The large building that stood on the southeast corner of Market and Meeting streets housed a wholesale fruit business. On the upper floors were apartments. In one of them, on September 9, 1894, Max and Rosie Grossman Freed’s son, Arthur, was born. Max worked as an artist, and the couple, originally from “Hungaria,” soon left Charleston with their child. Arthur Freed grew up to make an indelible imprint on American culture. He was a highly-regarded lyricist, but became better known in Hollywood for his work as associate producer of “The Wizard of Oz” and producer of two other Academy Award–winning films, “An American in Paris” and “Gigi.” Instrumental in shaping the careers of such luminaries as Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Esther Williams, Freed is perhaps most highly regarded for his film “Singin’ in the Rain.” Arthur Freed died on April 12, 1973.
Arthur Freed (1894–1973) (left), Hollywood lyricist and movie producer, meets with Tito DaPrato, Italy’s Consul General in Los Angeles in 1964. Freed, then the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and DaPrato were discussing the presentation of the Conte Biancamano Artistic Prize of Milan, Italy (seen in foreground), to the Academy.
