Abe Burrows
A Broadway wit with a radio ear who turned sharp satire into smash-hit musicals like 'Guys and Dolls' and 'How to Succeed.'
1910–1985 (age 75)·American writer, director and humorist·Birthday: December 18·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Abe Burrows was the quintessential Broadway fixer, a quick-witted writer who could doctor a script, punch up a joke, and shape a hit. He honed his timing in the frantic world of network radio, creating and starring in the popular show 'Duffy's Tavern.' That ear for snappy, natural dialogue made him the perfect choice to whip the book for 'Guys and Dolls' into shape, transforming it into a classic. He followed that by directing and co-writing the book for 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' a Pulitzer-winning satire of corporate life that balanced bite with buoyancy. Burrows's career was temporarily derailed by the Hollywood blacklist, but his resilience and undeniable talent brought him back to the top. He was the man behind the curtain who made the machinery of a great musical comedy look effortless.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Abe was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Abe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Abe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Died at 75
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote the book for the landmark musical 'Guys and Dolls', contributing to its enduring success.
- Won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1962 for 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying', for which he also wrote the book and directed.
- Directed the original Broadway productions of both 'How to Succeed' and 'Cactus Flower'.
- Had a successful early career as a radio personality, creating and starring in the comedy series 'Duffy's Tavern'.
Did You Know?
He was blacklisted from television and film during the McCarthy era but continued to work on Broadway.
His son, James Burrows, became one of television's most successful sitcom directors, co-creating 'Cheers'.
He hosted a popular NBC radio quiz show called 'Break the Bank' in the 1940s.
Before show business, he worked as a runner on Wall Street during the Great Depression.
“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.”
