The Arts Club of Washington
Literary Committee presents
Irving Berlin –
From Penniless Immigrant to America’s Songwriter With Author Paul Kaplan
Thursday, March 5, 2026
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Members $30 – Non Members $40
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
A reception with refreshment and a wine bar will follow the program.
Irving Berlin has been called the greatest songwriter of American popular music. In a career that spanned an astonishing nine decades, Berlin wrote some 1500 tunes, including Easter Parade, God Bless America, and White Christmas. From ragtime to rock, Berlin’s work has endured in the fiber of American identify. Author Paul Kaplan traces the path of the man behind the songs through this rags-to-riches story and Berlin's place in the music business in the early twentieth century, including the tragedies that befell him on this journey. Join the author to learn more about a fascinating American icon and the city he loved.
About the Author - Paul Kaplan writes under 3 series: Cultural Guides, Social History & Biographies, and Business Technology Marketing with 7 published books from History Press, Pelican, and Quill Driver Books. He has given over 90 talks globally for venues including the clubs of Harvard, Yale, Nassau Club of Princeton, Union League, Society for Mechanics & Tradesmen, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Montauk Club, historic libraries and associations, schools, businesses, and private events. He has been featured on CBS Miami, PBS, New York Press, Amsterdam New York, Princeton Magazine and numerous radio shows including Writer’s Voice and America’s Dining and Travel. He also writes book reviews and essays, some of which have been published in Harvard Review.
He earned a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale College and an MBA from Yale School of Management. He enjoys traveling, having visited six continents and all 50 US states. Kaplan has worked in Marketing for over 20 years focused on content marketing/thought leadership, digital media and product strategy for publishing, financial and technology companies including Reader’s Digest, Barnes & Noble, American Express, McGraw-Hill, and Broadridge Financial Solutions.
6:30pm – Beer/Wine Open Bar
7:00pm – Speaker Paul Kaplan
8:00pm – Reception/Book Signing with the author
Discounted parking (free for members with membership card) at 2001 Pennsylvania
Ave, NW at the corner of I Street and 20 th Street (Colonial Garage).
