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“F” is for Freed, Arthur (1894-1973)

“F” is for Freed, Arthur (1894-1973). Film producer, songwriter. Born in Charleston, Freed did not remain long in his native city. His family eventually settled in Seattle. After service in World War I and experience in vaudeville, he was a partner in the Orange Grove Theater in Los Angeles. In 1929 he and his partner composed the songs for MGM’s Broadway Melody, which won the Academy Award for best picture. Freed became best known for his musicals with MGM as he helped to fashion and energize the studio’s popular musicals, including: Meet Me in St. Louis, Annie Get Your Gun, Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris, and GiGi. All of these films won Academy Awards. From 1963 to 1966 Arthur Freed served as president of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.