Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Wolcott Gibbs, Who He?

To this inquiry:
I'm currently engaged in writing a biography of Wolcott Gibbs, who succeeded Robert Benchley as The New Yorker's theatre critic. I was wondering if you had any letters, anecdotes, information, contacts, suggestions, etc. touching on their relationship, or any other aspect of Gibbs and his life and times.

Gordon Ernst replied:
Checking my book, I find "Robert Benchley: In Memoriam" by Wolcott Gibbs in the New York Times Book Review, December 16, 1945, p. 3. I also find mention of the Gibbs/Benchley connection in Here at The New Yorker, by Brendan Gill, published in 1975. Probably any book on the New Yorker would have some mention of this. Also, the biographies or memoirs of the various Algonquin writers.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It should be noted that the Gordon Ernst book is the ultimate authority on Benchley. Well researched and even more well written it is the basis upon which all Benchley study is launched. Thanks for the monumental effort, Mr Ernst.

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