Groundbreaker: Remembering Gertrude Berg

Tuesday, August 24, 2010
7:00 pm PT
Los Angeles

Creator of the Sitcom and the First Best Actress Emmy Winner 

Never underestimate the power of a Jewish mother. Through her pioneering creative genius and sheer force of will, Gertrude Berg changed the face of media, giving birth to the situation comedy, first on radio and then on television, and giving life to one of the most memorable and enduring fictional creations of the twentieth century, “Molly Goldberg.” In an era when the possibilities for women in media were limited at best, Berg made a life for herself as a writer, producer, executive, and actress, thus paving the way for the generations of gifted multi-hyphenates who would follow in her footsteps, including Lucille Ball, Martha Stewart, and Oprah Winfrey.
 
Though the setting and characters on her situation comedy, The Goldbergs, were urban and Jewish, the situations in which “Molly” and her fictional family found themselves were universal, with the series's humor rooted in its characters and their environment. Throughout its run, its audience cut across ethnic and religious boundaries, and Berg’s creation became a trusted brand and a powerful force for tolerance and understanding.
 
The Paley Center celebrates the DVD release of the captivating documentary Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg, which traces Berg’s rise to stardom from her childhood in New York to her early radio days and to the groundbreaking sitcom which brought her the first Best Actress Emmy Award in history. The film’s award-winning director, Aviva Kempner, will join Gary David Goldberg (Creator/Executive Producer of Family Ties and Brooklyn Bridge) and acclaimed Berg biographer Dr. Glenn Smith, for an illuminating evening of conversation and rare video clips celebrating the achievements of this true media visionary.

A DVD and book signing will follow the program.

This event is FREE, but RSVPs are required.