Silvern's first nationwide exposure came via his 1941 collaboration with lyricist Ruth Poll, "I'm a Military Man Now," which, at Treasury SecretaryHenry Morgenthau's request, was unveiled on the premiere broadcast of a revamped version of the U.S. Treasury's wartime radio series, The Treasury Hour—Millions for Defense.[7][8][9]
Subsequently, Sylvern worked on many radio and television shows, some of which are listed below:
Sylvern recorded a Christmas album named Christmas in Hi-Fi (Organ, Bells, Chimes).[20] He also wrote the music for an MGM children's story-telling LP record (CH-103), The Wonderful World of Fairy Tales. He played the organ while Robert Q. Lewis told The Ugly Duckling, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Sleeping Beauty, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, and The Wizard of Oz stories.[21]
Between 1945 and 1949, Sylvern worked alongside his second wife, Jeanne Harrison—she as director, he as musical director—on a number of radio programs,[22][23][24] most notably Adventures of Boston Blackie.[25][26] In addition they recorded two records for children.[27]
In June 1950, Sylvern was named "outstanding musical director of radio and TV for 1949-50" by Song Hits Magazine.[28] In 1956, he was elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation.[29]
Personal life and death
Sylvern was married at least twice: first—from January 7, 1934 until her death on January 12, 1942—to Pearl Flexer,[30][31] with whom he had a daughter, Bryna,[32] and then—from February 2, 1946 until their divorce, circa spring 1952[33][34][35][36]—to radio and TV producer-director, Jeanne—aka "Jean"—Harrison.[37][38][39][40]
On July 4, 1964, Sylvern died of undisclosed causes at his home in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.[1]
References
^ ab"Henry Sylvern, Composer and Conductor, 57, Dead". The New York Times. July 5, 1964. p. 43. ProQuest115559269. Henry Sylvern, conductor, arranger and pianist who wrote background music for radio and television programs and commercials, died yesterday at his home, 240 East 53rd Street. He was 57 years old. Mr. Sylvern, a native New Yorker, was associated with the "Du Pont Show of the Week," a National Broadcasting Company television network program, and had also been musical director for the Arthur Godfrey program. He also wrote advertising jingles. Surviving are a daughter, Miss Bryna Sylvern, and a brother, Jesse.
^Sullivan, Ed (October 23, 1956). "Little Old New York". The Washington Star. p. A-17. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^"Obituaries". The New York Times. October 15, 1956. p. 25. ProQuest113726538. SILVERSTEIN, Herman, beloved father of Henry Sylvern, Sylvia Rosenfeld and Rev. Jesse Silverstein, loving grandfather of Bryna Sylvern, Marv and Dvorah...
^"New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZK-LSG : 11 February 2018), Henry Silverstein, 26 Mar 1908; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference 11782 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,993,077.
^"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4VY-YZW : accessed 14 March 2023), Henry Silverstein in household of Herman Silverstein, Brooklyn (Districts 0251-0500), Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 486, sheet 10A, line 17, family 171, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1540; FHL microfilm 2,341,275.
^ abSchwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1995). The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows. 2nd ed. New York: Facts on File. pp. 50, 119. ISBN9780821630945.
^Schwarz, Dan (June 1948). "Watts With Marriage? Famous radio couples prove that career and marriage do mix!". Swing. pp. 75–76, 83. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^"The Director Is a Lady". The New York Times. November 14, 1948. p. 43. ProQuest115559269. Jean Harrison hasn't let her radio work interfere with her life as a housewife or mother. Her East Side duplex, which she shares with her orchestra leader husband, Hank Sylvern, might fit right into a soap opera version of a successful radio director. There is a daughter, Bryna, a cocker spaniel named 'Max,' and a cat named 'George.' [...] Hank doesn't have to take any cues from his wife in the control booth. 'We work together so well,' she says, 'I never have to cue his music in or out.'
