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Larry Borenstein

1919 – 1981

American art dealer

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About Larry Borenstein

Lived 1919 – 1981 (aged 61–62). Larry Borenstein was an American art dealer.

E. Lorenz "Larry" Borenstein (1919–1981) was an American property owner, art dealer and the "Father of Preservation Hall".

He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Ashkenazi Jewish parents. At 13 years old he went to Chicago to join the World's Fair. After the fair he toured with a carnival for a while. By the age of 18, in the Summer of '37, he was peddling magazine subscriptions in Oklahoma and Texas clearing about $15,000 in 9 months. He put himself through Marquette University majoring in philosophy and working for the Milwaukee Sentinel. He was working for the American Vacation Association when he first arrived in New Orleans on the night of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. His boss advised him that the war would not last more than a few months and to stick around and make some contacts. Borenstein never left. who has been featured in the Smithsonian.

As the "Father of Preservation Hall", in 1955 he turned his art gallery into a "rehearsal hall" for local musicians in his efforts to preserve the music. Before it took its formal shape, the space was called the New Orleans Society for the Preservation of Traditional Jazz. By 1961, his gallery had morphed into today's Preservation Hall. The Larry Borenstein Art Collection features artists from this era.

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Important facts

Born
1919, Milwaukee
Birth century
Died
1981
Occupation
Nationality

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Larry Borenstein's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Larry Borenstein?

American art dealer

When was Larry Borenstein born?

Larry Borenstein was born in 1919 in Milwaukee.

When did Larry Borenstein die?

Larry Borenstein died in 1981.

What was Larry Borenstein's occupation?

Larry Borenstein was an art dealer.

What nationality was Larry Borenstein?

Larry Borenstein was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Larry Borenstein

· Wikidata: Q6489982

· DBpedia: Larry Borenstein

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Larry Borenstein. https://biography.guide/larry-borenstein/

MLA: "Larry Borenstein." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/larry-borenstein/.

Chicago: "Larry Borenstein." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/larry-borenstein/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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