Nils Granlund
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Nils T. Granlund (September 29, 1890–April 21, 1957) was an American Broadway show producer, radio industry pioneer, a publicist for Marcus Loew who formed Loews Theatres and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Although his name was actually Nils Theodore Granlund, he later used Thor as a middle name, and after appearing on early radio was commonly referenced only by his initials, N.T.G., on the air and in print.
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[edit] Early Life
Born in Swedish Lapland, his family immigrated to the United States in 1893, settling in Providence, Rhode Island. [1] While still in his teen years he began covering the yachting news for the Providence Tribune, where he later become Sports Editor, and covered the local entertainment news. His promotional efforts for a local theater caught the attention of Marcus Loew who hired Granlund in 1913 as a Publicity Agent for Hanky Panky, a recently acquired touring vaudeville show.
[edit] Marcus Loew Theaters
Following the year-long tour, Loew promoted Granlund to oversee marketing for his theater chain as Publicity Manager. In addition to publicizing events at the various venues, at the urging of Loew, Granlund began staging live talent revues at several of the underperforming theaters. His innovative techniques resulted in the first use of film for promoting live theater and the first filmed trailers for upcoming movies. [2] In 1922 Granlund visited the studios of WHN, a part-time broadcasting station in Ridgewood, New York, and after a series of experimental programs, he convinced Loew to lease the station as a promotional arm of Loew's Theaters.
[edit] Early Radio
After several months of live programming as an anonymous announcer known only by his initials, N.T.G., Granlund approached George Schubel, President of the Ridgewood Times and licensee of WHN, proposing to purchase the station and relocating it to New York City.[1] On July 28, 1923, the station was purchased by Marcus Loew and the studios transferred to his State Theatre at 1540 Broadway, where Granlund served as Station Manager and announcer.
[edit] Prohibition
Granlund continued to stage live revues for the Loew's Theaters and became known for his use of scantily-clad chorus girls, comedians, and singers. As a producer, he simultaneously staged shows at Broadway showplaces such as the Frivolity Club, the Silver Slipper, the Paradise, and the Hollywood. During Prohibition he was arrested along with several other speakeasy figures, including Texas Guinan, whom Granlund had introduced to Larry Fay, her partner at the notorious El Fay Club. [3] The sweep was part of a city-wide liquor crackdown that made headlines across the United States.
[edit] Nightclub Ownership
September 15, 1938, after operating successful reviews on Broadway and touring the U.S., Granlund opened his first nightclub as sole owner. [4] The Midnight Sun featured a Swedish motif and relied on the sales of food over liquor, but offered the same live stage presentations. In a syndicated column describing his innovations in the New York Times, Granlund is credited with having invented the modern nightclub. [5]
[edit] Hollywood
His Congress of Beauty exhibition at the 1939 World's Fair met with mixed reviews and financial disaster, forcing Granlund to shut down the showgirl revue early. Within a year, he relocated to California, setting up a chorus line revue at Hollywood's Florentine Gardens, an act generally panned by Variety, but one that - during World War II - held great appeal to California-based servicemen, and boosted Granlund into the ranks of the nation's top grossing entertainment acts. [6] While in Hollywood, he was featured in several motion pictures, generally appearing as himself, and 1942's Rhythm Parade [2] was set at the Florentine Gardens.
[edit] Later Years
After seven years in Hollywood, Granlund made an unsuccessful return to New York, staging his familiar shows that were increasing panned by critics as throwbacks to vaudeville. [7] His shows at the Frivolity, The Greenwich Village Inn, and the Rio Cabana were savaged by Variety critics. [8]
Returning to California, he staged revues for several West Coast nightclubs, and briefly hosted a radio talk show as well as a televised amateur variety production on KTSL, a short-lived program called Backstage with NTG. [9]
The publication of his memoir, Blondes, Brunettes, and Bullets briefly resurrected his name from the obscurity into which he had fallen, and four weeks after its release, Granlund was in Las Vegas negotiating a chorus line production contract when his taxi was struck leaving the Riviera Hotel. He died of head injuries on April 21, 1957.
Funeral arrangements were made by actress Yvonne De Carlo, whom Granlund had hired as a dancer at the Florentine Gardens, one of the multitude of stars who owed their first break in show business to Granlund.
[edit] References
- ^ 12th Census of the US; Providence RI, ED 46, Sheet 13
- ^ Blondes, Brunettes, and Bullets, Granlund, N.T.; Van Rees Press, NY, 1957, page 53
- ^ Blondes, Brunettes, and Bullets, Granlund, N.T.; Van Rees Press, NY, 1957, page 124.
- ^ NY JOURNAL AMERICAN; NTG’s Midnight Sun Opens with a Flourish; September 21, 1938.
- ^ Lowell MA SUN, Young Folk Have All Grown Up; June 7, 1934.
- ^ Seasonal Mailing; Chamberlain and Lyman Brown Theatrical Agency, NYPL, Billy Rose Theater Collection, NTG clipping file.
- ^ Variety Magazine; Greenwich V. Inn, NY; Review; November 13, 1946.
- ^ Variety Magazine; Review; Rio Cabana, NY; March 12, 1947.
- ^ Long Beach, CA INDEPENDENT, Tele-Vues; Vernon, Terry; May 1, 1950.
