MAY 13 • 2021 | 47

J

oseph Z. Nederlander, 
raised in a family of 
theater entrepreneurs 
and a key force in the Detroit 
theater scene, died May 
1, 2021, after a battle with 
Parkinson’s disease. 
It was exactly one month 
before he could celebrate his 
94th birthday and one month 
after the family-owned 
Fisher Theatre was sold to 
International Entertainment 
Holdings Limited, parent 
company of Ambassador 
Theatre Group (ATG), a live 
theater and ticketing orga-
nization based in the United 
Kingdom.
Nederlander, who con-
tinued to frequent Fisher 
Theatre productions after 
his retirement years ago, was 
described as a “theater inno-
vator” and “really nice guy” 
by his brother Robert during 
the May 4 private graveside 
service.
“He provided this country 
with opportunities for enter-
tainment,” Robert said.
While outlining the family 
history that preceded the 
entry of their father, David 
Tobias Nederlander, into 
stage interests and production 
spaces, Robert Nederlander 
credited Joseph as being 
responsible for establishing 
the Pine Knob Music Theatre, 
now DTE Energy Theatre, 
as the first private amphithe-
ater in the United States and 
accelerating the growth of 
outdoor entertainment. 
Joseph, also responsible 
for innovating the ultimately 
widespread use of subscrip-
tion ticketing, remained 
in Michigan after brothers 
Robert and James moved to 

New York in 1964 to extend 
family operations through 
theater spaces around the 
country and into England. 
“Deep love for the theater 
has been [the driving force] 
for the family’s success,” 
Joseph Nederlander told the 
Detroit Jewish News in 2017, 
when he described Fiddler 
on the Roof as holding the 
top spot in his list of favorite 
shows.
Metro Detroiters were 
introduced to many hit pro-
ductions through the work of 
Joseph Nederlander. Fiddler 
and Hello, Dolly! were among 
the productions he champi-
oned through pre-Broadway 
tryouts at the Fisher, now in 
its 60th anniversary. 
Joseph remembered 
spending lots of time with 
lyricist Sheldon Harnick as 
Fiddler was being revised 
and recalled his friendship 
with Jerry Herman, Hello, 
Dolly! composer-lyricist, 
who invited Joseph to home 
parties. 
When the Detroit Jewish 
News was celebrating its 75th 
year, Joseph Nederlander 
commented on his family’s 
business developments and its 
use of the newspaper as part 
of family members’ interest in 
their Jewish heritage. 
“
Actors coming to Detroit 
for the first time have been 
told to read Danny Raskin’s 
[column],” Nederlander had 
said. “Danny would help 
them decide where to eat. 
He was a big help to us. His 
column was important as 
we sent newspapers ahead 
of bookings. A lot of people 
wanted to know where to 
get a good corned beef 

sandwich.”

A BIG HEART
Nephew Steven Nederlander 
eulogized his uncle as 
a “second dad” with “a 
heart the size of Texas.” He 
commented about his uncle’s 
ability to establish close 
relationships with everyone 
from stars to stagehands and 
his skills in helping the family 
with union negotiations. 
“He was a loving man, 
and a loved man,” said 
Steven, who referenced the 
range of emails expressing 
condolences.
Alan Lichtenstein, 40-year 
executive director for 
Nederlander programming in 
Detroit and sometimes San 
Francisco, has recalled that 
Joseph had been a voter for 
the Tony Awards and offered 
the use of his New York 
apartment when Lichtenstein 
went to scout shows to bring 
to Detroit.
Rabbi Daniel Syme 
of Temple Beth El, who 
officiated at Joseph’s marriage 
to Carol Jacoby 21 years ago, 
outlined Joseph’s history in 
graduating from Pontiac High 
School, very briefly attending 
Wayne State University and 
serving in the Navy before 
joining the family enterprise.
The rabbi told how Joseph 
invited personal friends 
backstage to meet favorite 
entertainers and once cast 
a doctor friend in a bit part 
to fulfill the man’s dreams of 
being an actor. The doctor, 
also acting out Joseph’s 
humor, became a stiff in 
Arsenic and Old Lace.
“Joey was a people person,” 
Rabbi Syme said, describing 

him as a “giant of the theater” 
and “a beloved friend.”
Joseph Z. Nederlander is 
survived by his wife, Carol 
Jacoby Nederlander; children, 
John J. “J.J.” Nederlander and 
Penelope Nederlander (Lisa 
Gauger). He was Papa Joe 
of Andrea Jacoby (Roger) 
Sherr and their children, 
Mitchel Sherr, Valaire Sherr, 
and Spencer Sherr; Corey 
(Suzanne) Jacoby and their 
children, Katlin Jacoby, Emily 
Jacoby, Michael Jacoby; Jenny 
Jacoby (Dennis) Finos and 
their children, Kyle Finos and 
Eddie Finos; T.J. Nederlander, 
David Nederlander, the late 
Joey Nederlander, Alexis 
Nederlander and Jaclynne 
Nederlander. 
He was the brother of 
Robert (the late Gladys) 
Nederlander, the late Harry 
(the late Margie) Nederlander, 
the late James (the late 
Charlene) Nederlander, the 
late Frederick (the late Betty) 
Nederlander, and the late 
Frances (the late Stanley) 
Kohn.
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Memorial Park. 
Contributions may be made 
to the Michigan Parkinson 
Foundation, 30400 Telegraph 
Road, Suite 150, Bingham 
Farms, MI 48025. (248) 
433-1011, parkinsonsmi.org. 
Arrangements were by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel. 

Michigan’s Theater Pioneer

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Joseph 
Nederlander

