George Oppenheimer

George Oppenheimer (1900-1981) was a drama critic for Newsday for twenty years, but also contributed to publishing, entertainment and gossip columns. He was co-founder of Viking Press, a MGM screenwriter, a playwright and author of several books.

Oppenheimer joined Newsday in 1955 to write the weekly On Stage column, became a daily critic in 1963 and was named Sunday drama critic in 1972. His career as a playwright started with HERE TODAY with Ruth Gordon in 1932 and included a version of Rodgers & Hart’s BABES IN ARMS.  Born in New York, he graduated from Williams College and studied at Harvard with George Piere Baker, but his first job was as ad publications manager for Alfred A. Knopf. He left publishing to go to Hollywood, where he worked for Samuel Goldwyn for two years before joining Metro Goldywn Mayer. His films include A Day at the Races, Broadway Melody of 1940, Two-Faced Woman and The War Against Mrs. Hadley, for which he got an Oscar nomination.

After service in India under Lord Mountbatten during World War II, Oppenheimer started writing for TV, including 29 episodes of the Topper series. He returned to New York in 1955 when offered the spot at Newsday.

Oppenheimer also wrote The View from the Sixties: Memories of a Spent Life and The Passionate Playgoer. He was president of the New York Drama Critics Circle from 1970-1972.