Jay Landesman
Jay Landesman was an influential figure in the arts, particularly known for his role in the literary and cultural movements of the mid-20th century. Born in St. Louis to a family with artistic roots, Landesman did not complete his university education but became immersed in the local art scene by running a bar and gallery in the 1940s. His interest in literature burgeoned, leading him to establish the magazine *Neurotica* in 1948, which became a platform for Beat writers and cultural critics, though it had a brief run of just three years.
Throughout his career, Landesman wore many hats—he was a poet, lyricist, and musical performer, often collaborating with his second wife, Fran Deitsch. His work in theater included creating the cabaret venue Crystal Palace, which showcased notable entertainers of the time. He also attempted to adapt his autobiographical novel *The Nervous Set* for the stage, and while it had mixed success, he continued to contribute to the theater scene, including adapting other works like Bram Stoker's *Dracula* into a musical.
The Landesmans eventually moved to England, where Jay continued to engage with the arts, culminating in the publication of his memoirs. Landesman’s legacy encompasses a diverse array of contributions to literature, theater, and music, reflecting the dynamic cultural landscape of his time.
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Jay Landesman
Writer
- Born: July 15, 1919
- Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
- Died: February 20, 2011
Biography
A native of St. Louis, Jay Landesman was the son of a painter who eventually became a successful dealer in antiques. He attended the University of Missouri and Rice Institute, but left both without having completed a degree. He later helped run a small bar known as Little Bohemia that served also as an art gallery and a gathering place for St. Louis artists in the 1940’s. In 1945, he married Carmen Decker. Around this time, Landesman became more and more interested in literature and the world of ideas; he founded his landmark magazine Neurotica: A Quarterly of the Arts in 1948. Although the magazine was ostensibly an examination of the neurotic perspective, in fact it became a locus for the emergent school of Beat writers and for cultural critics. Challenging and controversial, the magazine varied between creative pieces, articles on psychology, and social criticism.
Although the journal published for only three years, its contributors included poet Allen Ginsberg, dramatist Judith Malina, scholar Marshall McLuhan, and folklorist Gershon Legman, who helped Landesman focus his ideas for the magazine after Landesman moved the magazine to New York City. Although the magazine never reached an audience of more than seven thousand, its run was republished in book form twice. It was in New York that he met Fran Deitsch, who would later become his wife, Landesman’s first marriage having ended before he relocated to New York. Eventually becoming a poet, lyricist, and musical performer, Fran was a perfect match for Landesman, and they frequently collaborated.
Landesman completed his autobiographical novel about the hipster scene The Nervous Set but had difficulty in publishing it; as a diversion, he united with his brother Fred (a painter) to create a cabaret theater, the Crystal Palace. Before long, popular entertainers such as Lenny Bruce, the Smothers Brothers, and Barbara Streisand performed at the Crystal Palace. Landesman eventually collaborated with dramatist Theodore J. Flicker to adapt The Nervous Set to musical theater, with song lyrics by his wife Fran and music by her frequent collaborator, pianist Tommy Wolf. The Nervous Set was not entirely a success on Broadway, and Landesman continued to work with the Crystal Palace, eventually producing plays by Beckett as well as a musical version of Nelson Algren’s novel A Walk on the Wild Side, which he adapted.
The Landesmans moved to England in 1964. As his wife become engaged as a lyricist in the thriving theater community, Jay created a musical version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula titled Dearest Dracula, where it met with success. He published his memoirs Rebel Without Applause and Jaywalking in 1987 and 1993.