Liebman, Max

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Max Liebman was one of the leading pioneers in producing, directing, and writing several highly credited television productions in the 1950s. Growing up in New York, he attended the Boys High School in Brooklyn, and got his start in entertainment, performing and writing in vaudeville. He was the producer and director of the Tamiment Theatrical Workshop in the Poconos, a summer stock playhouse, and brought the company's show to Broadway as The Straw Hat Revue in 1939. Liebman was a co-writer for Danny Kaye for several years, and was also credited as a writer for the 1945 movie-musical Ziegfeld Follies . Max Liebman Productions was incorporated in the State of New York in 1948, and in 1949 Liebman made his debut as a television producer with the production of the Admiral Broadway Revue . Liebman also launched Your Show of Shows his most celebrated and critically acclaimed television production that same year, which he produced and directed from 1949 to 1954. The show was broadcast from the International Theatre in New York City and starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.

From the guide to the Max Liebman papers, 1903-1981, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Producer, director, and writer Max Liebman is best remembered for his work in the fledgling medium of television in the 1950s, most especially for the landmark comedy-variety program YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, which ran from 1950 to 1954.

Max Liebman grew up in New York, and got his start in show business performing vaudeville acts he had written. He produced and directed the Tamiment Theatrical Workshop, a summer stock playhouse, in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, and in 1939 brought the company's show to Broadway as THE STRAW HAT REVUE, starring Danny Kaye in his Broadway debut. Liebman wrote material for Kaye for a number of years. In 1949 he entered the field of television as producer of the ADMIRAL BROADWAY REVUE, which was broadcast live and starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. The following year this program was reshaped and renamed YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, and became enormously popular, making stars of its lead performers and launching the careers of its staff writers, who included Neil Simon, Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart. In the years following YOUR SHOW OF SHOW's last broadcast in June 1954, Max Liebman produced a number of television specials and the series STANLEY with Buddy Hackett and Carol Burnett. In 1973 he produced the theatrical film TEN FROM YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, a compendium of skits from the show. Max Liebman died on July 21, 1981.

From the description of Max Liebman papers, 1903-1981. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122517213

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Tamiment Players. [Programs] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Max Liebman papers, 1903-1981 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Tamiment Playhouse. Tamiment Playhouse photographs [graphic]. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Holley, Kay, 1917-1994. Kay Holley papers, 1889-1995. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Liebman, Max. Off to Buffalo; a comedy in three acts, by Max Liebman and Allen Boretz. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Carolyn Leigh papers, 1944-1985 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Guide to the Tamiment Playhouse Records, 1927-1987 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn William Friedberg Papers, 1950-1965. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Guide to the Tamiment Playhouse Records, 1927-1987 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Friedberg, William, 1916-1965. William Friedberg papers, 1950-1965. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Friedberg, William, 1916-1965. William Friedberg papers, 1950-1965. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Guide to the Tamiment Playhouse Alumni Oral History Collection, 1955-1988 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Boretz, Allen, 1900-1986, person
associatedWith Caesar, Sid, 1922- person
associatedWith Coca, Imogene. person
associatedWith Friedberg, William, 1916-1965. person
correspondedWith Holley, Kay, 1917-1994. person
associatedWith Leigh, Carolyn, 1926-1983 person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Reiner, Carl, 1922- person
associatedWith Tamiment Players. corporateBody
associatedWith Tamiment Playhouse. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
Subject
American drama
Television
Television
Television
Occupation
Activity

Person

Death 1981-07-21

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