paul Beisman is the director of public relations for the Municipal Opera.
- ^ "GRADUATED IN ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS: Central High School". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 13, 1915. p. 14A. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
General Course - Louise Morton Carter, Letitia Orinda Daniels, Daisy G. De Witt, M. Corinne Dockery, Jeanie Irene Drennan, Marforte Hutchinson, Marguerite Irish, Bertha James, Helen S. Korngold, Olivia Otillia Augusta Metz, Margaret Mitchell, Frances Nussbaum, Gladys Schoemann, Paul Beisman, Louis Cohen, James Vernor Dunbar.
- ^ "CENTRAL HIGH TO GRADUATE 81 IN THE JUNE CLASS". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 13, 1915. p. 14. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
The graduates are: Josephine Adele Albright, Laura Estelle Barnes, Marie Louise Beimes, Fannye E. Blum, [...] Margaret M Mitchell, Frances Nussbaum, Gladys Schoemann, Paul Beisman, Louis Cohen,
- ^ "Mrs. Paul Beisman Dies After Long Illness". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. March 3, 1945. p. 3A. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
Mrs. Zona Kieffer Beisman, 47, wife of Paul Beisman, manager of the American Theater and of the Municipal Theater Association, died yesterday at their home, 501 West Polo dr., Clayton, following a long illness. A native of Berryville, Ark., Mrs. Beisman is survived by her husband; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel I. Kieffer, 3703 Washington ave., and three sons, Pfc. Julian K. Beisman, stationed with a combat engineering battalion in Europe; Radioman Third Class Paul Beisman II, stationed in the South Pacific, and James J. Beisman, a student at Missouri Military Academy, Mexico, Mo. The Beismans had been married 24 years.
- ^ "Opera Manager And Bride; Paul Beisman Wed To Louise Bernero In Quiet Ceremony". The St. Louis Star and Times. May 11, 1948. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
Paul Beisman, manager of the Municipal Opera and the America, with the former Louise Bernero. They were married today in the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, 7304 Balson Ave., University City.
- ^ "Paul Beisman Dies; 'Mr. Theater' Here". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. October 20, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved May 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.