The city business that made eyes for Columbo, Sammy
Peter Falk (aka Columbo), Sammy Davis Jr., Helen Keller, Joseph Pulitzer, Jay Vanderbilt: That’s a diverse bunch that share a common trait.
They all needed at least one artificial eye in their lifetimes and used the services of eye-maker Mager and Gougelman here in the city.
Mager and Gougelman started as Gougelman & Co. in 1851, when Peter Gougelman — originally from Sweden — emigrated from France to New York City. He brought with him knowledge of his unique craft: fashioning artificial eyes. It’s a trade he passed on to his descendants.
Today, Mager and Gougelman is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the city with a distinguished list of clients as you can see.
Last week, David Gougelman spoke with amNewYork about growing up in a family that crafted eyeballs. Check it out here.
-- Garett Sloane
