Edward Eliscu

Edward Eliscu (April 2, 1902 – June 18, 1998) was an American lyricist, playwright, producer and actor, and a successful writer of songs for films.^[1]

Edward Eliscu
Born	(1902-04-02)April 2, 1902 Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1998(1998-06-18) (aged 96) Newtown, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupations	Lyricist playwright producer stage actor

Life

Eliscu was born in Manhattan, New York City.^[2] His parents, Frank and Sofia Eliscu, were born in Romania and emigrated to the United States. ^[3] He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in Manhattan as a classmate of director George Cukor. He then attended City College of New York and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. His older brother Millton D'Eliscu was a military officer, multi-sport coach, and athletic director.^[4]

He then began acting in Broadway plays. Eliscu's first film score was with Vincent Youmans and Billy Rose for the film Great Day. Two well-known songs from that show include "More Than You Know," and "Without a Song."

He married the dancer and journalist Stella Bloch in 1931. They both worked in the film industry until the House Committee on Un-American Activities named her husband in the 1950s. This ended his career in the film and later in the television industry.^[5] Eliscu together with his wife's cousin Mortimer Offner moved away from Hollywood and returned to New York.^[6]

Eliscu was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.^[2]

He died on June 18, 1998, aged 96, in Newtown, Connecticut.^[1]

Eliscu is the grandfather of music journalist and broadcaster Jenny Eliscu.^{[7][non-primary source needed]}

Works

Selected film and theatre scores

• Lady Fingers
• The Street Singer
• A Little Racketeer
• Frederica (also librettist)
• Meet the People (also producer)
• The Banker's Daughter
• 9:15 Revue
• The Garrick Gaieties (1930)
• The Little Show
• Flying Down to Rio (1933)
• The Gay Senorita (1945)

Selected hits

• "Happy Because I'm in Love"
• "Ankle Up the Altar"
• "Music Makes Me"
• "Orchids in the Moonlight"
• "Meet the People"
• "A Fellow and a Girl"
• "You Forgot Your Gloves"
• "Without a Song"
• "More Than You Know"
• "I'll Still Belong To You (Eliscu and Brown song)"

Selected collaborators

• Vincent Youmans
• Billy Rose
• Jay Gorney
• Henry Myers (composer)
• John Green
• Gus Kahn
• Vernon Duke
• Manning Sherwin
• Richard Myers
• Ned Lehac
• Billy Hill
• Nacio Herb Brown (songwriter)