Barry Kramer Legacy Gallery

Barry Kramer was one of the most prolific photographers of his time. Like many before him, he was unknown during life but revered after death. His images capture the essence of a time gone by in American culture and entertainment and were rarely seen by the world. 

Born and bred in New York City’s, Washington Heights, this local kid grew up to hang out with the stars. His photographic ability became obvious in his teens where he took countless opportunities to capture entertainment celebrities in places others never sought out. An advertising and graphics major entering NYU at 16, he was drafted into the military in his senior year and assigned to the USO photo corps touring with icons of entertainment in Europe. Here he built bonds with Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and others who became pivotal in his success after the war. In fact, during the war and after he became Sinatra’s personal photographer. In the early years he focused on shooting the great jazz artists of the era when they appeared at the popular jazz clubs in NY; Metronome and Downbeat magazines featured his work on their covers.  In the early 50’s he was introduced to Jayne Mansfield who at the time was unknown. Once her acting career took off, she relied upon his artistic eye which eventually translated into cover stories including LIFE magazine.

Like with Sinatra, Como and more, he established bonds with many of these superstars, beyond a professional one. Even with Mansfield, he left behind photos of she and her family including her superstar daughter, Mariska Hargitay as a child.  Barry refused to do any “traditional” work such as weddings and family events except for individuals like this (including weddings for children of Perry Como and golf legends, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus). He chose to see his work as art, and  client relationships as soul connections.

He built one relationship after another moving his photo career forward. Soon the commercial advertising and fashion industry came calling. When Eileen and Jerry Ford launched FORD MODELS, which today is still one of the most regarded and largest fashion model agencies, his talents were called upon regularly for model portfolios and the ad campaigns of major fashion brands. Some of the world’s top models graced his photo studio early in their career, Lauren Hutton, just one example of his fondest discoveries.

Having worked with Sinatra’s publicist for years, he soon developed more significant entertainment clients, moving  deeper into entertainment and event photography. This included Broadway, where marquees often featured his work, and eventually becoming the house photographer for two pioneering Long Island based entertainment venues. First, he worked closely with Guy Lombardo and his production company which owned and developed the JONES BEACH MARINE THEATRE (now owned by LIVE NATION), establishing himself as Lombardo’s personal photographer as well. Ending his day in his photo studio in NYC, many nights  and weekends found him shooting every spectacular musical developed in this unique environment and helped to make Lombardo’s annual telecast of his New Year’s eve bash even bigger.  Let’s say, Guy Lombardo’s New Year’s eve gave birth to the infamous event of Dick Clark.

Soon two more rising star producers in the entertainment industry procured his talents; Lee Guber (Barbara Walter’s husband), and Shelly Gross, who had firmly established entertainment dominance in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Westbury Music Fair would become their first step into the  New York area, offering a superior level  and diversity of entertainment. Barry  photographed every one of the mostly globally recognized musicals straight from Broadway, plays, rock concerts and artist performances, the results establishing one of his greatest professional business cards. For one could now see his incomparable style of capturing entertainment in unique candid action from close ups to chorus lines. And Newsday to the NYTIMES often selected his work to run alongside entertainment reviews and features.

Some of his assignments were indeed hearfelt.  Between the war and the start of his primary career, his artistic spirit led him to taking painting lessons from theatre great, ZERO MOSTEL. Who when years later performing at WESTBURY MUSIC FAIR in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF straight from Broadway, Barry captured him in photos way beyond, “tradition.”

Raising his family of three children with wife, Laurel, (a former model and actor and then theatre executive) on Long Island, Barry was consistently working and commuting between his photo studio in New York City and these quickly touted premiere entertainment venues on Long Island. He worked with Westbury from its birth to its evolution to become a permanent enclosed year-round venue in the round.

After many established years of variety in entertainment under its roof, Westbury’s producers commissioned Barry to create a historical journey of the venue’s artists through an exhibit of his photographs over the years. Barry developed, curated, wrote and mounted this show, now reborn with this exhibition by current owners, Live Nation.

As entertainers of the past are gaining even greater praise in the present including numerous headliners who performed here and now many still doing so throughout the world, we hope the joy and connection of this exhibit offers an even more unique experience to the illuminating history of WESTBURY MUSIC FAIR.

Barry’s artistic abilities behind the camera were unique; his compassion, love for photography and people were the basis for his success and we proudly celebrate his work and hope that it enriches your experiences with us.

THIS EXHIBIT IN ITS ENTIRETY FROM THE BARRY KRAMER ARCHIVES HAS BEEN DONATED BY HIS DAUGHTER, LISBETH KRAMER.