The idea that Rudin fundamentally improved the artistic standards of Broadway has become received wisdom, especially among the older critical class. What exactly did he do that improved it?

He produced a lot of Hollywood-cast revivals of varying quality. He financed a couple plays from younger writers, almost always white men, and most of whom were already well established in the Off-Broadway/downtown/regional worlds (thus, not discoveries).

His taste in musicals runs stringently traditionalist and the casting is often questionable. And aside from BoM and Dolly, both sure things in many ways, his track record is iffy. Shuffle Along was shamefully mishandled.

TLDR, if you’re pushing the narrative that Rudin’s artistic judgment is unimpeachable and needs to be factored into conversations surrounding his conduct, ask yourself why.