( June 25 , 1887 – January 31 , 1995 ) was a Broadway showman. Abbott wrote, produced, and directed some of the most notable Broadway plays, including '' The Pajama Game '', '' A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum '' and '' Damn Yankees ''.
He was born in for two terms. In 1898 he and his family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where Abbott attended Kearney Military Academy . The family returned to New York where Abbott graduated from Hamburg High School in 1907 . He obtained a Bachelor Of Arts degree from the University Of Rochester in 1911 , and wrote the play '' Perfectly Harmless '' that was performed at the University Dramatic Club in 1911 .
Abbott then went to Harvard University where he studied play writing under George Pierce Baker ; under his tutelage he wrote the play ''The Head of the Family'', which was performed at the Harvard Dramatic Club in 1912 . He then won a play contest at the Bijou Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts , (for ''The Man in the Manhole''). He worked there for a year as assistant stage manager.
Abbott first appeared as an actor on Broadway in ''The Misleading Lady'' in 1913 . While acting in several plays in New York City , he began to write, with his first successful play being 1925 's ''The Fall Guy''. He moved on to work in Hollywood as a writer and director, while continuing with his theatre work. His most notable directorial efforts were '' Jumbo '', '' On Your Toes '', '' The Boys From Syracuse '', '' Pal Joey '' ( Rodgers And Hart shows), '' On The Town '' (with Comden And Green and Leonard Bernstein ), '' High Button Shoes '', '' Where's Charley? '', '' Call Me Madam '', '' A Tree Grows In Brooklyn '', '' Wonderful Town '', ''The Pajama Game'' (in which Bob Fosse got his break as a Choreographer ), '' Damn Yankees '', '' Fiorello! '', '' A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum '' (an early Stephen Sondheim musical), '' Flora The Red Menace '' ( Kander And Ebb 's first musical together, and Liza Minnelli 's Broadway debut, at age 19).
In addition to his other activities, Abbott acquired a reputation as an astute (and ruthless) "show doctor": he would be called in to supervise changes when a show was having difficulties in tryouts or previews.
He married his first wife, Ednah Levis in 1914 , and they had a daughter Judith, who became an actress and married actor Tom Ewell in 1946 . Ednah died in 1930 . Abbott married his second wife, Mary Sinclair in April 1946 ; they divorced in 1951 . He married his third wife, Joy Valderrama on November 21 , 1983 .
In 1965 the 54th St. Theatre (previously the Adelphi Theatre) was named the George Abbott Theatre in his honor. The theatre was demolished in 1970 .
He died of a Stroke in Miami Beach, Florida at the Age Of 107 . While such a life span is rare, his being not only competant, but artistically productive, at such an age may be unmatched. 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 of "Pajama Game," with a revival in mind. Last year, at a mere 106 years old, he walked down the aisle on opening night of the "Damn Yankees" revival and received a standing ovation. He was heard saying to his companion, "There must be somebody important here."
He stands as one of the most admired men in the history of Broadway and has been inducted into the American Theatre Hall Of Fame .
- Year Title Classification Role
- 1911 ''The Man in the Manhole'' play director, actor
- 1913 ''The Misleading Lady'' play performer
- 1915 '' The Yeomen Of The Guard '' operetta performer
- 1916 ''The Queen's Enemies'' one act play performer
- 1918 ''Daddies'' play performer
- 1918 ''The Impostor'' film director, actor
- 1920 ''The Broken Wing'' play performer
- 1921 ''Dulcy'' play performer (on tour)
- 1923 ''Zander the Great'' play performer
- 1923 ''White Desert'' play performer
- 1924 ''Hell-bent Fer Heaven'' play performer
- 1924 ''Lazybones'' play performer
- 1925 ''Processional'' play performer
- 1925 ''The Fall Guy'' play Writer
- 1925 ''A Holy Terror'' play Writer; performer
- 1926 ''Love 'em and Leave 'em '' play Writer; director
- 1926 ''Broadway '' play Writer; director
- 1926 ''Chicago'' play director
- 1926 ''Love 'Em and Leave 'Em'' film writer
- 1927 ''Spread Eagle '' play Staging
- 1927 ''Four Walls'' play Writer; director
- 1927 ''Coquette'' play Writer; director
- 1927 ''Bless You, Sister'' play director
- 1927 ''Hills of Peril'' film writer: based on his play ''A Holy Terror''
- 1927 ''Broadway'' novelization author (with Philip Dunning) of novelization of his play ''Broadway''
- 1928 ''Gentlemen of the Press '' play Staging
- 1928 ''Ringside'' play Writer; Staging
- 1928 ''Poppa '' play Staging
- 1928 ''Four Walls'' film writer: based on his play ''Four Walls''
- 1929 ''Coquette'' film writer: based on his play ''Coquette''
- 1929 ''Broadway'' film writer: based on his play ''Broadway''
- 1929 ''Why Bring That Up?'' film writer: adaptation, additional dialogue
- 1929 ''The Saturday Night Kid'' film writer: based on his play ''Love 'Em and Leave 'Em''
- 1929 ''Night Parade'' film writer: based on his play ''Ringside''
- 1929 ''Halfway to Heaven'' film writer: adaptation
- 1929 ''Why Bring That Up?'' film director
- 1929 ''Halfway to Heaven'' film director
- 1929 ''The Carnival Man'' film director
- 1929 ''Bishop's Candlesticks'' film director
- 1930 ''Those We Love '' play Writer; director; performer
- 1930 '' All Quiet On The Western Front '' film writer: screen play
- 1930 ''The Fall Guy'' film writer: based on his play ''The Fall Guy''
- 1930 ''Manslaughter'' film writer: adaptation
- 1930 ''The Sea God'' film writer: adaptation and additional dialogue
- 1930 ''Manslaughter'' film director
- 1930 ''The Sea God'' film director
- 1930/1 ''El Dios del mar'' film writer: based on his script ''The Sea God''
- 1931 ''Louder, Please '' play director
- 1931 ''Stolen Heaven'' film writer: adaptation
- 1931 ''La Incorregible'' film writer: based on his script ''Manslaughter''
- 1931 ''Secrets of a Secretary'' film writer: adaptation
- 1931 ''My Sin'' film writer: adaptation
- 1931 ''Der Sprung ins Nichts'' film writer
- 1931 ''Sombras del circo'' film writer: based on his script ''Half-Way to Heaven''
- 1931 ''À mi-chemin du ciel'' film writer
- 1931 ''Stolen Heaven'' film director
- 1931 ''Secrets of a Secretary'' film director
- 1931 ''My Sin'' film director
- 1931 ''The Cheat'' film director
- 1932 ''Lilly Turner '' play Producer, Writer; director
- 1932 ''The Great Magoo '' play Staging
- 1932 ''Twentieth Century'' play Producer; director
- 1932 ''Those We Love'' film writer: based on his play ''Those We Love''
- 1932 ''Halvvägs till himlen'' film writer
- 1933 ''Heat Lightning '' play Producer, Writer; director
- 1933 ''The Drums Begin'' play Producer; Staging
- 1933 ''Lilly Turner'' film writer: based on his play ''Lilly Turner''
- 1934 ''John Brown '' play Producer; Staging; performer
- 1934 ''Kill That Story '' play Producer, Staging
- 1934 ''Small Miracle '' play Staging
- 1934 ''Ladies' Money '' play Writer; Staging
- 1934 ''Page Miss Glory'' play Staging
- 1934 ''Heat Lightning'' film writer: based on his play ''Heat Lightning''
- 1934 ''Straight Is the Way'' film writer: based on his play ''Four Walls''
- 1935 ''Three Men on a Horse '' play Writer; Staging
- 1935 ''Jumbo '' musical director; score by Rodgers And Hart
- 1935 ''Boy Meets Girl'' play Producer; Staging
- 1936 '' On Your Toes '' musical Book; score by Rodgers And Hart
- 1936 ''Sweet River '' play Producer; Writer; director
- 1936 ''Brother Rat '' play Producer; director
- 1936 ''Three Men on a Horse'' film writer: based on his play ''Three Men on a Horse''
- 1937 ''Room Service '' play Producer; Staging
- 1937 ''Angel Island '' play Producer; Staging
- 1937 ''Brown Sugar '' play Producer; Staging
- 1938 ''All That Glitters '' play Producer; Staging
- 1938 '' What a Life '' play Producer
- 1938 ''The Boys from Syracuse'' musical Producer; Book; director; score by Rodgers And Hart
- 1938 ''Boy Meets Girl'' film producer
- 1938 '' Room Service '' film producer
- 1938 ''Brother Rat'' film producer
- 1939 ''The Primrose Path '' play Producer; Staging
- 1939 ''Mrs. O'Brien Entertains'' play Producer; Staging
- 1939 ''See My Lawyer '' play Producer
- 1939 ''Too Many Girls'' musical Producer; Staging; score by Rodgers And Hart
- 1939 ''Ring Two '' play Producer; Staging
- 1939 ''On Your Toes'' film writer: based on his play ''On Your Toes''
- 1940 ''The Unconquered '' play Producer; Staging
- 1940 ''Goodbye in the Night'' play Producer; Staging
- 1940 '' Pal Joey '' musical Producer; director; score by Rodgers And Hart
- 1940 ''
- 1940 ''Too Many Girls'' film producer, director; score by Rodgers And Hart
- 1940 ''The Primrose Path'' film producer (uncredited)
- 1941 ''Best Foot Forward'' musical Producer; director
- 1941 ''Banjo Eyes '' musical Based on his play "Three Men on a Horse"
- 1941 ''Highway West'' film writer: based on his play ''Heat Lightning''
- 1942 ''Jason'' play Producer
- 1942 ''Three Men on a Horse'' play (revival) Writer
- 1942 ''Beat the Band '' musical Producer; Book; director
- 1942 '' Sweet Charity '' play director
- 1942 ''Broadway'' film writer: based on his play ''Broadway''
- 1943 ''Kiss and Tell '' play Producer; Staging
- 1943 ''Get Away Old Man '' play Producer; director
- 1944 ''A Highland Fling'' play Producer; Staging
- 1944 ''Snafu '' play Producer; Staging
- 1944 '' On The Town '' musical director; score by Leonard Bernstein
- 1945 ''Billion Dollar Baby'' musical director
- 1945 ''Kiss and Tell'' film producer
- 1945 ''Snafu'' film executive producer
- 1946 ''The Dancer '' play (revival) Producer
- 1947 ''It Takes Two '' play Producer; director
- 1947 ''Barefoot Boy With Cheek'' musical Producer; director
- 1947 '' High Button Shoes '' musical director; score by Jule Styne
- 1947 ''Beat the Band'' film writer: based on his play ''Beat the Band''
- 1948 ''Where's Charley? '' musical Book; director
- 1948 ''Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'!'' musical Producer; director
- 1949 ''Mrs. Gibbons' Boys '' play Producer; Staging
- 1949 ''Touch and Go '' musical Producer
- 1950 '' Call Me Madam '' musical director
- 1950 ''Out of This World '' musical, Additional direction by George Abbott (play doctoring)
- 1951 ''Where's Charley? '' musical, Book; director
- 1951 '' A Tree Grows In Brooklyn '' musical Producer; Book; director
- 1951 ''The Number '' play, Staging
- 1952 ''In Any Language '' play, Producer; director
- 1952 ''Where's Charley'' film writer: based on his play ''Where's Charley?''
- 1952 ''"The U.S. Royal Showcase '' TV Series Host
- 1952 '' The Skin Of Our Teeth '' TV drama actor
- 1953 '' Wonderful Town '' musical, director
- 1953 ''Me and Juliet '' musical, director
- 1954 '' The Pajama Game '' musical, Book; director
- 1954 ''On Your Toes '' revival, musical Producer; Book; director
- 1955 '' Damn Yankees '' musical, Book; director
- 1955 ''The Skin of Our Teeth'' revival, play performer
- 1957 ''New Girl in Town '' musical Book; director
- 1957 ''The Pajama Game'' film writer: based on his play ''The Pajama Game''
- 1957 ''Drei Mann auf einem Pferd'' film writer: based on his play ''Three Men on a Horse''
- 1957 ''The Pajama Game'' film director, producer
- 1958 ''Drink to Me Only'' play director
- 1958 ''Damn Yankees!'' film director, producer, writer: based on his play ''Damn Yankees!''
- 1959 '' Once Upon A Mattress '' musical, director
- 1959 '' Fiorello! '' musical Book; director
- 1960 ''Tenderloin '' musical, Book; director
- 1961 ''A Call on Kuprin'' play director
- 1961 ''Let It Ride '' musical, Based on his play "Three Men on a Horse"
- 1961 ''Take Her, She's Mine'' play director
- 1962 '' A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum '' musical director; score by Stephen Sondheim
- 1962 ''Never Too Late '' play director; Staging
- 1964 ''Fade Out - Fade In '' musical director
- 1964 ''Mister Abbott'' autobiography author
- 1965 '' Flora, The Red Menace '' musical Book; director; score by Kander And Ebb
- 1965 ''Anya '' musical, operetta Book; director; score by Robert Wright & George Forrest
- 1966 ''Agatha Sue, I Love You '' play director
- 1966 ''Help Stamp Out Marriage!'' play director
- 1967 ''How Now, Dow Jones '' musical director
- 1968 ''The Education of H---Y---M---A---N K---A---P---L---A---N'' musical director
- 1969 ''The Fig Leaves Are Falling '' musical director
- 1969 ''Three Men on a Horse '' revival, play Writer; director
- 1970 ''Norman, Is That You?'' play director
- 1970 ''Not Now, Darling '' play director
- 1970 ''Trois hommes sur un cheval'' film writer play ''Three Men on a Horse''
- 1973 ''The Pajama Game'' revival, musical, Book; director; score by Adler And Ross
- 1974 ''Where's Charley?'' revival, musical, Book; score by Frank Loesser
- 1976 ''Music Is'' musical, Book; director
- 1979 ''Tryout'' novel author
- 1983 ''On Your Toes '' revival, musical Book; director
- 1986 ''The Boys from Syracuse'' television play writer based on his play ''The Boys from Syracuse''
- 1987 ''Broadway '' revival, play Writer; director
- 1993 ''Three Men on a Horse'' revival, play, Writer
- 1994 ''Damn Yankees '' revival, musical Book; score by Adler And Ross
- 2002 ''The Boys from Syracuse'' revival, musical Based on the original Book
Abbott won five Tony Award s and the Pulitzer Prize (for "Fiorello!"). He was Academy Award nominated for '' All Quiet On The Western Front ''. Abbott was also honored at the 1982 Kennedy Center Honors . He received an award for his 70+ year dedication to American theater.
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