Edward Mann(1922-1995)

Edward Mann was a multi-talented Film Director, Screenplay Writer, Theater Producer, Cartoonist and Composer. He started out as a cartoonist in the 1940s as one of the artists for "Andy Gump" and Joe Palooka. In 1952, he had his own strip, "Blade Winters" which ran in the NY Post. He also drew "Dixie Dugan" which was syndicated across the press in the 1950s and 1960s. A gifted individual with an abundance of natural charm and wit, Mr. Mann was a driving force behind the original Woodstock, New York, cultural and theatrical movement in the 60s. He is also, perhaps, best remembered as the co-founder with Ted Mann (no relation) of the original "Circle in the Square" Theater in New York City, where so many renowned figures of stage and screen were first presented, and with which he was closely associated from 1950 to 1953. Mr. Mann wrote over eight films and directed about half of them, starring Jack Klugman, Boris Karloff, Morgan Freeman (one of his very first films), among others. In 1983, he produced the Broadway musical "Amen Corner", written by James Baldwin.