David Merrick
A master of theatrical spectacle and ruthless promotion, he reshaped Broadway into a commercial powerhouse with a string of record-breaking hits.
1911–2000 (age 89)·American theatre producer·Birthday: November 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
David Merrick, born in St. Louis, arrived on Broadway with a combative spirit and a genius for marketing that would define an era. He wasn't just a producer; he was an event-maker, orchestrating public stunts and savvy publicity campaigns that turned shows like 'Hello, Dolly!' and '42nd Street' into cultural phenomena. His taste was eclectic, ranging from the gritty realism of 'Look Back in Anger' to the lavish musicals that became his trademark. Merrick's relentless drive and sharp elbows earned him a reputation as the 'Abominable Showman,' a title he wore with pride as he dominated the Tony Awards and kept his name in the headlines. His legacy is a Broadway where the roar of the crowd is inseparable from the roar of the promoter.
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.
David was born in 1911, 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 David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1911
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1911Born
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1916Started school
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Became a teenager
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Could drive
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1929Could vote
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Turned 21
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1941Turned 30
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 40
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 50
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 60
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 70
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 80
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Died at 89
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
Key Achievements
- Produced the original Broadway production of 'Hello, Dolly!', which won a then-record 10 Tony Awards in 1964.
- Staged the long-running musical '42nd Street', which opened in 1980 and became a symbol of Broadway resilience.
- Won six Tony Awards for Best Musical, a record for an individual producer that stood for decades.
- Engineered the famous 'Moon for the Misbegotten' stunt by having the show's star, Gloria Foster, appear to faint on cue during a TV interview to boost ticket sales.
Did You Know?
He changed his last name from Margulois to Merrick after the 18th-century English philanthropist John Merrick, known as the 'Elephant Man'.
He once hired actors to picket his own show, 'Subways Are for Sleeping', using the names of real critics who had panned it, to generate controversy.
He produced the play 'Cactus Flower', which was adapted into a film starring Walter Matthau and Ingrid Bergman.
“It's not enough for me to win. Everyone else must lose.”
