Tom Meehan died aged 88.ย Tom Meehan, my friend and neighbor who I had the pleasure of knowing, was an American Broadway star when it comes to composing musicals.ย Mel Brooks and he co-wrote the Broadway musicals “The Producers”, “Young Frankenstein”, “Rocky,” and other hits.ย His lovely wife Carolyn was his lifelong partner.ย The couple lived just down the street from me. However, Carolyn owned a popular children’s shop in West Village, Peanut Butter and jane.ย An era has ended.
Three of his musicals, “The Producers,” ‘Annie” and ‘Hairspray”, were huge hits.ย The Producers and Hairspray were both on Broadway simultaneously.
Tom was a true gentleman, a man of gentleness.ย With his white hair, he looked like Colonel Sanders.ย Also, he was a genius.ย He understood how stories worked and why they didn’t.ย There were many discussions on new shows, older shows, openings, etc.ย We used to have lunch together at an Upper East Side restaurant that is no longer there. It was locked up for not paying tax.ย Tom, Mel and Anne Bancroft were always at Madame Romaineโs eating omelettes while writing โThe Producers.โ They also did this with โYoung Frankenstein.โ
Mel tweeted that Tom died.ย I am stunned by the news of Tom Meehan’s death.ย “I’ll miss him sweetness and talent,” writes he.ย We have lost a theatre giant.ย Tom used to be asked all the time, isn’t it possible to make “Blazing Saddles”, a musical.ย Mel was interested.ย Tom, who was able to make a lot of money, told Mel, “I don’t think it’s possible.”