Arthur Pine (born Arthur Pincus; April 20, 1917 – October 26, 2000) was an American publicist, literary agent, self-help author, composer and playwright. He is also widely credited as the man behind the initial incarnation of Citizenship Day.Gross, Ben (May 12, 1947). “Listening In: Press Agent Takes Bow”. ‘’New York Daily News’’.Walker, Danton (May 13, 1947). "Gossip of the Nation". The Philadelphia Inquirer.Pine, Martin (June 28, 1948). "'American Day' Origin". Broadcasting Telecasting: The Newsweekly of Radio and Television. Page 16.
Early life He was born on April 20, 1917, in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, the eldest of two sons born to Charles and Anna Pincus.Arthur Pincus - United States Census, 1930. FamilySearch. While still in high school, the future publicist's pre-Pine byline found its way onto the pages of New York's Picture Newspaper when Pincus earned a five-dollar prize for his submission of the question ultimately selected for the December 9, 1934 edition of the paper's semi-regular person-on-the-street column, "The Inquiring Photographer."Jemail, James (December 9, 1934). "The Inquiring Photographer". New York Daily News. December 9, 1934.
Career Arthur Pincus attended City College with every intention of pursuing a teaching career, but soon found that his heavy Brooklyn accent presented an all but insurmountable obstacle. Quickly shifting gears, he focused on finance, marketing and advertising while also writing and performing songs and plays. Accepting an entry-level position in an established firm, Pincus quickly attracted a number of music clients and resolved to start his own company. He realized, however, that a name change would be advisable; not merely for purposes of de-ethnicization, but also by way of distancing himself from the famously disreputable character "Pinkie Pincus," as then recently portrayed onstage by comic Lou Holtz. Thus was born not only a legally named Arthur Pine, but also the Arthur Pine AgencyTribune staff (October 16, 1942). "News in the Advertising Field: Agency Appointments". New York Herald Tribune. Retrieved October 13, 2020. and, not long after, Arthur Pine Associates.Eagle staff (October 5, 1944). "Arthur Pine Associates to Handle Inn Publicity". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Although at first, Pine's client base was composed primarily of performers (e.g. Gordon, Dinah Shore, Betty Madigan,Kleiner, Dick (March 22, 1954). "Dentistry Taught Via TV". The Pittsburgh Press. Delores Gray, Betty Garrett, Lisa Kirk and Ella LoganWalker, Danton (July 8, 1953). "Broadway: Broadway Beat". New York Daily News.), by the 1970s, the firm was functioning almost exclusively as a literary agency, albeit one with a high quotient of show-biz-related projects.
Notable clients From Independent obituary, unless otherwise indicated.
Jim Bacon Jack Benny Milton Berle George Burns Sammy Cahn Carroll CarrollLocher, Frances C., editor (1981). Contemporary Authors, Volume 101. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. pp. 104-105. John CliveGrant, Hank (April 8, 1979). "Hollywood Reporter". The San Francisco Examiner. Page 45. Sonia DarrinLait, Jack (August 7, 1946). "Broadway and Elsewhere: Mostly About Interesting People; Seen Together". The Tampa Bay Times. Page 14.Gross, Ben (October 18, 1946) "Listening In". New York Daily News. Page 34. Jimmy Durante Wayne Dyer Blossom ElfmanGrant, Hank (August 13, 1978). "Hollywood Reporter". The San Francisco Examiner. Page 30. Totie FieldsWilson, Earl (January 27, 1977). "Earl Wilson". Camden Courier-Post. Page 2. Betty GarrettWalker, Danton (July 8, 1953). "Broadway". New York Daily News. Page 63. Gray Gordon Dolores Gray James GrippandoGrippando, James (2015). Cane and Abe. New York: Harper Collins. p. 435. Red HolzmanHolzman, Red; Frommer, Harvey (1987). Red on Red. New York: Bantam Books. p. vii. Bob Hope Billie Jean King Lisa Kirk Richard KollmarGross, Ben (August 5, 1946). "Listening In". New York Daily News. Page 80. The Korn KobblersOrodenker, M. H. (February 6, 1943). "Selling the Band: Off the Kobb". The Billboard. Hedy Lamarr Michael LeBoeufLeboeuf, Michael (1987). How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life New York: Berkeley Books. Page 7. Michael Levine,Trotsky, Susan M., editor (1962). Contemporary Authors, Volume 133. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. p. 228. LiberaceBacon, James (October 26, 1975). "James Bacon's Hollywood". The Daily Colonist. Ella Logan Betty Madigan Michael MedvedMedved, Michael (2004). Right Turns: From Liberal Activist to Conservative Champion in 35 Unconventional Lessons. New York: Random House. pp. 162-163. . Marc OldenWilson, Earl (October 28, 1982). "Barbara Walters to Meet Her Match". The Miami News. Page 19. James Patterson Susan RoAneRoAne, Susan (2001). What Do I Say Next?: Talking Your Way to Business and Social Success — Biz Books to Go. New York: Warner Books. . Dinah Shore Phil Silvers Jack SmithSmith, Jack (November 8, 1988). "Developing His Street Smarts in New York". The Los Angeles Times. Page 64. Cameron StauthStauth, Cameron (1992). The Golden Boys: The Unauthorized Inside Look at the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team. New York: Pocket Books. Page VII. . Sylvia WallaceWilson, Earl (September 23, 1975). "Frankie and Jackie". St. Joseph Gazette. Page 6. Walter Wanger Jack M. WarnerWilson, Earl (August 9, 1980). "British Actress Jane Seymour is sold on quiet Mackinac Island". The Miami News. Page 6A. Earl Wilson Bob WolffWolff, Bob (1996). It's Not Who Won or Lost the Game; It's How You Sold the Beer. South Bend: Diamond Communications. pp. 92–94. .
Personal life On December 24, 1950, at the Gramercy Park Hotel in Manhattan, Arthur Pine and fashion stylist Harriette Scheiner were married and remained so until his death nearly 50 years later, even as preparations were underway for their golden wedding anniversary. During the 1950s and sixties, the Pines raised two sons, David JayBroadcasting staff (October 27, 1952). "Allied Arts". Broadcasting. Retrieved April 24, 2026. and Richard S. Pine,Times staff (September 18, 1955). "Son Born to the Arthur Pines". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2026. Richard later becoming a member of his father's firm and eventually a prominent literary agent in his own right.Cummings, Ann Marie (June 28, 2009). "Self-Publishing On Purpose: For some, it's a quick, easy way to get their story told; A New Respect". Elmira Star-Gazette. Consequently, most, if not all, of Arthur Pine's subsequent composing and arranging credits bore the pseudonym Jay (or J.) Richards.Library of Congress (July—December 1959). Music, Current Registrations: "Sandy the Sound Man". Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Third Series; Volume 13, Part 5, Number 2.
Works Books Your Family Business: A Practical, Step-by-Step Guide for Making Both Your Relationships and Your Business Rewarding and Successful (1990) One Door Closes, Another Door Opens: Turning Your Setbacks Into Comebacks (1994), with Julie Houston Unexpected Roads: A Personal Success Journal (1995), with Julie Houston It Must Have Been a Miracle: Everyday Lives Touched by Miracles (1995), by Kelsey Tyler (joint pseudonym of Pine and Karen Kingsbury)
Musical Comedies Golden Glory (1939, un-produced; with Gray Gordon)Variety staff (July 12, 1939). "Legitimate: New Scripts". Variety. High Tide (1943), optioned by Jerry LesterCorby, Jane (August 24, 1943). "Ruth Chatterton at the Flatbush". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Songs "We're In It, Let's Win It" (1942, with Leo Corday and Harold Grant)Billboard staff (January 3, 1942). "Music Items: Publishers and People". The Billboard. "Victory Polka" (1942, with Bernie Bierman)Billboard staff (October 31, 1942). "Music Items: Publishers and People; Songs and Such". The Billboard. "The Big Sleep" (1946, with Sonia Darrin); never recorded, but performed and broadcast live on WOR on Saturday October 19, 1946Gross, Ben (October 18, 1946). "Listening In". New York Daily News. "Just Like Sam" (1958, as Jay Richards, with Mort Garson and Earl Shuman)"Betty Madigan - Just Like Sam (Mort Garson-Jay Richards-Earl Shuman)". Dada-Records-De. "Sandy the Sound Man" (1959, as Jay Richards, with Leonard Whitcup, Chet Gierlach) "The Wishing Song" (1960, as Jay Richards, with Eddy Manson)Library of Congress (January–June 1960). Music, Current Registrations: "The Wishing Song". Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Third Series; Volume 14, Part 5, Number 1. Page 515. "The Forfeit Game" (1964, with Harriette Pine); on Jim Ameche's Humpty Dumpty"Jim Ameche — "Humpty Dumpty". Discogs.
References
Further reading Articles Orodenker, M. H. (January 17, 1942). “Selling the Band; Exploitation, Promotion and Showmanship Ideas: Army Girl”. ‘’The Billboard’’. Broadcasting · Telecasting staff (September 1, 1947). "Allied Arts: Arthur Pine". Broadcasting · Telecasting. Jemail, Jimmy (April 9, 1948). "The Inquiring Photographer". New York Daily News. Gallico, Paul (May 15, 1948). "The Underground: Course for Press Agents Gives Gallico the Shivers". Tampa Bay Times. Kleiner, Dick (March 25, 1954). "The Marquee: T.V.—Stage—Radio—Records—People". Casper Morning Star. Pine, Arthur (February 16, 1992). "Letters to the Long Island Editor: Cary Grant Recalled as Unpretentious". The New York Times. Pine, Arthur (January 9, 1994). "Q&A: In 'One Door Closes, Another Opens,' Arthur Pine tells how to turn setbacks into comebacks". The Chicago Tribune.
Miscellaneous Private correspondence between Pine and Herbert A. Simon regarding proposed book about 1996 Deep Blue-Garry Kasparaov match. CMU Digital Collections.
External links InkWell Management.