Libby Holman

Libby Holman May 23 1904 Cincinnati Ohio – June 18 1971 Stamford Connecticut Was An American Torch Singer And Stage Actress Who Was In Her Time Considered Both A Scandalous Tarnished Lady And A Tragedy-Prone Millionairess.

Biography

Libby Holman Was Born Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman On May 23 1904 To A Jewish Lawyer And Stockbroker Alfred Holzman August 20 1867 - June 14 1947 And His Wife Rachel Florence Workum Holzman October 17 1873 - April 22 1966 In Cincinnati Ohio. Alfred And Rachel Were Married On March 17 1900. Their Other Children Were Daughter Marion H. Holzman January 25 1901 - December 13 1963 And Son Alfred Paul Holzman March 09 1909 - April 19 1992. In 1904 The Wealthy Family Grew Destitute After Libby's Uncle Ross Holzman April 19 1874 - April 2 1915 Embezzled Nearly $1 Million Of Their Stock Brokerage Business. At Some Point Alfred Changed The Family Name From Holzman To Holman. Libby Graduated From Hughes High School On June 11 1920 At The Age Of 16 Then Entered The University Of Cincinnati Graduating On June 16 1923 With A Bachelor Of Arts Degree.

In The Summer Of 1924 Libby Left For New York City Where She Initially Took Up Residence At The Studio Club. Her First Theater Job In New York Was In The Road Company Of The Fool. Channing Pollock The Writer Of The Fool Recognized Libby's Talents Immediately And Advised Her To Pursue A Theatrical Career. She Followed Pollock's Advice And Soon Became A Star. An Early Stage Colleague Who Became A Longtime Close Friend Was Future Film Star Clifton Webb Then A Dancer. He Bestowed Upon Her The Nickname "The Statue Of Libby." Her Broadway Theatre Debut Was In The Play The Sapphire Ring In 1925 At The Selwyn Theatre She Was Billed As Elizabeth Holman It Closed After 13 Performances. . User-Contributed Text Is Available Under The Creative Commons By-SA License Additional Terms May Apply. read less