Gertrude Berg: The Woman Behind the Rise of the Family Sitcom
Gertrude Berg was one of the first women to break into television as a writer and producer, with a number of hit shows starting in the 1950s. She was the creator and writer behind the popular comedy show, "The Goldbergs," which not only connected with millions of Americans, but also inspired the modern family sitcom that is so well-known today. Berg overcame countless challenges to cement her place in this field, and proved that women could act, produce and write with the best of them.
One of the Great Women in Television History
Berg came from a Jewish immigrant family and earned her writing chops at Columbia University, where she studied playwright courses. Drawing partly on her personal experience, she pitched the idea for "The Goldbergs" to NBC executives for radio, since television was not yet around. The radio show was hugely popular and ran from 1929 all the way until 1945. Sensing that "The Goldbergs" could play well to a television audience, CBS decided to convert "The Goldbergs" to a television format and it began airing in 1949.
Berg is undoubtedly famous for her leading role on "The Goldbergs" where she served as the Goldberg family matriarch. However, Berg not only created the original concept of "The Goldbergs," but also wrote numerous episodes and helped produce the show. In short, she was the brains behind a leading television show during a time when -- primarily due to discrimination -- there were few if any women in television production in the industry.
The Precursor to the Family Sitcom
Featuring situational comedy, Berg's show was rated in Nielsen's Top 10 most popular shows for 1949-1950. However, Berg's creation went beyond the mere popularity of its time. In fact, "The Goldbergs" is often credited with setting the groundwork for the modern family sitcom.
Although the show was a comedy, it also helped cross boundaries. Many immigrants identified with the Goldberg family, seeing their own struggle for upward mobility in a rapidly changing America. At the same time, Berg was successful at introducing Americans to Jewish life, and helping the public laugh along with the family through their ups and downs.
Goldberg wasn't only a female television writer for "The Goldbergs" either, but also continued to write and co-star in other television productions such as "Mrs. G. Goes to College."
Ultimately, Berg is a proud example of why Women's History Month is so important to celebrate. Stay tuned for more blog pieces on influential female television producers and writers to recognize their trailblazing achievements.
Sources:
http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/berg-gertrude
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/berg.html
