Guide to the Harold V. Cohen Papers, c. 1920-1996
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Harold V. Cohen Papers,
- Creator
- Cohen, Harold V.
- Collection Number
- MSS#334
- Extent
- 1.75 linear feet (1 box and 1 shelf volume)
- Date
- c. 1920-1996
- Abstract
- Harold V. Cohen was a Jewish drama and movie critic and columnist for the Pittsburgh'Post-Gazette newspaper for forty years from 1929 until 1969, when he suddenly passed away. Five days a week he wrote his column "Drama Desk."
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- Generous support for this project was provided by the PNC Charitable Trusts- J. Samuel and Rose Y. Cox Foundation and the Giant Eagle Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
Harold V. Cohen was born in Wampum, Pennsylvania, near New Castle in 1906. As a child, Cohen showed immense interest in theater and the stage, participating in high school plays and later in the university setting. In 1926, he graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During his time at the university, he was also editor of the Collegian, the campus student newspaper.
After graduation, Cohen was employed as a copy editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Along with being a copy editor, Cohen also reviewed movies on his own time. In 1929, he was appointed movie critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and wrote a daily column entitled "Drama Desk." Cohen was named both movie and drama critic for the newspaper in 1936. Seven years later, in 1943, he became the drama editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 1950, Cohen helped to establish the magazine TV Guide, of which he was associate editor and columnist while continuing to work at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He also wrote as the Pittsburgh correspondent for Variety, The Stage, and other entertainment publications.
Along with his well known daily column, Cohen was also involved in Pittsburgh radio and television. He founded Television News in Pittsburgh with his college friend, Bill Adler. He also hosted shows with his actress wife, Stephanie Diamond, and was the Sunday movie host for many years on KDKA-TV. The show was later moved to WTAE-TV where Cohen held the rating lead during that time period.
Harold V. Cohen won numerous awards for his critical writing and reviews of both the theater and motion pictures. In 1955, he was named Movie Critic of the Year by the Screen Director's Guild, which had studied reviews from 300 newspapers from across North America. He also was awarded the 1955 award of excellence from the Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild, the 1963 Western Pennsylvania Journalism Man of the Year award, and the 1967 Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, the Pennsylvania State University.
A year after his sudden death in 1969, the Playhouse Actors Guild sponsored a scholarship to the Playhouse School of Theater in the name of Harold V. Cohen Foundation to be awarded to a qualified full-time student studying dramatic art at the school. He was a great friend of the Playhouse and gave encouragement to young people breaking into the entertainment business, many of whom were or still involved in their careers.
Scope and Content Notes
The collection contains a small amount of sketches, columns written by Cohen, newspaper clippings mentioning him, and correspondence from friends, family, colleagues, and admirers. Also within the collection are Western Union telegrams and various clippings that have become disjointed from the original Screen Director's Guild Award shelf volume.
Arrangement
The collection consists of one shelf volume and one archival box and is arranged alphabetically.
Conditions Governing Access
No Restrictions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts of Eugene Cohen and his wife Marion Cohen on November 15, 1996 and November 4, 1997.
Preferred Citation
Harold V. Cohen Papers, c. 1920-1996, MSS#334, Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center This collection has been previously cited as: Papers of Harold V. Cohen, 1926-1993, MSS#334, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.General
This collection has been previously cited as: Papers of Harold V. Cohen, 1926-1993, MSS#334, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Processing Information
This collection was originally processed by Julie Niklaus on May 25, 2001. Further processing and rearrangement of the collection provided by Theresa E. Rea on September 14, 2009.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Separated Materials
Two boxes of photographs have been separated, arranged, and described as MSP#334.
Two oversize photographic albums and an oversize scrapbook have been separated and described as MSR#334.
Change of Pace: A collection of 22 favorite "Mirrors of Sport" Columns by Havey J. Boyle. Reprinted from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was transferred to the library.
Subjects
- Pennsylvania State University.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Collegian.
- Screen Director's Guild.
- Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild.
- Playhouse Actors Guild.
- Harold V. Cohen Foundation.
- Cohen, Harold V. (1906-1969).
- Cohen, Stephanie Diamond.
- Adler, Bill.
- Wampum (Pa.)
- New Castle (Pa.)
- Pittsburgh (Pa.)
- Hollywood (Ca.)
- Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
- Newspapers--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
- Motion Picture Critics--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
- Theater Critics--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.