Draft:Phil Greenwald

Phil "Philly" Greenwald (August 31, 1918 – January 18, 1982) was a notable figure in the entertainment industry, particularly known for his role as the Director of Entertainment, Talent Booker, and Nightclub Producer at the Concord Resort Hotel in the Catskills. Greenwald is credited with transforming the Catskills into a renowned destination for high-profile celebrities by being the first booker to replace salaried social staff with one-night headliners. His contributions significantly shaped the Borscht Belt and Catskills from the 1940s to the 1970s, helping to transform it into a cultural hub for the Jewish community in New York during that period.

Early Life and Career
Greenwald began working at the Concord Hotel in 1940 as a lifeguard. Within a few years he was made Head of Entertainment at the hotel, where he was responsible for presenting at least 1000 acts a year on a $3 million budget, which was unusually large for the time.

Concord Resort Hotel
Under Greenwald's direction, the Concord Resort Hotel emerged as a prominent entertainment hub. During his tenure, the New York Times recognized the Concord as the largest nightclub in the world, noting its substantial entertainment budget. In 1959, the hotel paid Milton Berle unprecedented $6,500 for a single night's performance.

From approximately 1948 until his death in 1982, Greenwald brought numerous stars to perform at the Concord, including:


 * Paul Anka
 * Gene Baylos
 * Harry Belafonte
 * Milton Berle
 * Tony Bennett
 * Red Buttons
 * Johnny Carson
 * Sid Caesar
 * Vic Damone
 * Sammy Davis Jr.
 * Bobby Darin
 * Rodney Dangerfield
 * Jimmy Durante
 * Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
 * Connie Francis
 * Judy Garland
 * Engelbert Humperdinck
 * Julio Iglesias
 * Tom Jones
 * Danny Kaye
 * Alan King
 * Joe E. Lewis
 * Dean Martin
 * Tony Martin
 * Zero Mostel
 * Phil Silvers
 * Barbra Streisand
 * Harry Richman
 * Joan Rivers
 * Nipsey Russell
 * Allen & Rossi - According to Steve Rossi, Philly was one of the first people to book the duo after they teamed up.
 * Buddy Hackett
 * Florence Henderson
 * Woody Allen
 * Jerry Vale
 * Bobby Vinton
 * Sophie Tucker

As described by Greenwald’s son Joey in "It Happened in the Catskills" by Harvey and Myrna Frommer, Greenwald was once contacted by the William Morris agency and offered a country and western singer for $50. Greenwald's response was, “I wouldn’t have that in my hotel for anything in the world, no matter the price.” The singer was Elvis Presley.