My Virtual Reading Room

Born near the end of the 19th Century, Irving Berlin went on to become a celebrated composer of American popular music that was to influence generations of song lovers.

*Berlin was born in Russia in 1888 and died in New York in 1989 at the age of 101.
*His first wife, Dorothy, contracted typhoid during their honeymoon in Cuba,and died 5 months after their wedding.
*His second marriage was to heiress Ellin MacKay. Her father refused to give the couple his blessing for what he considered a "mixed" marriage (Berlin was Jewish and and his wife was Catholic). However, the bride's mother encouraged her daughter to "follow her heart." The couple remained married for over 60 years and had 4 children.
*Some of his most popular songs include, "White Christmas" and "God Bless America." He also composed the scores to several films and Broadways shows, including "Annie Get Your Gun."

Picture 1: 18 year old Irving Berlin
Picture 2: Irving Berlin grew up in New York's Lower East Side. By the age of 8, he was selling newspapers. At the end of the day, he would deposit his earnings into his mother's apron. A few years later, he was singing songs on the street for a few pennies.
Picture 3: Pictured here is Berlin with his first wife, Dorothy.
Picture 4: Berlin's second marriage to Ellin MacKay lasted over 60 years.