Louis G. Cowan

Louis G. Cowan (December 12, 1909 – November 18, 1976^[1]) was a president of the CBS broadcasting network in the United States and a creator of quiz shows (including Quiz Kids radio program, Stop the Music, and The $64,000 Question for television), a television producer^[1][2] and was director of the Voice of America from 1943–1945.^[3]

Louis G. Cowan
Born	December 12, 1909 Chicago
Died	November 18, 1976 New York City (age 66)
Nationality	American
Education	B.A. University of Chicago
Spouse	Pauline Spiegel
Children	4 including Paul Cowan Geoffrey Cowan

Early life

Cowan was born Louis Cohen in 1909 in Chicago but changed his name at age 21.^[4][2] Cowan's parents were Orthodox Jews. His father was Jacob Cohen, a failed businessman, and his mother was Hetty Smitz Cohen.^[4][2] He graduated from the University of Chicago with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in history.^[5] While at the university he met his wife Pauline "Polly" Spiegel,^[1][6] granddaughter of Joseph Spiegel, founder of the Spiegel catalog.^[7]

Career

Cowan's breakthrough as a producer came in 1940 with Quiz Kids. During World War II he headed the New York office of the United States Office of War Information. After that he returned to commercial radio, producing first Murder at Midnight and then Fighting Senator.^[5]

He produced more than 50 programs during his three years with CBS, including Captain Kangaroo, and won two Peabody Awards. After he left CBS, he founded Chilmark Press, was director of the Brandeis University Communications Center, special lecturer at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and founded the William E. Wiener Oral History Library for the American Jewish Committee.^[1]

Personal life

In 1976, Cowan died along with his wife in a house fire in New York City. The fire was believed to have been caused by “smoking carelessness”.^[1] They had four children: Paul Cowan, Geoffrey Cowan, Holly Cowan Shulman, and Liza Cowan.^[1]

Legacy

Cowan's papers and archives, along with the archives of Chilmark Press, are held at Columbia University.^[8]