Paskman, Dailey

Dailey Paskman was a playwright and lyricist of the forties, associated with Rudolf Friml.

Playwright and lyricist.

Playwright and lyricist associated with Rudolf Friml.

Dailey Paskman was a lyricist, author, director, producer and radio programming pioneer.

Born in Philadelphia in 1897, he began his theatrical career as a child. He worked for the Shubert Theatres in the business offices and later honed his producing and adapting skills with the producer Morris Gest. In 1924, Paskman was named director of WGBS, Gimbel's owned and operated radio station. He brought his artistic point of view to radio broadcasting as the first person to produce a play on the radio. He also organized and directed the popular Dailey Paskman's Radio Minstrels.

In the 1930's Paskman joined forces with the Edward B. Marks Music Corp. where he represented musical comedy and operetta material for possible motion picture use. He was married to former actress Mai Poth. He died in 1979 at the age of 82.

Lyricist, author, director, producer, and radio programming pioneer Dailey Raymond Paskman was born in Philadelphia on July 24, 1897. He began his career as an actor playing children's roles with the Forepaugh Stock Company. When the Shuberts opened their theaters in Philadelphia, Paskman worked in their publicity department. Eventually he became advance representative and then company manager of a troupe traveling across the country.

A few years later he was hired by producer Morris Gest of Comstock and Gest. Their association lasted for over ten years. During this time he assisted in producing and adapting many of Gest's shows including Chu Chin Chow, Mecca, and The Miracle . Paskman, who had previously tried his hand at writing music, now began writing lyrics for composers such as Rudolf Friml, Vincent Youmans and Victor Young, among others.

In 1924, at the age of 27, Paskman was appointed director of Gimbel's radio station WGBS. One of his many contributions to broadcasting was the development of radio drama: he was the first person to produce plays on the radio by broadcasting live dramas from the stage and then by adapting plays for radio presentation. While affiliated with WGBS he organized and directed The Dailey Paskman Radio Minstrels who, because of their enormous popularity on the radio, also performed on the vaudeville circuit.

In 1928 Gimbel's and Paskman created The General Broadcasting System retaining WGBS as its key station and Paskman as president. WGBS became the New York outlet of a chain of stations across the country. When the station was later sold to William Randolph Hearst, Paskman formed Dailey Paskman and Associates which provided independent stations with a New York office and representation. At some time during the 1930's Paskman joined forces with the Edward B. Marks Music Corporation where, among other projects, he represented musical comedy and operetta material for possible motion picture use.

Dailey Paskman was the author of two books on the subject of minstrelsy: Gentlemen, Be Seated! [with Sigmund Spaeth] and Blackface and Music [a folio of songs and minstrel material]. He was married to former actress Mai Poth. He died at the age of 82 in 1979.