Oscar Hammerstein I Oscar Hammerstein I Oscar Hammerstein I (8 May 18461 August 1919) was a German-born businessman, theater impresario, and composer in New York City. His passion for opera led him to open several opera houses, and he rekindled opera's popularity in America. He was the grandfather of American lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II and the father of theater manager William Hammerstein and American producer Arthur Hammerstein. Oscar Hammerstein I was born in Stettin (capital of the province of Pomerania), Kingdom of Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland), to German Jewish parents Abraham and Berthe Hammerstein. He took up the flute, piano, and violin at
Rodgers and Hammerstein from Syracuse" (1938), "Pal Joey" (1940), and "By Jupiter" (1942), as well as many successful film projects. Hammerstein, a co-writer of the popular Rudolf Friml 1924 operetta "Rose-Marie", and Sigmund Romberg operettas "The Desert Song" (1926) and "The New Moon" (1928), began a successful collaboration with composer Jerome Kern on "Sunny" (1925), which was a hit. Their 1927 musical "Show Boat" is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the American musical theatre. Other Hammerstein/Kern collaborations include "Sweet Adeline" (1929) and "Very Warm for May" (1939). Although the last of these was panned by critics, it contains one of