Alfred Newman
The founding father of Hollywood film scoring, whose majestic themes and innovative techniques defined the sound of the studio era.
1900–1970 (age 70)·American composer·Birthday: March 17·The Lost Generation
Biography
Alfred Newman didn't just write movie music; he built the system that made it possible. A child prodigy from New Haven, he was conducting Broadway pit orchestras in his teens before being lured to Hollywood in 1930. At 20th Century Fox, where he reigned as music director for two decades, he established the modern film scoring process, from the use of 'click tracks' for synchronization to mentoring a generation of composers who would become giants themselves. His own scores were grand, melodically rich, and emotionally precise, capable of elevating a biblical epic like 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' or a intimate drama like 'The Diary of Anne Frank.' With nine Oscars on his mantle, Newman’s true monument is the 'Newman System' and the dynasty he founded—his brothers and sons, including Randy and Thomas, extended his musical language into new generations. He crafted the very sonic fabric of classic American cinema.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Alfred was born in 1900, placing them squarely in The Lost 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 Alfred Was Born
The biggest hits of 1900
Alfred's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1900Born
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1905Started school
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Became a teenager
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Could drive
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could vote
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Turned 21
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1930Turned 30
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 40
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 50
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 60
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 70
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
Key Achievements
- Won nine Academy Awards for Best Original Score, including for 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' 'The Song of Bernadette,' and 'Camelot.'
- Served as the Music Director at 20th Century Fox for twenty years, overseeing the music for hundreds of films and establishing industry standards.
- Composed the iconic 20th Century Fox fanfare, one of the most recognized pieces of music in cinematic history.
- Pioneered technical innovations in film scoring, including the development of the 'click track' for synchronizing music to picture.
Did You Know?
He was one of nine children, and his brothers Lionel and Emil were also successful Hollywood composers and conductors.
He began his career as a piano prodigy and was largely self-taught in composition and conducting.
He conducted the orchestra for the world premiere of George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' in 1924.
The extended Newman family holds the record for the most Oscar nominations of any family, with over 90 collective nominations.
“A film composer must be a dramatist first and a musician second.”
