Guy Livingston, a theater critic for Variety, died on Nov. 12 from septic shock. He was 92.
Born in Tilton, N.H., Livingston joined the Circus of Australia when he was 18 to do public relations for the circus’ theatrical press agents. He studied journalism at Boston University, then worked in the Office of War Information during World War II.
Although he freelanced for numerous publications, Livingston was best known for his 30-year career as a part-time drama critic for Variety. In this position, he reviewed the Broadway shows that performed previews in Boston before making their debuts in New York. Not one to let his P.R. background go to waste, Livingston also served as the press agent for Judy Garland, Nat King Cole and Ray Charles.
December 1, 2003 by
Guy Livingston
Categories: Writers/Editors
Guy A. Livingston-Was also a Goverment Official,
During WW-II He worked for (OWI) Office of War
Information (OPA)an Office of Price Administation
also(OPS)Office of Price Stablization.He worked
for the Old Worcester Evening Post (1938) and ran
The first Soap Box Derby on Grafton Hill. He also
wrote President Nixons Campaign Speeches and rode
the special train when he visited Boston.He worked
for several hundred papers and Trade Magazines.
VARIETY,CASH BOX,BILLBOARD,ADVERTISING AGE, the
Bible of the News Paper Business and hundreds of
other Magazines. This is just some of the information that I have. I would just like to
say That my father became famous for his writing
and Reviews of shows that came to Boston in the last 30 years. The movie stars that he wrote about would fill three volumes, MAJOR BOWES,
THREE STOOGES, CHARLSTON HESTON, NAT KING COLE,
JERRY VALE, CAROL CHANNING, BETH MIDLER, BOBBY
DARRIN, JUDY GARLAND, JOHN WAYNE, ELLA FITZGERALD.AND SEVERAL OTHERS. I have some more
Information that I am compiling and pictures that
will be going to the Library of Congress-Al Livingston
To My Father who taught me all I Know about writing and news and self estem-“He was a Maven
in his field. May you rest in peace-Al Livingston
The late Guy Livingston had two grandsons both
were in the Marines-One is serving with the 3rd
Light Assault Vehicle Platoon, Alpha Company and
is a combat veteran of Iraq. His unit was the first into Bagdad-The other served aboard the
USS CARL VINSON he is deceased-his name was
Steven F, Cedrone of West Roxbury. He was one
of the youngest to win the Medal Of Honor for
the Boston Police. The other grand son was CPL
Deniz Emry who is now serving in the United States
Marine Corps.Guys son was Al Livingston who served
in the United States Navy during the Korean War and served with Fasron 104 an Aircraft Squadron.
i would like to remember mr. livingston is one of the greatest writers of our time a critic.His stories can be found in the news paper files of the worcester evening post and several thousand other papers around the world.
May you rest in peace.
som-n-chopra
Guy Livingston reviews can be found in Varity
files, and he wrote for dailey Variety in Holloywood. A service was held for Guy in
Worcester last month. Photos of Guy wth some of
the Many Stars will soon be ready for publication.
I would like to remember my father Guy Livingston
and to thank all the friends and Stars for their
cards and letters. Several photographs of my father are in privite collections. I have about 30 photographs my father with Jimmy Durantee,
Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, Beth Midler, Frankie
Lane, Sandra Dee, Charlton, Major Bowes, Barabra
Walters, His stories where published around the
world and can be found in Newpaper Files and
VARIETY, CASH BOX, BILLBOARD,etc. Al Livingston
,
tomorrow is the anniversary of of the death of guy livingston.he was my grandpa, the best ever. we miss him very much. he was a great writer, and he gave us passes to all the shows in boston. god bless you grandpa, we love you.may you rest in peace. love robin emily tommy and lilly.
I am the daughter of George Walker Clarke. My father was a columnist of fame in Boston History, as was Mr. Livingston. He had a column for the Boston Daily Record called “Around Boston” which ran 6 days a week from 1937-around 1960. Apparently my father and Mr. Livingston were famous friends and colleagues. And I want to personally pay tribute to Guy Livingston for writing a most eloquent article about my father in the Editor and Publishers magazine September 1st, 1960 bylined as follows: “This Is Heaven” Boston’s Benevolent Night Owl Speaking”. Your father captured the essence of my father in that article, and as his daughter, I want to thank and pay tribute to Guy Livingston for that article. It meant the world to me, as I just ]recently became aware of that article from someone searching the archives of the Boston Herald. My father was a great man too, and I believe your dad knew that. Because of that article that Mr. Livingston wrote, I am going to research and write a book about my dad, who had a great history before I was ever born, and continued after. I learned new things about my father from reading the article that was history before I was ever born. So, thank you, thank you Mr. Livingston for capturing the greatness of my dad!!
May you rest in God’s peace eternally, knowing that you life was of great service and well lived!!
Caroline Clarke Connelly;MS/CCC-SLP;BAE-PC
Daughter of George Walker Clarke/Columnist
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF
THE WORCESTER EVENING POST DATED AUGUST 9, 1937
DEAR MR. LIVINGSTONE MR. SCHUSTER HAS ASKED ME TO TELL YOU HOW GRATEFULL EVERYBODY ON THE
THE WORCESTER EVENING POST FOR YOUR HELP IN
MAKING THE SOAP BOX DERBY SUCH A SUCCESS. THE
POST APPRECIATES MORE THAN WE CAN PUT IN WORDS
YOUR KINDNESS AND COOPERATION–W,G. GAVIN
EDITOR AND GENERAL MANAGER Mr Livingstone name
was later changed to Guy LIVINGSTON. The first
Soap Box Derby was held on Grafton Hill and Mr.
Livingstone wrote several stories which can be found in the Worcester