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Henry (Hank) Sylvern

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Henry Sylvern in 1956

Henry "Hank" Sylvern (born Henry Silverstein, March 26, 1908 – July 4, 1964) was an American keyboardist, composer, conductor and arranger.[1]

Early life and career

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Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sylvern was the eldest of three children born to Herman Silverstein and Mary Sheflin.[2][3][4][5] He began his music studies at the Paris Conservatory and later attended New York University.[6]

Silvern's first nationwide exposure came via his 1941 collaboration with lyricist Ruth Poll, "I'm a Military Man Now," which, at Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau's request, was unveiled on the premiere broadcast of a revamped version of the U.S. Treasury's wartime radio series, The Treasury Hour—Millions for Defense.[7][8][9]

Subsequently, Sylvern worked on many radio and television shows, some of which are listed below:

Nick Carter, Master Detective, radio series, 1943[10]
Arthur Godfrey Time, 1945, radio series, 1945[10]
Suspense, 1949, TV series; musical director[11]
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, 1950, TV series; theme song composer[12]
USA Canteen (aka The Jane Froman Show), 1952, TV series; orchestra leader and musical director[13]
The Phil Silvers Show (aka Sergeant Bilko, "You'll Never Get Rich"), 1955, TV series[14]
Dotto, 1958, TV series[15]
Make a Face 1961, TV series[15]

He was also an organist who played music for innumerable radio shows and also wrote the following radio show theme songs:

Mark Trail,[16] The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin,[17] Space Academy,[18] Strike It Rich[19]

Sylvern recorded a Christmas album named Christmas in Hi-Fi (Organ, Bells, Chimes).[20] He also wrote the music for an MGM children's story-telling LP record (CH-103), The Wonderful World of Fairy Tales. He played the organ while Robert Q. Lewis told The Ugly Duckling, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Sleeping Beauty, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, and The Wizard of Oz stories.[21]

Between 1945 and 1949, Sylvern worked alongside his second wife, Jeanne Harrison—she as director, he as musical director—on a number of radio programs,[22][23][24] most notably Adventures of Boston Blackie.[25][26] In addition they recorded two records for children.[27]

In June 1950, Sylvern was named "outstanding musical director of radio and TV for 1949-50" by Song Hits Magazine.[28] In 1956, he was elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation.[29]

Personal life and death

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Sylvern was married at least twice: first—from January 7, 1934 until her death on January 12, 1942—to Pearl Flexer,[30][31] with whom he had a daughter, Bryna,[32] and then—from February 2, 1946 until their divorce, circa spring 1952[33][34][35][36]—to radio and TV producer-director, Jeanne—aka "Jean"—Harrison.[37][38][39][40]

On July 4, 1964, Sylvern died of undisclosed causes at his home in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Henry Sylvern, Composer and Conductor, 57, Dead". The New York Times. July 5, 1964. p. 43. ProQuest 115559269. Henry Sylvern, conductor, arranger and pianist who wrote background music for radio and television programs and commercials, died yesterday at his home, 240 East 53rd Street. He was 57 years old. Mr. Sylvern, a native New Yorker, was associated with the "Du Pont Show of the Week," a National Broadcasting Company television network program, and had also been musical director for the Arthur Godfrey program. He also wrote advertising jingles. Surviving are a daughter, Miss Bryna Sylvern, and a brother, Jesse.
  2. ^ Sullivan, Ed (October 23, 1956). "Little Old New York". The Washington Star. p. A-17. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "Obituaries". The New York Times. October 15, 1956. p. 25. ProQuest 113726538. SILVERSTEIN, Herman, beloved father of Henry Sylvern, Sylvia Rosenfeld and Rev. Jesse Silverstein, loving grandfather of Bryna Sylvern, Marv and Dvorah...
  4. ^ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZK-LSG : 11 February 2018), Henry Silverstein, 26 Mar 1908; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference 11782 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,993,077.
  5. ^ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4VY-YZW : accessed 14 March 2023), Henry Silverstein in household of Herman Silverstein, Brooklyn (Districts 0251-0500), Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 486, sheet 10A, line 17, family 171, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1540; FHL microfilm 2,341,275.
  6. ^ "Musicians Match Wits on Mutual Quiz". Musical America. April 25, 1946. p. 22. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "News and Views of Radio: New Program". The Sacramento Bee. September 30, 1941. p. 18.
  8. ^ "From the Production Centres: New York". Variety. October 1, 1941. p. 47.
  9. ^ Associated Press (June 26, 1941). "Talent Lined Up for Stamp, Bond Program". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 18.
  10. ^ a b Buxton, Frank; Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast, 1920 - 1950. New York: The Viking Press. pp. 21, 223.
  11. ^ "Short Scannings: Brief but Important Video News; By Way of Personal Mention". The Billboard. April 21, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2014). Television Introductions: Narrated TV Program Openings since 1949. New York: The Scarecrow Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-8108-9249-1.
  13. ^ Herman, Pinky (April 20, 1954). "Television--Radio". Motion Picture Daily. p. 6. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Freeman, Mickey; Rubinstein, Sholom (2002). Bilko : Behind the Lines With Phil Silvers. Waterville, ME: Thorndike Press. p.  146. ISBN 0786236930.
  15. ^ a b Schwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1995). The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows. 2nd ed. New York: Facts on File. pp. 50, 119. ISBN 9780821630945.
  16. ^ Plotnik, Gene (September 22, 1951). "Television—Radio Reviews: Mark Trail". The Billboard. p. 8. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  17. ^ Library of Congress (December 1954). "1946-1954 Copyright Registration Cards (A-N)". United States Copyright Office.
  18. ^ "Various – Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits Vol. 4 - Defenders Of Justice". Discogs.
  19. ^ Musil, Art; Traum, Thea (May 1948). "I Struck It Rich". Radio and Television Mirror. pp.26–27, 77–78, 80. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Spinner, The (December 1957). "The Latest Pop Discs: Special Christmas Long Plays". Music World. p. 38. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  21. ^ Jones, William B. (2011). Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History. Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Co. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-7864-3840-2.
  22. ^ Mike. (February 20, 1946). "Transcription Reviews: 'Calling All Girls'". Variety. p. 36. March 15,
  23. ^ "Transcription Reviews: 'Barry Wood Show'". Variety. February 27, 1946. p. 46. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  24. ^ Mike. (June 26, 1946). "Transcription Reviews: 'Philo Vance'". Variety. p. 42. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  25. ^ Sten. (April 18, 1945). "Radio Reviews: Adventures of Boston Blackie". Variety. p. 28. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  26. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984 : A Catalog of Over 1800 Shows. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 49. ISBN 0-7864-0351-9.
  27. ^ "From the Production Centres: In New York". Variety. June 8, 1949. p. 38. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Production". Broadcasting Telecasting. June 5, 1950. p. 70. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  29. ^ "Who's Where". Motion Picture Daily. May 28, 1956. p. 9. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  30. ^ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24DL-WLT : 21 August 2022), Henry Silverstein and Pearl Flexer, 1934.
  31. ^ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WRP-KLB : 13 May 2022), Pearl Silverstein, 1942.
  32. ^ Bower, Roger; Lehr, Lew; Tinney, Cal (1948). Stop Me If You've Heard This One.
  33. ^ "Marriages: Sylvern-Harrison". The Billboard. February 16, 1946. p. 87. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  34. ^ "Marriages". Variety. February 6, 1946. p. 62. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  35. ^ Lait, Jack (April 30, 1952). "In New York; Man About Town". The Daily Record. p. 2. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  36. ^ Walker, Danton (May 20, 1953). "Broadway: Broadway Beat". New York Daily News. p. 64. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  37. ^ Lait, Jack (August 2, 1946). "Broadway and Elsewhere; Seen Together". The Waterbury Democrat. p. 4. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  38. ^ Schwarz, Dan (June 1948). "Watts With Marriage? Famous radio couples prove that career and marriage do mix!". Swing. pp. 75–76, 83. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  39. ^ "The Director Is a Lady". The New York Times. November 14, 1948. p. 43. ProQuest 115559269. Jean Harrison hasn't let her radio work interfere with her life as a housewife or mother. Her East Side duplex, which she shares with her orchestra leader husband, Hank Sylvern, might fit right into a soap opera version of a successful radio director. There is a daughter, Bryna, a cocker spaniel named 'Max,' and a cat named 'George.' [...] Hank doesn't have to take any cues from his wife in the control booth. 'We work together so well,' she says, 'I never have to cue his music in or out.'
  40. ^ Seaman, Barbara (1996). Lovely Me : The Story of Jacqueline Susann. New York: Seven Stories Press. p. 222. ISBN 1-888363-37-1.

Further reading

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