Arthur Kober
Arthur Kober was a notable writer born in 1900 in Brody, Galicia, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now in Ukraine. He emigrated to New York City with his family at a young age. Kober gained prominence in the 1930s through his contributions to The New Yorker, showcasing his talent for dialogue and Jewish American characters. His novel, *Thunder Over the Bronx*, published in 1935, marked a significant milestone in his literary career. During the 1930s and 1940s, he shifted his focus to playwriting and screenwriting, creating successful comedies such as *Having a Wonderful Time*, which later became a film, and writing for notable movies like *Make Me a Star* and *Palooka*. In the 1950s, Kober transitioned to television, contributing to hit series like *Leave It to Beaver* and *My Three Sons*. He passed away in 1975 in the Bronx, New York, leaving behind a legacy as a prolific writer of American comedy and drama.
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Subject Terms
Arthur Kober
Writer
- Born: August 25, 1900
- Birthplace: Brody, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now in Ukraine)
- Died: June 12, 1975
- Place of death: Bronx, New York
Biography
Arthur Kober was born in 1900 in Brody, a city in an area known as Galicia in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire; the area is now part of Ukraine. At a young age, Kober and his family immigrated to New York City. In the 1930’s, Kober earned recognition for a series of articles and stories he wrote for The New Yorker. His ability to write dialogue and capture Jewish American characters propelled him even further with the release of his novel, Thunder Over the Bronx, published in 1935.
In the 1930’s and 1940’s, Kober focused most of his energy on writing plays and Hollywood motion pictures. He became a successful and prolific writer of comedies, contributing to films such as Make Me a Star, Palooka, and The Little Foxes, among many others. In 1937, Kober wrote a hit Broadway play, Having a Wonderful Time, a comedy about Jewish Americans. The play was well received and was adapted as a motion picture in 1938. In 1952, Kober helped adapt the play into a Broadway musical, Wish You Were Here..
Kober’s work seemed to slow in the 1950’s. Instead of continuing with movies, he wrote for two popular television series, Leave It to Beaver in 1957, and My Three Sons in 1960. Kober died in 1975, while living in Bronx, New York.