Susan Fenster on the book Harry Altman: Buffalo's Master Showman

Susan Fenster is a historian, journalist, and nonfiction author whose work focuses on preserving the history of Western New York. A graduate of Buffalo State College with degrees in History and Journalism, she has spent more than three decades researching regional history through archival documents, newspapers, photographs, and firsthand accounts. Fenster is an active member of the Williamsville Historical Preservation Commission and the Williamsville Historical Society, where she has helped document and preserve the area's cultural heritage. Harry Altman: Buffalo's Master Showman is her fourth nonfiction book and represents one of her most ambitious historical projects. Published in 2025, Harry Altman: Buffalo's Master Showman chronicles the remarkable life of Harry Altman, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants who rose from poverty to become one of the most influential nightclub promoters in Western New York. Through the Glen Casino and Town Casino, Altman presented legendary entertainers including Sammy Davis Jr., Vic Damone, Jayne Mansfield, Johnnie Ray, and countless others, helping transform Buffalo into a nationally recognized entertainment destination during the 1940s and 1950s. Drawing upon years of meticulous research, Fenster not only reconstructs Altman's fascinating career but also examines the changing landscape of American entertainment, the impact of television and Las Vegas on live nightlife, and the ways important local figures can fade from public memory despite their enormous cultural contributions. The result is both a compelling biography and an important work of regional and American entertainment history