Succeed in business

Fosse, Bob (1927-1987), American choreographer and stage and film director, admired for his work in Broadway musicals. Born Robert Louis Fosse in Chicago, Illinois, and trained in dance and acting, Fosse won his first Tony Awards for his imaginative dance sequences in the musicals Pajama Game (1953) and Damn Yankees (1955).

Other successes include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961), Sweet Charity (1965), Dancin' (1978), and the Academy Award-winning films Cabaret (1972) and All That Jazz (1980).

Noted for its intentionally exaggerated staging and unique arrangements of dancers, Fosse's choreography emphasized stylistic techniques such as locked ankles, hip thrusts, shoulder rolls, and leaning postures.


Abdiel Daily Crossman (1804 - June 13, 1859) was mayor of New Orleans from April 6, 1846 to March 26, 1854, having served four consecutive terms.

His family came from Massachusetts and was of old Puritan stock. He was born in the town of Green, Maine. What instruction he had was obtained from his parents, who, at night, taught him a little reading, writing, and arithmetic. By his own efforts, however, he later acquired a good education. The father was a hatter by trade and brought his son up to follow the same business.

Crossman left home at an early age to seek his fortune in the cities. He went first to Philadelphia but in 1829 moved to New Orleans, where he arrived with only five dollars in his pocket.

He managed to open a small shop in Canal Street, at the time a very poor location. His business succeeded almost immediately, however, and it was not long before he was one of New Orleans' more respected merchants, becoming a director in several banks and an officer of some of the more prominent benevolent societies.

In 1844 Crossman was elected to the State Legislature, becoming also a member of the Council of the First Municipality. He advanced to the post of chairman of the finance committee, a position which had been abandoned by several able men, on account of the difficulties which the management of the local finances were beginning to develop.

Crossman set to work to reduce expenses and increase revenues, with such success that he was soon able to put the credit of the municipality upon a secure basis. It was this proof of administrative talent that led to his nomination for mayor, by the Whig Party in 1846.

Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910 – July 26, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the scores to the Broadway hits Guys And Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the latter. He also wrote numerous songs for films and Tin pan alley, many of which have become standards, and was nominated for five Academy Awards for best song, winning once for "Baby, It's Cold Outside".

Born Abram Solman Borowitz in New York City, Burrows graduated New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn and later attended both City College and New York University. He began working as a runner on Wall Street while at NYU, and he also worked in an accounting firm. After he met Frank Galen in 1938, the two wrote and sold jokes to an impressionist who appeared on the Rudy Vallée radio program.

Burrows credited his success in the theatre to his work under the theatre legend George S. Kaufman. In the Kaufman biography by Howard Teichmann. Burrows is quoted as saying that what he said (as a director - to his cast), was what he heard Kaufman say in their collaboration on Guys and Dolls.