Barbara "Bobbie" Handman (March 11, 1928 Doug Struck, "The FDR Memorial's Deeper Meaning", Washington Post, May 1, 1997. – November 14, 2013) was an American political consultant and arts activist, known for her role in preserving historic Broadway theater houses. She was the executive vice-president and New York City office director of People for the American Way from 1981 until 2003. Alvin H. Reiss, "Key ally helps arts in battle over NEA", Fund Raising Management, June 1, 1992.
Formative years and family Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1928,Melena Ryzik, "Nearly 60 Years and Counting, Working on the Art of Theater", The New York Times, May 20, 2007. Handman was the wife of stage director and teacher Wynn Handman.
Handman's daughter, Laura Handman, is married to Harold M. Ickes.
Career In 1982, Handman helped to found Save the Theatres, an organization that tried unsuccessfully to prevent the razing of the Morosco, Helen Hayes, and Bijou Theaters.The name of the organization was "Save the Theatres, Inc., as noted in court papers. See Shubert Organization, Inc. v. Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York and Save the Theatres, Inc., Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department, May 16, 1991, accessed March 10, 2013 "Proposal to Save Morosco and Helen Hayes Theaters" , LHP Architects, accessed March 10, 2013 In 1988, the group succeeded in having twenty-eight Broadway houses designated as landmarks by the New York City Board of Estimate. Jeremy Gerard, "Theaters as Landmarks: Who Likes the Ruling, Who Doesn't, and Why", The New York Times, March 14, 1988.
Handman served on the board of the Eleanor Roosevelt Foundation and on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission. White House press release, Sept. 22, 1994.
She was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998 for her work as an arts advocate.
Death Handman died in New York City on November 14, 2013.
References
External links PFAW tribute to Handman