Bernstein, Aline

Bernstein, Aline (b. Frankau)

(1881–1955) set and costume designer; born in New York City. After giving up thoughts of being a portraitist, she began her stage career in 1924 with costumes for the Neighborhood Playhouse production of The Little Clay Cart. In 1937 she co-founded the Museum of Costume Art. She worked for the Theatre Guild and for the Civic Repertory Theatre in such productions as The Cherry Orchard (1928) and Thunder on the Left (1933). She is also the "A.B." to whom Thomas Wolfe dedicated Look Homeward, Angel; for five years she carried on an extramarital affair with Wolfe.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.