Early Life
Goldwyn was born Schmuel Gelbfisz in Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, to a Hasidic, Polish Jewish family. His parents were Aaron David Gelbfisz, a peddler, and his wife, Hannah Reban (née Jarecka). At an early age, he left Warsaw on foot and penniless. He made his way to Birmingham, England, where he remained with relatives for a few years using the name Samuel Goldfish.
In 1898, he emigrated to the United States, but fearing refusal of entry, he got off the boat in Nova Scotia, Canada, before moving on to New York in January 1899. He found work in upstate Gloversville, New York, in the bustling garment business. Soon his innate marketing skills made him a very successful salesman at the Albano Glove Company. After four years, as vice-president for sales, he moved back to New York City.
Read more about this topic: Samuel Goldwyn
Famous quotes containing the words early and/or life:
“In the early forties and fifties almost everybody “had about enough to live on,” and young ladies dressed well on a hundred dollars a year. The daughters of the richest man in Boston were dressed with scrupulous plainness, and the wife and mother owned one brocade, which did service for several years. Display was considered vulgar. Now, alas! only Queen Victoria dares to go shabby.”
—M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)
“And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief;”
—William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878)