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Michael P. Grace II
Michael P. Grace (1917–1995) was the producer, lyricist, and creator of some of the music for ''John Murray Anderson's Almanac'' (1954) and the producer of '' King of Friday's Men'' on Broadway (1951). He was also the author/co-author of a variety of copyrighted music. He later became an oil and gas developer as well as becoming involved in mining industry applications of oil and gas technology by means of what is called solutions mining. He made philanthropic donations to create several professorships at Notre Dame University. Early life Michael P. Grace II was born in 1917. His father was Joseph P. Grace, the former chairman of W. R. Grace and Company, and his brother was J. Peter Grace, who was also the former chairman of W. R. Grace and Company. His grandfather was William Russell Grace, the first Roman Catholic mayor of New York City and the founder of W. R. Grace and Company. His great uncle was industrialist and chairman of the board of the directors of W. R. Grace, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Murray Anderson's Almanac
'' John Murray Anderson's Almanac'' is a musical revue, featuring the music of the songwriting team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, as well as other composers. It was conceived by John Murray Anderson. Productions '' John Murray Anderson's Almanac'' opened on Broadway on December 10, 1953 at the Imperial Theatre, New York City and closed on June 26, 1954, after 229 performances. The revue was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson, with sketches directed by Cyril Ritchard, and dances and musical numbers staged by Donald Saddler.The revue starred Harry Belafonte, Hermione Gingold, Polly Bergen, Orson Bean, Carleton Carpenter, Tina Louise, Monique van Vooren, and Billy DeWolfe. The songwriting team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross provided the majority of the songs for the show. The sketches were written by Jean Kerr, Sumner Lock-Elliot, Arthur Macrae, Herbert Farjeon, Lauri Wylie and Billy K. Wells. Songs ;Act 1 *Prologue: Harlequinade – Pierrette Ensemble, Jimm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billy De Wolfe
William Andrew Jones (February 18, 1907 – March 5, 1974), better known as Billy De Wolfe, was an American character actor. He was active in films from the mid-1940s until his death in 1974. Early life and early stage career Born William Andrew Jones in the Wollaston neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, De Wolfe was the son of a Welsh bookbinder who encouraged him to become a Baptist minister. Instead, Billy developed an interest in the theatre. He found work as an usher before becoming a dancer with the Jimmy O'Connor Band.UPI. "Vet hoofer, actor Billy De Wolfe dies," ''Pacific Stars & Stripes'' (March 8, 1974), page 3. It was at this point that he changed his last name initially to "De Wolf" (the e was added later), which was the last name of the manager of the Massachusetts theatre where he worked. In 1925, De Wolfe landed chorus boy spots in the Broadway musicals ''Artists and Models'' and ''The Cocoanuts''. He then went on to tour Europe with a dance team for most of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Donaldson Awards
The Donaldson Awards were a set of theatre awards established in 1944 by the drama critic Robert Francis in honor of W. H. Donaldson (1864–1925), the founder of ''The Billboard'' (now ''Billboard'') magazine. Categories included "best new play", "best new musical", "best performance", "best debut" and "best costumes and set design". The winners were chosen by votes of the theatre community at large with no predetermined nominees and the winners were presented with a gold key and a scroll.Sagolla, Lisa Jo (2003). ''The Girl Who Fell Down A Biography of Joan McCracken''. Boston: University Press of New England. . p. 107. According to an article in ''Billboard'', "The Donaldson Awards are the stages' accolades to their own." The awards were discontinued in 1955 having been overshadowed by the Antoinette Perry Awards (Tony Awards). List of winners Eligibility List for 12th Annual Donaldson Awards (containing previous winners) "Award Winners, 1954–55 Season" ''Billboard'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Songwriters Hall Of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the heritage and legacy of a spectrum of the most beloved English language songs from the world's popular music songbook. It not only celebrates these established songwriters, but is also involved in the development of new English language songwriting talent through workshops, showcases, and scholarships. There are many programs designed to teach and discover new English language songwriters. Nile Rodgers serves as the organization's chairman. The Hall of Fame was formed in 1969, and in 2010, an exhibit was put on display online inside the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The Hall has no permanent place of residence, and because the awards are not televised, there would be no other digital recording of the event for posterity. There ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Damn Yankees
''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. It is based on Wallop's 1954 novel '' The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant''. The show ran for 1,019 performances in its original Broadway production. Adler and Ross's success with it and '' The Pajama Game'' seemed to point to a bright future for them, but Ross suddenly died of chronic bronchiectasis at age 29, several months after ''Damn Yankees'' opened. Plot NOTE: This is the plot of the 1994 Broadway revival of the show; there are differences from the original 1955 version. For the 1958 film version, see ''Damn Yankees'' (film). Middle-aged real estate agent Joe Boyd is a long-suffering fan of the pathetic Washington Senators baseball team. His wife, Meg, lam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Pajama Game
''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel ''7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. and dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his choreography debut. The story deals with labor troubles and romance in a pajama factory. The original Broadway production opened on May 13, 1954, at the St. James Theatre, and ran for 1,063 performances, with a brief stop at the Shubert Theatre at the end of the run. It was revived in 1973, and again in 2006 by The Roundabout Theatre Company. The original production, produced by Frederick Brisson, Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince, won a Tony Award for Best Musical. The 2006 Broadway revival won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The musical is a popular choice for community and school group productions. The original West End production opened at the London Coliseum on October 13, 1955, where it ran for 588 performances. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerry Ross (composer)
Jerry Ross (born Jerold Rosenberg; March 9, 1926 – November 11, 1955) was an American lyricist and composer whose works with Richard Adler for the musical theater include ''The Pajama Game'' and ''Damn Yankees'', winners of Tony Awards in 1955 and 1956, respectively, in both the "Best Musical" and "Best Composer and Lyricist" categories. Biography Jerold Rosenberg was born in the Bronx to a Russian-Jewish household, to immigrant parents, Lena and Jacob Rosenberg, in the Bronx, New York City. Growing up, he was a professional singer and actor in the Yiddish theater. "Jerry Ross Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved August 3, 2018 Following high school, he studied at under ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Adler
Richard Adler (August 3, 1921 – June 21, 2012) was an American lyricist, writer, composer and producer of several Broadway shows. Life and career Adler was born in New York City, the son of Elsa Adrienne (née Richard) and Clarence Adler. His mother was a debutante from Mobile, Alabama. Adler had a musical upbringing, his father being a renowned Jewish concert pianist, as well as teacher of such composers as Aaron Copland. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1943 and served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II. After his Navy service he began his career as a lyricist, teaming up with Jerry Ross in 1950. As a duo they worked in tandem, both taking credit for lyrics and music. Adler and Ross Years (1950–1955) After establishing their partnership, Adler and Ross quickly became protégés of composer, lyricist and publisher Frank Loesser. Their first notable composition was the song " Rags to Riches", which was recorded by Tony B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monique Van Vooren
Monique van Vooren (March 25, 1927 – January 25, 2020) was a Belgian-American actress and dancer. Early years Born in Brussels to George Bronz (or Bronze) and Louise van Vooren, Monique was a champion skater and a beauty queen in Belgium. She reportedly studied philosophy and languages and learned to speak English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Dutch. "I can also read Greek and Latin," she stated. Her first visit to the United States apparently took place in 1946 at age 19, with the married name "Jakobson" and listed as a "housewife". Her second husband was Kurt (or Curt) Henry Pfenniger. Her third husband was New York businessman Gerard Walter Purcell. The couple were married from 1958 until Purcell's death in 2002. Career On Broadway, Van Vooren played in ''John Murray Anderson's Almanac'' (1953–54) and '' Man on the Moon'' (1975). In the 1960s, Van Vooren starred in summer stock theatre productions in the United States. Van Vooren recorded an album, ''Mink in HiF ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carleton Carpenter
Carleton Upham Carpenter Jr. (July 10, 1926 – January 31, 2022) was an American film, television and stage actor, magician, songwriter, and novelist. Early and personal life Carpenter was born in Bennington, Vermont, where he attended Bennington High School. He was the son of Carleton Upham Carpenter Sr. He was bisexual. Carpenter lived in Warwick, New York, where he died on January 31, 2022, at the age of 95. Military service Carpenter served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy during World War II and helped to build the airstrip from which the '' Enola Gay'' took off for its flight to bomb Hiroshima. Acting career Carpenter began his performing career as a magician and an actor on Broadway, beginning with David Merrick's first production, ''Bright Boy'', in 1944, followed by co-starring appearances in ''Three to Make Ready'' with Ray Bolger, '' John Murray Anderson's Almanac'', and '' Hotel Paradiso''. He was a featured player on the early television program ''Campus H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polly Bergen
Polly Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin; July 14, 1930 – September 20, 2014) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer and entrepreneur. She won an Emmy Award in 1958 for her performance as Helen Morgan in '' The Helen Morgan Story''. For her stage work, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Carlotta Campion in ''Follies'' in 2001. Her film work included '' Cape Fear'' (1962) and '' The Caretakers'' (1963), for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. She hosted her own weekly variety show for one season (''The Polly Bergen Show''), was a regular panelist on the TV game show '' To Tell the Truth,'' and later in life had roles in ''The Sopranos'' and ''Desperate Housewives''. She wrote three books on beauty, fashion, and charm. She is also the inspiration behind Mother Goose in ''The Land of Stories''. Early life Bergen was born in Knox ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album '' Calypso'' (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist. Belafonte is best known for his recordings of " The Banana Boat Song", with its signature "Day-O" lyric, " Jump in the Line", and " Jamaica Farewell". He has recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. He has also starred in several films, including '' Carmen Jones'' (1954), '' Island in the Sun'' (1957), and '' Odds Against Tomorrow'' (1959). Belafonte considered the actor, singer and activist Paul Robeson a mentor, and was a close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. As he later recalled, "Pau ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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