Jonathan Rosenbaum

Jonathan Rosenbaum grew up in a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Florence, Alabama (1943-59), the son and grandson of movie exhibitors. Attended The Putney School (1959-61), Highlander Folk School (summer 1961), Washington Square College (1961-62), Bard College (1962-66, the best part of his education, along with Highlander). Wasted three years in graduate school, mainly draft-dodging (1966-68, State University of New York at Stony Brook, English & American Literature, M.A.+ everything but a dissertation). Moved to Paris in 1969, finished second unpublished novel and started working as a film critic. Hired by the British Film Institute to work for Sight and Sound and Monthly Film Bulletin; moved to London in 1974. Returned to the U.S. in 1977 to replace Manny Farber for two quarters at the University of California, San Diego. 1978-1979, wrote first book to be published, Moving Places: A Life at the Movies (Harper & Row, 1980), moved to New York and then to Hoboken.1983, taught for one semester at Berkeley, then moved to Santa Barbara to teach there. Basically, 1977-1987 was a decade in the wilderness, mainly working as an exploited freelancer. 1987-2007, lead film critic for the Chicago Reader, a wonderful job. Retired in 2007, started jonathanrosenbaum.com (later succeeded by jonathanrosenbaum.net); has been working as a mainly non-exploited freelance writer and teacher ever since.