George Abbott | |
|---|---|
 Abbott in 1928 | |
| Born | George Francis Abbott (1887-06-25)June 25, 1887 Forestville, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 1995(1995-01-31) (aged 107) Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Education | University of Rochester (BA) Harvard University |
| Period | 1913–1995 |
| Notable awards |
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| Spouse | |
George Francis Abbott (June 25, 1887 – January 31, 1995) was an Americantheatre producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer whose career spanned eight decades.[1] He received numerous honors including sixTony Awards, thePulitzer Prize, theKennedy Center Honors in 1982,[2][3][4] theNational Medal of Arts in 1990,[5] and was inducted into theAmerican Theatre Hall of Fame.
Starting as an actor he later became known for producing numerousBroadway productions such asPal Joey (1940),On the Town (1944),Call Me Madam (1950),Wonderful Town (1953),The Pajama Game (1954),Damn Yankees (1955),New Girl in Town (1957),Once Upon a Mattress (1959),Fiorello! (book, 1959),A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962),Broadway (1987), andDamn Yankees (1994).
Abbot also acted in numerous films in the 1920s and 1930s. He received anAcademy Award for Best Writing nomination forAll Quiet on the Western Front (1930). He later directed the movie musical adaptations ofThe Pajama Game (1957) andDamn Yankees (1958).
Abbott was born inForestville, New York, to George Burwell Abbott (May 1858Erie County, New York – February 4, 1942Hamburg, New York) and Hannah May McLaury (1869 – June 20, 1940Hamburg, New York). He later moved to the city ofSalamanca, which twice elected his father mayor. In 1898, his family moved toCheyenne, Wyoming, where he attendedKearney Military Academy. Within a few years, his family returned to New York, and he graduated fromHamburg High School in 1907.[1][6]
In 1911 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from theUniversity of Rochester,[1][6] where he wrote his first play,Perfectly Harmless, for the University Dramatic Club. Abbott then attendedHarvard University, to take a course in playwriting fromGeorge Pierce Baker.[6] Under Baker's tutelage, he wroteThe Head of the Family, which was performed at the Harvard Dramatic Club in 1912.[7] He then worked for a year as "author, gofer, and actor" at theBijou Theatre inBoston, where his playThe Man in the Manhole won a contest.[6]
Abbott started acting on Broadway in 1913, debuting inThe Misleading Lady.[1][8] While acting in several plays in New York City, he began to write; his first successful play wasThe Fall Guy (1925).[1][8]
Abbott acquired a reputation as an astute "show doctor". He frequently was called upon to supervise changes when a show was having difficulties in tryouts or previews prior to its Broadway opening.[9] His first hit wasBroadway, written and directed in partnership withPhilip Dunning, whose play Abbott "rejiggered".[10] It opened on September 16, 1926, at theBroadhurst Theatre and ran for 603 performances. Other successes followed, and it was a rare year that did not have an Abbott production on Broadway.[citation needed]
He also worked in Hollywood as a film writer and director[11] while continuing with his theatre work.
Among those who worked with Abbott early in their careers areDesi Arnaz,Gene Kelly,June Havoc,Betty Comden,Adolph Green,Leonard Bernstein,Jules Styne,Stephen Sondheim,Elaine Stritch,John Kander,Fred Ebb,Carol Burnett andLiza Minnelli.[11] He introduced the "fast-paced, tightly integrated style that influenced" performers and especially directors such asJerome Robbins,Bob Fosse andHal Prince.[8]
Abbott directedU. S. Royal Showcase, a comedy-variety television program that ran on NBC from January 13, 1952, to June 26, 1952, and he was the show's host until April 13, 1952.[12]
In 1963, he published his autobiography,Mister Abbott.[1]
Abbott was married to Edna Lewis from 1914 to her death in 1930; they had one child. ActressMary Sinclair was his second wife. Their marriage lasted from 1946 until their 1951 divorce.[13] He had a long romance with actressMaureen Stapleton[7] from 1968 to 1978. She was 43 and he was 81 when they began their affair, then ten years later Abbott left her for a younger woman.[14] His third wife was Joy Valderrama. They were married from 1983 until his death in 1995.[13][15]
Abbott was a vigorous man who remained active past his 100th birthday by golfing and dancing. He died from complications of a stroke on January 31, 1995, at his home onSunset Island offMiami Beach, Florida, at age 107.The New York Times obituary read, "Mrs. Abbott said that a week and a half before his death he was dictating revisions to the second act ofPajama Game with a revival in mind, in addition to working on a revival ofDamn Yankees.[15]
At the age of 106, he walked down the aisle on opening night of theDamn Yankees revival and received a standing ovation. He was heard saying to his companion, 'There must be somebody important here.'" Just thirteen days before his 107th birthday, Abbott made an appearance at the48th Tony Awards, coming onstage with fellowDamn Yankees alumniGwen Verdon andJean Stapleton at the end of the opening number, a medley performed by the nominees for Best Revival of A Musical, which includedGrease,She Loves Me,Carousel, and his ownDamn Yankees.[15]
He was cremated atWoodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami and the ashes were taken by his wife.[16]
In addition to his wife, who died in 2020 at 88, Abbott was survived by a sister, Isabel Juergens, who died a year later at the age of 102; two granddaughters, Amy Clark Davidson and Susan Clark Hansley; a grandson, George Clark, and six great-grandchildren.[15]
In 1965, the54th Street Theatre was rechristened theGeorge Abbott Theatre in his honor. The building was demolished in 1970.[7][17] New York City'sGeorge Abbott Way, the section of West 45th Street northwest ofTimes Square, is also named after him.
He received New York City'sHandel Medallion in 1976, honorary doctorates from the Universities ofRochester andMiami, and theKennedy Centre Honors in 1982.[2][3][4] He was also inducted into the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame[18] and theAmerican Theatre Hall of Fame. In 1990, he was awarded theNational Medal of Arts.[19]
Source:Playbill[20]
| Year | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1918 | The Imposter | Writer, actor (Lem) |
| 1926 | Love 'Em and Leave 'Em | Writer |
| 1927 | Hills of Peril | Playwright,A Holy Terror |
| 1928 | Four Walls | Playwright, writer |
| 1929 | Coquette | Playwright |
| 1929 | The Carnival Man | Director |
| 1929 | Broadway | Playwright, writer |
| 1929 | The Bishop's Candlesticks | Director |
| 1929 | Why Bring That Up? | Director, writer |
| 1929 | The Saturday Night Kid | Playwright,Love 'Em and Leave 'Em |
| 1929 | Night Parade | Playwright,Ringside |
| 1929 | Half Way to Heaven | Director, writer |
| 1930 | El Dios del mar | Writer |
| 1930 | All Quiet on the Western Front | Writer |
| 1930 | The Fall Guy | Playwright |
| 1930 | Manslaughter | Director, writer |
| 1930 | The Sea God | Director, writer |
| 1931 | The Leap into the Void | Writer |
| 1931 | Stolen Heaven | Director; writer |
| 1931 | The Incorrigible | Playwright,Manslaughter |
| 1931 | Sombras del circo | Playwright,Halfway to Heaven |
| 1931 | À mi-chemin du ciel | Playwright,Halfway to Heaven |
| 1931 | Secrets of a Secretary | Director, writer |
| 1931 | My Sin | Director; writer |
| 1931 | The Cheat | Director |
| 1932 | Halvvägs till himlen | Writer |
| 1932 | Those We Love | Playwright |
| 1933 | Lilly Turner | Playwright |
| 1934 | Heat Lightning | Playwright |
| 1934 | Straight Is the Way | Playwright,Four Walls |
| 1936 | Three Men on a Horse | Playwright |
| 1938 | Broadway | Writer |
| 1939 | On Your Toes | Playwright |
| 1940 | Too Many Girls | Director |
| 1940 | The Boys from Syracuse | Playwright, director |
| 1941 | Highway West | Playwright,Heat Lightning |
| 1942 | Broadway | Playwright |
| 1947 | Beat the Band | Playwright |
| 1957 | The Pajama Game | Writer, director, producer[1] |
| 1958 | Damn Yankees | Writer, director, producer |
Source:Playbill[20]
