1946: GEORGE ANTHEIL: TRENTON PRODIGY

I seem to recall reading where George Antheil was a genius in the music world, but as his career evolved he became an eccentric. Perhaps someone who is familiar with Mr. Antheil's career can correct me or add to this blog
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MANY THANKS TO DON NUGENT, HHS '60 FOR THIS INTERESTING ADDITION TO THE ANTHEIL STORY. DON WROTE:

Tom,

I ran across this guys name while just surfing the net.He had to be one of the more interesting people of the 20th century judging from the VERY lengthy article concerning him on Wikipedia.com. I cannot even begin to tell you all the stuff this guy was involved in. I urge you to read about him. But one thing I will tell you, he grew up in the very area of South Trenton you so often express interest about (as I also did until age 12).He must have lived very near the State prison as he mentioned it in an autobiography.He is buried in Riverview Cemetery along with many illustrious Trentonians of years gone by.

By the way, his younger brother was probably one of the first American

victims of the Soviet evil empire. As a U.S. diplomatic courier, with secret documents (it isconjectured) his plane mysteriously exploded over the Baltic Sea. The Estonians say that they found out the Soviet plans for aggression against the Baltic countries in 1940. And that documents proving this Soviet intent were given the American Embassyin Estonia and that these were what George's brother (Andrew?) was bringing to another American Embassy when his plane blew up. Ultimately the Soviets did take over these little countries as they fought Hitler, but held them under their boot until the Cold War was ended,

49 years later as you know.

George wrote many symphonies, operas, etc. and played to standing room only audiences in Europe. At one point the French press called him "the greatest living American composer",but it doesn't stop there. He became a self taught expert on female endocrinology, Wrote a syndicated "advice to the lovelorn" column. And most incredible of all, along with actress Hedy Lamarr invented a "frequency changing" electronic guidance system for submarine torpedoes.

They gave this invention to the Navy free of charge and never made a dime on the patent.

This invention later became the underlying work for the method used in today's cell phone and satellite communications. But reading through the references on his life you get the idea that George really was quite a character.

P.S.

Running a search for him at time.com also reveals a great deal about him.

Don Nugent

HHS class of 1960