Gerald Martin Bordman (September 18, 1931 – May 9, 2011) was an American theatre historian, best known for authoring the reference volume ''The American Musical Theatre'', first published in 1978. Simonson, Robert (12 May 2011)
Gerald Bordman, Theatre Scholar, Dies at 79
''

Playbill ''Playbill'' is an American monthly magazine for Audience, theatergoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of ''Playbill'' are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the ...

''Glover, William (11 January 1979)
Showbiz addict compiles handbook on musical theater
''Eugene Register-Guard'' (

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

story) In reviewing an updated version of ''American Musical Theatre'' in 2011, ''

'' wrote that the book had "altered the scope of American musical theatre history" and "remained the only book of its kind, and an invaluable one." Bordman grew up in the Wynnefield neighborhood of

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

and graduated from Central High School and

Lafayette College Lafayette College is a private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Easton, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter and other citizens in Easton, the college first held classes in 18 ...

, later earning a master's degree and Ph.D. in medieval literature at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

. He published ''The American Musical Theatre'' four years after selling the family's business, Excell Chemical Products, which manufactured mothballs, among other things. He went on to write over a dozen volumes on American theatre, including biographies on

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...

and Vincent Youmans, despite having limited musical training.Burns, Diane Hubbard (4 September 1980)
He Gives His Regards To Broadway
''Palm Beach Post'' Bordman died of cancer in

Wynnewood, Pennsylvania Wynnewood is a suburban Unincorporated area#United States, unincorporated community, located west of Philadelphia, straddling Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and Haverford Township, D ...

on May 9, 2011, at age 79.(11 May 2011)
Gerald Bordman dies at 79: Scholar wrote 'American Musical Theatre'
'' Variety''

Partial bibliography

* ''American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle'' (1978) * ''Jerome Kern: His Life and Music'' (1980) * ''American Operetta: From H.M.S. Pinafore to Sweeney Todd'' (1981)Houston, Levin (30 May 1981)
Singing the praises of early operettas (book review)
''Free Lance-Star'' * ''Days to Be Happy, Years to Be Sad: The Life and Music of Vincent Youmans'' (1982)Wilson, John S. (22 August 1982)
Youmans book review
''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' (New York Times news service story) * ''American Musical Comedy: From Adonis to Dreamgirls'' (1982) * ''The Oxford Companion to the American Theater'' (1984)Beaufort, John (22 February 1985)
Theater reference books always enjoy a long run
''Palm Beach Post'' (Los Angeles Times syndicate story) * ''American Musical Revue: From The Passing Show to Sugar Babies'' (1985) *''American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1869 - 1914'' (1994) *''American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1914 - 1930'' (1995) *''American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama, 1930 - 1969'' (1996)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bordman, Gerald 1931 births 2011 deaths Lafayette College alumni University of Pennsylvania alumni Writers from Philadelphia American theater critics Historians from Pennsylvania Central High School (Philadelphia) alumni