Jeremy Tallmer, an arts critic for The Village Voice and creator of the Obies, died November 9 at the age of 93, according to The New York Times.
Besides cultivating a personal, yet professional approach to arts coverage, Tallmer’s great contribution to The Village Voice was giving attention to the budding theatre scene in churches and lofts downtown. Tallmer organized the Obie Awards, as a play on the term Off-Broadway, and as a way to establish itself on par with the Emmys and Tonys.
The Obies recognized some of today’s big names during their early careers, including actors Al Pacino and Meryl Streep, writers Samuel Beckett and Jean Genet, and directors Harold Prince and Alan Arkin.
Tallmer ran the Obies from 1956 to 1962. For the full article, visit The New York Times.