Frieda Fishbein

Frieda Fishbein (March 7, 1886 - September 6, 1981) was a Romanian-American theatrical, film, television and literary agent for writers including Elmer Rice, George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jean Anouilh, and Colleen McCullough.

Personal life and education Fishbein was born in Romania, the eldest daughter of Molly and Osias Fishbein. The family emigrated to the United States in 1901. She was educated in the New Orleans public school system, then spent the majority of her adult life in New York City, initially Manhattan, and then moving to Brooklyn in later life.

Work Fishbein worked as a stenographer in New Orleans in 1903.New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory, 1903, page 331 After moving to New York City, her first job was as a secretary in a movie company. In 1910, she was again working as a stenographer.Year: 1910; Census Place: Brooklyn Ward 21, Kings, New York; Roll: T624_969; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0502; FHL microfilm: 1374982

In 1929, Fishbein established the Frieda Fishbein Agency, a literary and theatrical agency, in New York City. In the same year, the playwright, director and producer Dore Schary described her as having "a stable of young writers, none of whom she could support, except with praise and enthusiasm." He credited Fishbein with helping to get him his first job in Hollywood as a "$100-a-week writer" by introducing him to Harry Cohn, "the maharajah of Columbia [studio]".

By 1932, she was on the advisory board of the New York Stage Society. Her agency moved to the New Amsterdam Theatre in 1937.

During an interview in 1946, she made the observation that many writers who had returned from the war had bought back partly completed plays. She believed the war had given them stamina and that they were sticking to their craft "more tenaciously".

The following year, she made theatrical headlines across America, by developing a new approach to selling shows. She would arrange for scripts to be acted out by semi-pros, filmed and the reel was submitted to prospective producers. According to an interview in 1954, she would receive "about ten plays a week". She would accept "about five a year, and would sell about 8-10 options a year."

After Fishbein's death in 1981, her niece, Janice Fishbein, continued as the president of her agency.

Plays and playwrights Fishbein represented the following writers and plays: Year Playwright Play Notes Ref. 1925 Spencer BrodneyRebel Smith 1929 Elmer RiceStreet Scene Fishbein took the play on after it had been turned down by several Broadway producers; it went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama 1929 Elmer RiceSee Naples and Die 1929 Wallace ThurmanHarlem 1930 Moss HartNo Retreat 1930 Moss HartOnce In A LifetimeFishbein brought a lawsuit against Hart contending that she was entitled to a percentage of his royalties from plays produced by Sam Harris. The matter was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. 1931 I.J. GoldenPrecedent 1934 Jacques DevalPrayer for the Living1937 Simon Gantillon and Harold IgoSteelSidney ShieldsMarriage A La KingMartin CumberlandClimbingDr. Conrad K. GaleDr. Almighty1938Miss Trent PattersonThe Lady Must EatRalph HolmesThe Travelling Salesman and the Farmer's DaughterIrving EllmanCrime Doesn't PayMaria M. CoxeIf Ye Break Faith1939Pamela BurrThe Odd ManWilson StarbuckSea Dogs1941Frederick SchlickNone But The WoundedBecause I Am A Woman1942E. Mawby Green and Edward Allen FeilbertThe House In Paris1943Howard Buermann and Alfred GoldenHelp Wanted – Female1944George Taylor and George SavageThe Phoenix and the Dwarfs1946Paul BowlesThe Respectful ProstituteTranslation of SartrePaul BowlesNo ExitTranslation of SartreJohn E. MillerThe Search for LoveFishbein also produced 1947Paul BowlesThe FliesAdaptation of Sartre's play1949Madeline Davidson and Maurice GlucherThe Perfect PatternHoward Bluerman and Alfred GoldenA Lovely Time1950John S. GordanFor Each Man Kills1951Jean-Paul SartreThe Devil and God1953John SheffieldThe Forgotten Land1960Weldon SheererCalifornia, Here I Come

Fishbein wrote at least one play herself, Pajama Tops, in 1963.

Authors She represented authors Peter Kenna, Sherwood Anderson, Katherine Hoskins, Donald Burgett and Alice White.

Her biggest financial success came from representing Australian author Colleen McCullough. According to McCullough, she was making her sister a tuna fish casserole for her birthday and while looking through a list of agents, she found Fishbein's name, which she took to be a sign. McCullough's first novel Tim (1974) was followed by the global hit The Thorn Birds (1977), selling over 33 million copies. As a "multi-million dollar product", Fishbein was able to retire on her share of the book.

Act One Fishbein appears as a character in Act One, a musical by James Lapine, adapted from the autobiography by Moss Hart. Her role is described "A literary agent. Highly respected in the community, so whatever plays she recommended for production were read with promptness and great enthusiasm. A bit of a character, she's tough and realistic, but very supportive of her client, Moss." The Teacher Resource Guide for the play adds Fishbein is "a highly respected literary agent who connects Hart with the producer Sam Harris, and his colleague, Max Siegel."

Frieda Fishbein

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