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1-18 of 18
- Writer
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Oscar Hammerstein II was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and musical theatre director from New York City. He won a total of 8 Tony Awards for his best known works, "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), and "The Sound of Music" (1959). He twice won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, for his songs "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (1940) and "It Might as Well Be Spring" (1945). Several of his songs became part of the standard repertoire for both singers and jazz musicians. During the 1940s and the 1950s, Hammerstein produced some of his best musicals in collaboration with the composer Richard Rodgers (1902-1979). They are credited with creating character-driven stories with dramatic moments, while American musicals were previously considered light-hearted entertainment.
In 1895, Hammerstein was born in New York City. His parents were the theatrical manager William Hammerstein (1875-1914) and his first wife Alice Nimmo (died in 1910). His father operated the Victoria Theatre in Times Square, considered for a while as the most successful theatre in New York City. Hammerstein's paternal ancestors were German Jews, while his maternal ancestors were British. Hammerstein's paternal grandfather was Oscar Hammerstein I (1846-1919), a theatrical impresario and composer who is credited with popularizing the opera genre in the United States.
In 1912, Hammerstein enrolled at Columbia University. He later studied at Columbia Law School. Following his father's death in 1914, Hammerstein participated in his first play: "On Your Way". It was performed in the Varsity Show (1894-), Columbia's regular arts presentation. During his university years, Hammerstein both wrote and performed for the Varsity Show.
In 1917, Hammerstein dropped out of law school to pursue a theatrical career. He found a mentor in the lyricist and librettist Otto Harbach (1873-1963). Harbach taught him that in musicals, the music, lyrics, and story should be closely connected. Hammerstein took this lesson to heart. Hammerstein wrote the book and the lyrics for the Broadway musical "Always You" (1920), the first musical of his career. In 1921, Hammerstein joined "The Lambs" (1874-), a New York City-based social club for theater professionals. It was named in honor of the English authors and salonists Charles Lamb (1775-1834) and Mary Lamb (1764-1847).
In 1927, Hammerstein had his first great success with the musical "Show Boat". It was an adaptation of a then-popular novel by Edna Ferber (1885-1968), and depicted life on a a Mississippi River show boat over a 40-years-period. It was considered revolutionary in musical storytelling in dealing with tragedy and serious issues, in a field previously dominated by light comedies and satirical operettas. The musical introduced the popular songs "Ol' Man River", "Make Believe", and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man". Hammerstein had partnered with the composer Jerome Kern (1885-1945) for this musical. The duo continued to work together for decades.
In the early 1940s, Hammerstein was asked by Richard Rodgers to work with him in a musical adaptation of the play "Green Grow the Lilacs" (1930) by Lynn Riggs (1899-1954). Rodgers had previously attempted to work on the adaptation with Lorenz Hart (1895-1943), but they had a falling out over Hart's declining mental state and his self-admitted lack of inspiration. The adaptation turned into the hit musical "Oklahoma!" (1943), about a love triangle in Indian Territory. It ran for an unprecedented 2,212 performances, and has often been revived. The musical's success convinced Hammerstein and Rodgers that they should collaborate further in subsequent works.
Hammerstein and Rodgers became the dominant creative force of the American musical theatre from 1943 to 1959. Their subsequent collaborations were the musicals "Carousel" (1945), "Allegro" (1947), "South Pacific" (1949), "The King and I" (1951), "Me and Juliet" (1953), "Pipe Dream" (1955), "Flower Drum Song" (1958), and "The Sound of Music" (1959). Most of them were well-received, and they never had a single flop in all these years. The duo also worked together for the music of the film "State Fair" (1945), and for the music-themed television special "Cinderella" (1957). Their works often provided social criticism, and dealt with issues such as discrimination (in various forms) and domestic abuse.
In 1943, Hammerstein wrote the book and lyrics for the musical "Carmen Jones". It was an adaptation of the opera "Carmen" by Georges Bizet, but featured African-American characters and had an all-black cast. It was considered groundbreaking for its era. The musical eventually received its own film adaptation, serving as a vehicle for Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965).
Hammerstein was an advocate for writers' rights within the theater industry. In 1956, he was elected as the new president of the Dramatists Guild of America, a professional organization whose main goal was to negotiate better contracts for playwrights. His term lasted until 1960, when he was replaced by Alan Jay Lerner (1918 - 1986).
In August 1960, Hammerstein died at his home, Highland Farm in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It was a 19th-century farmhouse which had served as his residence since 1940. The cause of death was stomach cancer, and he had been struggling with the disease for a while. He was 65-years-old at the time of his death. To honor his passing, the lights of Times Square were turned off for one minute, and London's West End lights were dimmed. His remains were cremated and his ashes were buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. A memorial plaque for Hammerstein was placed at Southwark Cathedral in London.
Hammerstein was survived by his second wife Dorothy Hammerstein (1899-1987), a professional interior designer and decorator. They had been married since 1929. Hammerstein's son James Hammerstein (1931-1999) followed his father's footsteps as a theatre director and producer. Hammerstein's stepdaughter Susan Blanchard (1928-) worked as a lyricist and theatrical producer, though she is primarily known as a a socialite.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Paul Whiteman began his musical career as a viola player for the San Francisco Symphony. He enlisted in the Navy during World War I, and his musical abilities resulted in the Navy putting him in charge of his own band. After the war he moved to New York in 1920, where he recorded his first hit, Whispering/The Japanese Sandman. It sold more than two million copies, making Whiteman an instant star. In 1924 he introduced the George Gershwin classic Rhapsody in Blue, which became the band's signature song. Whiteman had the foresight to hire some of the best jazz musicians of the era, including Red Nichols, Frankie Trumbauer, Tommy Dorsey and Bix Beiderbecke. Bing Crosby got his start with Whiteman in 1929, in a trio called the Rhythm Boys. Whiteman's band continued its run into the 1930s, but toward the end of the decade their popularity began to wane, and in the early 1940s Whiteman took a job as musical director for the American Broadcasting Co., a position he kept into the '60s. He would put together his band every so often during that period, and in the early 1960s they even managed to secure engagements in Las Vegas, after which Whiteman retired.- Actress
- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Odette Myrtil was born on 28 June 1898 in Paris, France. She was an actress and costume designer, known for Dodsworth (1936), Kitty Foyle (1940) and The Pied Piper (1942). She was married to Bob Adams and Stanley Logan. She died on 18 November 1978 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.- Irvin 'Zabo' Koszewski was born on 20 August 1924 in Camden, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for Things Are Tough All Over (1982), Nice Dreams (1981) and You Bet Your Life (1950). He died on 29 March 2009 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- John Granger was born on 21 February 1924 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for Tattoo (1981), Advise & Consent (1962) and The Doctors (1963). He died on 31 May 1993 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Alfred Bester was born on 18 December 1913 in New York City, New York, USA. Alfred was a writer, known for The Stars My Destination, The Juliet and Fireside Theatre (1949). Alfred was married to Rolly Bester. Alfred died on 30 September 1987 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Samuel Gallu was born on 21 March 1918 in Woodbine, New Jersey, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Navy Log (1955), Behind Closed Doors (1958) and The Blue Angels (1960). He died on 27 March 1991 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.- Sidney A. Salomon was born on November 3rd, 1913 in Newark New Jersey, , USA. He died on January 21st, 2004 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He was a WWII Vet having received the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his actions on the beach of Normandy during D-Day. He has been interviewed many times regarding this and was a minor celebrity in the town of Doylestown, PA
- Mitchell Jason was born on 21 August 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Network (1976), Soup for One (1982) and The Heartbreak Kid (1972). He died on 11 March 2014 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
Mr. Samuels graduated from Vassar College with distinction in Acting and Directing in 1980. He acted in New York City for several years - joining AFTRA when he was cast in As The World Turns (1956-2010) and, as a writer, he has had five screenplays optioned.
After a significant hiatus in the world of politics and marketing he has returned to his first love - acting. In 2013 he completed principal photography on Transylvanian Curse (2015), shot in Pittsburgh and starring Robert Englund and he then appeared on stage in New York at Playwrights Horizons as General William Tecumseh Sherman in the world premiere of Attila (recreating the role for the play's film adaptation - and garnering the Best Actor Award in the 2018 Bucks Fever Film Festival).
His original screenplay Mindscape was a semifinalist in the 1990 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and subsequently optioned by director Robert Ellis Miller The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968). Producers included Marcia Nasatir Ironweed (1987) and Steven Haft Dead Poets Society (1989).
He has also served as a proud Board Member of the Philadelphia Local of SAG-AFTRA.- Writer
- Producer
Jan Berenstain was born on 26 July 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was a writer and producer, known for The Berenstain Bears (1985), The Berenstain Bears' Camping Adventure (1993) and The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight (1995). She was married to Stan Berenstain. She died on 24 February 2012 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.- John Wexley was born on 14 September 1907 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), The Last Mile (1932) and Hangmen Also Die! (1943). He died on 4 February 1985 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- William Meisle was born on 23 July 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for The Manchurian Candidate (2004), School Ties (1992) and The Man Without a Face (1993). He was married to Nanci C. Miller. He died on 26 January 2023 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Mary DeChristopher was an actress, known for Friday the 13th Part X: To Hell and Back (1995). She died on 15 May 2019 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Barry Cassell was born on 3 November 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He was an actor, known for Action in the Afternoon (1953) and What in the World? (1950). He was married to Virginia Mundell and Edith Ritter. He died on 9 June 1992 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Denny Galehouse was born on 7 December 1911 in Marshallville, Ohio, USA. He died on 14 October 1998 in Doylestown, Ohio, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
- Sound Department
Tony Nelle was born on 21 August 1925 in Manila, Philippines. Tony is known for Startime (1959), Another World (1964) and The Doctors (1963). Tony died on 10 September 2015 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
Tom Dischert was born on 28 January 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Tom is known for The Watermelon Woman (1996), American Playhouse (1980) and And They're Off (1982). Tom was married to Nancy Haag. Tom died on 26 March 2001 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA.