What do Woody Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, and Emmanuel Lewis all have in common? All three graduated from Brooklyn’s Midwood High School. Woody got his diploma in 1953, Hamlisch in the early 1960s, and Webster in the ’80s.
Other famous Midwood students include Grease‘s Didi Conn, poet June Jordan, and Prison Break star Wentworth Miller (though Miller transferred elsewhere before graduating).
For a school known for its math and science brainiacs, Midwood seems to produce a lot of actors and musicians too.
Midwood was built in 1940 on Bedford Avenue and Glenwood Road; construction costs ran to $2 million. Looks like the board of education got a good deal. It’s a lovely looking school building, with its six columns and cupola crowning the top.
Tags: Brooklyn Bedford Avenue, Didi Conn, Emmanuel Lewis, famous alumni Brooklyn high schools, June Jordan, Marvin Hamlisch, Midwood Brooklyn, Midwood High School, Roz Chast, Wentworth Miller, Woody Allen
Ephemeral New York 
July 23, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
So did Joe Cassano, head of AIG’s London office during the great failure of 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cassano
August 16, 2009 at 8:20 pm |
I’d like to speak for those of us who are not famous. Midwood was an extraordinary educational experience: our teachers were bright, enthusiastic and delighted in teaching. Any student who was interested in the subject was encouraged to work hard and was rewarded for effort. Our student government, the City of Midwood, introduced us to politics and personal responsibility and the Sing taught us that cooperation was essential to produce a great show.
Two other famous alumni are the composer, John Corigliano, and the writer, my cousin, Barbara Klaus.
Claire Jaffee Speciner, Class of 1950
August 17, 2009 at 5:36 pm |
Thanks for writing in. I’ve heard a lot about the quality of Brooklyn public high schools in the 1940s and 1950s; my father graduated from Lincoln in 1951 and his cousin graduated from Midwood in 1950, your year. These huge high schools really worked back then, and Midwood is still a top school today. (Don’t hear much about Lincoln, however.)
September 4, 2009 at 2:54 am |
What about Morty Gunty–a great Borscht Belt comedian. RGS, ’63
July 10, 2013 at 9:38 pm |
Everyone seems to froget Erich Segal (wrote Love Story) 1954 grad.
October 21, 2013 at 3:52 am |
Morty Gunty also had a TV show..The Funny Company. He was also in Broadway Danny Rose.
July 20, 2014 at 11:26 am |
MORTY WAS A NEIGHBOR OF MINE BACK THEN I BELIEVE HE LIVED ON EAST 8TH ST AND AVE H I LIVED ON E 9TH ST AND H THOSE WERE THE BEST TIMES TO BE YOUNG REMEMBERING FRED & RUDYS LUNCHONET,THE KENT AND MIDWOOD MOVIE HOUSES ,COOKYS RESTAURANT E 16TH AND AVE J,ARTIES POOL ROOM E14TH AND AVE J,THE SUGAR BOWL BEHIND MIDWOOD HS ON CAMPURS RD,NATHANS FAMOUS CONEY ISLAND,OCEAN PARKWAY,MITCHELS DRIVE IN,SUNRISE DRIVE IN ,WINGATE FIELD BETWEEN AVE K AND L,SIRICOS CANDY STORE CONEY ISLAND AVE BET J 7 K WITH THE SIRRICO BROTHERS TONY SIRICO AKA PAULIE WALLNUTS TV FAME,AND CARMINE,AHHH! THOSE WERE THE DAYS AND NOW JUST A SWEET MEMORY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU GUYS AND GALS FROM THAT ERA IN BROOKLYN
November 21, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Hey Thomas not sure you will get this or not. Do you remember a guy you enlisted in the army with. We figured we were both short and our last names began with G so we would be together for the two years. Only one problem you got rejected and I got inducted. I spent 2 years in Germany. If you get this respond love to go over those old times. My stories of what has happened in my life is hard to beleive. I don’t know how I know this but I’m pretty sure you became a corrections officer. How come they took you and the Army Didnt?
Steve Gunar
September 8, 2009 at 6:52 am |
Batchmates.com a nice alumni site to join and reunite with your friends.
January 26, 2010 at 5:16 am |
[…] It’s also where David Geffen, Buddy Hackett, and Moe and Curly Howard went to high school. That’s quite an illustrious list of alumni–almost as good as nearby Midwood High School. […]
March 28, 2010 at 1:55 pm |
Victor Williams, who played Deacon, on CBS’ King Of Queens, is a Midwood grad from the 80’s
August 27, 2011 at 8:42 pm |
You forgot Larry Mars. He bar mitzahed with Woody Allen in 1948 at the the Talmud Torah of Flatbush. This off course was before high school
September 22, 2011 at 1:02 pm |
Hi Larry,
Haven’t heard from you in a long time. You never really shared your successes. Are you coming to the Midwood High School anniversary next Sunday? I realize you’re living in California.
Joan (Gross) Leach
July 10, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Joan Gross, a name from the past. Related to Ricky & Frank Romano?
Larry Bergman
November 6, 2011 at 5:49 am |
How about Hal Fishman, news anchor for KTLA here in Los Angeles. I graduated Jube 1950
December 10, 2011 at 2:03 am |
Eric Segal also went to Midwood – 1954
March 5, 2012 at 5:34 pm |
Gerald Gutierrez, Broadway director, Tony(s) and Drama Desk award winner. Class of ’67. Died in 2003.
“Tony Award-winning director Gerald Gutierrez, who helmed Lincoln Center Theater productions of Dinner at Eight, The Most Happy Fella, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, The Heiress, A Delicate Balance and more, has died, a spokesperson for Lincoln Center Theater confirmed Dec. 30.”
April 1, 2012 at 1:48 am |
What a great school to be part of…
April 11, 2012 at 1:25 am |
I graduated in 1982. I was fortunate that I was zoned for Midwood.
April 22, 2012 at 2:43 am |
Bob Harris: Voted Class Artist on graduation, went on to career in the then new television industry. Editor of pioneer trade magazine, Televiser, Advertising & Promotion Director of channel 13, then on to California and Hollywood.
June 17, 2012 at 8:58 am |
john sheehan here graduating class of 1971 thanks to the great very dedicated teaching staff at midwood i went on to attend brooklyn college and graduated from B.C in 1975 , i retired as a nyc dept of corrections captain in 2000, 20 year pension you cant beat that 20 year pension. during my years at midwood high school the vietnam war was raging with many demonstrations in front of the school, we are still at war somthings never change . thank you for posting my comment here
August 14, 2012 at 3:58 pm |
Lucky me. transferred the year Midwood opened (from Madison High) Grad in the 40’s. So long ago an such rich memories of students and staff. Franklyn Elliott..semi retired Psychologist.
September 18, 2012 at 7:13 am |
Can anyone help me identify a 1970 Midwood High Class ring with the initials E G? It also says Drilling 10K and Hornets on the front. Where can I get a year book or alumni for that year. Thanks. Jeff
November 3, 2012 at 7:34 pm |
[…] This Brooklyn high school has also enrolled its share of future celebs and stars. […]
November 4, 2012 at 1:46 am |
I taught there for 1 term– Spring 1988. Then I was excessed. I could have gone to Midwood but I chose…Murrow!
November 11, 2012 at 7:07 pm |
Also from Midwood HS are Victor Williams from the show King of Queens and Andy Richtman from Man vs. Food on TLC.
December 27, 2012 at 12:36 am |
what about artist Charles Zuppardi ’63
July 4, 2013 at 8:10 pm |
I ATTENDED MIDWOOD HS FROM 1953 TO 1957 AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE SPENT IN AND AROUND IT I REMEMBER THE SUGAR BOWL ON CAMPUS RD AND ALL MY FRIENDS FROM THOSE WOUNDERFULL SIMPLE YEARS FEEDING THE JUKE BOX AND HANGING OUT YEP I SPENT MANY PERIODS THEIR LOL CUTTING CLASSES I DIDN’T LIKE IT WENT BY SO FAST SO TO ALL MY FRIENDS BAXCK THEN I HOPE ONE DAY WE ALL CAN MEET IN THAT BIG SUGAR BOWL IN THE SKY AND UNTIL THEN I WISH ALL OF YOU GOOD HEALTH AND GOD BLESS WE HAD A BLAST DIDN’T WE ? TOMMY GUARIANO
July 4, 2013 at 9:51 pm |
I graduated in 1950 . Sadly those days are gone forever.
July 4, 2013 at 9:54 pm
A relative of mine graduated that year too. Her name then was Shirley Mintz; she went on to Barnard.
July 4, 2013 at 9:57 pm
I went to City College. Now live in Southern Calif.
January 31, 2014 at 7:31 pm |
Hi.to Thomas Guariano. Did you live on East 9th street between foster ave and ave H. You’re grandparents lived downstairs? A sister named Jeannie? My name is Jodie and I lived 2 houses down. I believe it was your sister that babysat for me and you filled in when she wasn’t available. Sorry if I got the wrong person
November 28, 2014 at 4:06 am |
Memories.
At the time, didn’t know what a wonderful school Midwood was. 88.9 average and barely finished in the top 25%.
Thomas, I went from 1954-1957. Don’t think we ever met.
I had a HUGE crush on Wendy Kaplan. I was too shy – thought she didn’t know I was alive – Found out 54 years later that she DID know.
Oh well…….
Hey! Anyone know Carol Wagner?. Not a Midwood grad – graduated from Brooklyn College about 1964/65.
April 25, 2018 at 8:04 am |
Hello Tommy, Steve Gunar Here. I’m not sure if you remember but you and I both attempted to join the Army together in 1958. We figured that we would probably stay together because our last names both began with G. Well you were rejected and went home and I went away for Two Years. We had some contact awhile back I know you were a correction officer. Go figure everybody thought you would end up on the other side of the bars. I ended up going into a business with my brother. I was able to retire at age 46. Hard to believe. I have been married 56 years to girl named Roberta that I met at Midwood. I’m living in Florida now for the past 29 years. I see from reading you various messages you seem to be a very spiritual person. That’s great. Oh by the way I also still remember your brother Edie. I hope things are good with him. Take care of your self stay well and may G-D bless you and your Loved ones
August 11, 2013 at 12:04 am |
I live in LOS ANGELES and am Involved in the entertainment industry. It is remarkable how many famous people- both in front of , and behind the camera – came from. MIDWOOD classes 1975 & 1976 ! WE talk about Midwood and our high school days frequently and with passion.
August 12, 2013 at 6:02 am |
Hi Marc – I also live in Los Angeles and involved with the entertainment industry (started Back Stage West, the entertainment trade paper, for one of many activities. As a Midwood graduate and proud of my Brooklyn background I’d like to join the conversation.
November 22, 2013 at 12:37 pm |
Hi Marc:
I am a not famous alum from the 80’s but my very creative daughter is presently going to school there. The school is in bad financial condition and the auditorium in is ill-repair. Part of the lighting system died two years ago before SING and it has never been repaired. I would like to try to do a fund raiser to see if we can refurbish the auditorium and keep a strong arts program in this school. With the looming NYC budget cuts, it again looks like the arts will take a hit again.
September 10, 2013 at 5:17 pm |
Linda Effrat Zolet: No other educational institution could compare with the Midwood I attended in the ’50s.We survived the first city-wide teachers’ strike and had a staff of truly devoted instructors. Anyone knowing Art Chairman Marvin Mandel who went on to head
Art Dept. at Brooklyn College- I owe much of my life’s work to him and have tried to find him for years. We were the luckiest of the lucky to be blessed during those “Happy Days”!
January 11, 2016 at 9:01 pm |
Linda, we also liked PS99 class of 49
September 11, 2013 at 8:04 am |
You missed one lady who became a huge stage and movie star her name Lanie Kazan (Katz) who was multi talented performing comedy and drama she also i believe was an understudy for Barbara Striezand and happy to say my neighbor and school mate then She lived then withher Mom and Dad in the only terrace apartment on Ave H and E 9th st She was a wounderful girl and nice as can be If you are reading this Lanie God bless you Darlin Tommy Guariano ther little tough Italian from E9th st LOL
October 21, 2013 at 3:59 am |
Sorry Lanie went to, you’ll excuse me, Erasmus HS
October 31, 2020 at 10:45 am
Lanie did live on H. How did she end up at Erasmus?
November 26, 2013 at 3:58 am |
i am lookingt for lorraine heckler grad about 1968-9 please respomnds to river4us2@charter.net
June 13, 2014 at 12:01 pm |
How about a current actor who is excellent and has had a lot of success? Paul Ben-Victor (Paul Friedman) (parts on Entourage, The Wire and many other shows) who was a lead character in the USA network series “In Plain Sight.”
May 19, 2015 at 12:48 am |
Any Midwood grads from1950 or before living in or near San Jose, CA ?
October 5, 2015 at 7:08 pm |
any grads from 1948 – Mr. Kushner was the gym teacher … loved the sugar bowl too, best days of my life also …. wish I could go back iateoneapple@gmail.com regards, alice
November 3, 2015 at 5:49 am |
Wasn’t that gym teacher Fred Kushnick?
Marc L. Ames, Class of 1960
November 4, 2019 at 8:17 pm
Thank you for recognizing my Grandpa – Fred Kushnick. That was definitely him.
January 1, 2024 at 1:23 am
I wonder whether the school’s proximity to Brooklyn College had something to do with its success. BC was and is known for educating smart, ambitious young people from working-class families. I imagine some Midwood kids looking at the College and seeing themselves.
May 3, 2017 at 9:33 pm |
Alice: Just looked you up in the l948 EPILOG graduating class yearbook that I’m in too several pages down the line from you. Fun!
January 11, 2016 at 6:40 am |
Does anyone remember the day about 50% of the student body simply walked out of school, spilled out onto Bedford Avenue, and just stood around for a while protesting, meanwhile having no idea WHAT we were protesting?!? I remember standing around with my great friend Millie C, and then eventually just going home. God, was that fun! This was 1975 or 6!
January 11, 2016 at 9:00 pm |
No, but I remember an attempted walkout in 1953 to protest not being able to leave the school for lunch unless you lived close by. Three guys stood at the top of the front steps and wouldn’t let anyone in. Everyone was great and did not try to go in until the boys Dean (Larry Dank) came out and ordered all to go in, they did except for two of the starters, they stayed out.
March 24, 2016 at 8:24 pm |
I graduated in 1950, with someone’s cousin, Shirley Mintz; saw her a few years ago @ a reunion lunch in NYC. Ruth Lurie Machover
March 22, 2017 at 1:37 am |
I graduated in 1965. Attended during the football glory days when we were city champs. My mother went there when it first opened and my cousin was in the class of 1959. It really was a great school. Love the new science building across Bedford Ave.
March 22, 2017 at 1:39 am |
I graduated in 1965. Is there a SoCal/LA Midwood alumni group?
April 4, 2017 at 6:58 pm |
Wow, just kinda stumbled on this but after going thru the decades (!) feel like keeping it going. I’m Midwood class of ’48 (right, makes me 85). Favorite teachers Ida Malkin (Math), Henry Fuchs, English and Faculty Advisor of The Argus school newspaper. I was sports editor and wrote a column called “Calling ‘Em Right” which campaigned for the athletic field we didn’t yet have. Very illustrious classmate: Neil Postman (look up him and ALL his books), great great guy who died several yrs ago much too young. Woody (Alan Konisberg) Allen was a few years younger but we once bunked into each other at the Vogue Theater just a few blocks from P.S. 99 which we both went to.The Vogue at that time showed foreign films and future Woody and I were teenage aficionados. Tells ya somethin’?
May 21, 2018 at 4:31 am |
[…] Midwood and Madison, Lincoln is one of those legendary Brooklyn high schools with an impressive roster of […]
August 1, 2019 at 9:00 pm |
My husband Peter n Blaufarb graduated in 66 and was on that winning football team i believe for 4 years. He lived at flatbush 4571 Kings highway and his mom and dad were Rose and Jack Blaufarb..He passed away in 99 .Our daughters and I are going back to Brooklyn the end of this month August 2019 to celebrate his life and pay tribute to his passing 20 years ago. I am looking for any team mates or close friend of Peters that still live in the area.We would love to meet or talk with them about Peter in his high school days.If you knew him please call me at 210-497-7672 or email me at catherine.blaufarb@gmail.com.It would mean so much as i did not meet Peter until 1977 in Texas and know very little about those great Midwood high days. Thank you.Catherine Blaufarb
January 28, 2020 at 4:47 am |
I was graduated in 1958. Participated in the mixed chorus for 3 yearsHad the priviledge of performing on the Dave Garroway morning show at about 7:45 AM singing the Hallelujah Chorus,by Handel (had trouble spelling!–Thank goodness for google sp)So much fun for 4 years..Kings Hwy weekends, Ave J & Midwood Theater.Went to PS 99,My brother spent much time with Woody Allen in the Principal’s office & Eudora Fletcher/Always took my young family back to Brooklyn for nostalgia.. (for me, not them)Lived on 14th St & Ave !).In Fla for winter vacations now & met a man who saw my B Baseball hat & struck up conversation.He went to Midwood in 63 & HIS SISTER IN 1958/ SMALL, SMALL world !!
June 24, 2021 at 2:04 pm |
I graduated in 1952, met my wife of 60 years at the Midwood theatre on Ave. J. She graduated with Woody Allen. I was a year ahead of her. I was sort of friendly with him. He would sit and watch me shoot pool at Arties Pool Room at e.14th St. & Ave. J. I was a member of the marching band in Midwood under Ben Chancey. He was a very good music teacher and nice guy. I was secretary to gym teacher Al Moskowitz. My wife was a cheer leader, her name, Elizabeth Loffman. We went steady all through Midwood, and then got hitched. I lived on Ocean Ave. & Ave. I. Those were the best years of our lives. We guys formed an athletic and social club called “The Sabres”. Wore satin red and white jackets that were reversible. We were very cool at school. I also went to P.S. 152 across the street.
September 6, 2021 at 7:31 pm |
Midwood High was a blessing. I graduated in 1952, and was sports editor of the Midwood Argus (thanks to Marian Mulhern) and went to be a journalist and documentary filmmaker (CBS News-NY), and then a Hollywood movie director.
October 3, 2022 at 4:52 pm |
I graduated in June 1948. Lived at 1402 Ave K between 14th and 15th St. Remember Joy Fong on Ave. J, Midwood Theatre and the great Vogue theatre with the foreign movies. With my husband Ray Sacks we were art dealers. I am still active and would like to hear from anyone who remembers me.
January 2, 2024 at 12:19 am |
I graduated from Midwood in ’52 and BU in ’56 and became a documentary filmmaker at CBS News in New York. And later I was a writer and director of movies for television in LA and around the world.