Joseph Otto Kesselring (July 21, 1902 [1] – November 5, 1967) was an American playwright who was best known for writing Arsenic and Old Lace, a hit on Broadway from 1939 to 1944 and in other countries as well.
He was born in New York City to Henry and Frances Kesselring. His father's parents were immigrants from Germany. His mother was an English Canadian.[2] Kesselring spent much of his life in and around the theater. In 1922, he began teaching vocal music and directed stage productions at Bethel College, a Mennonite school in North Newton, Kansas. After two years, Kesselring left teaching and returned to the stage, working for two years with an amateur theatrical group in Niagara, New York.[3] He began working as a freelance playwright in 1933, completing 12 original plays, of which four were produced on Broadway: There's Wisdom in Women (1935), "Cross-Town" (1937), Arsenic and Old Lace (1939), and Four Twelves are 48 (1951). Arsenic and Old Lace was his masterpiece. It ran for 1444 performances on Broadway and 1337 performances in London, and became a staple in high school and dinner theater circuits. The 1944 movie adaptation was also a comedy hit.
Arsenic and Old Lace appeared at a time of strong isolationist sentiment regarding European affairs, of the sort that was very strong where Kesselring went to college. The play suggested that the elite running America had a murderous heritage.[4] Kesselring lived in a college house that would later be the basis of the set of Arsenic and Old Lace, and locals have tried to identify who were some of the character models he used. Kesselring was an Episcopalian who did not fit in well with the strait-laced college. Bethel replaced him in 1924.[5]
Death and legacy
Kesselring died on November 5, 1967, in Kingston, New York, at the age of 65.
^US Census 1920, New York Borough of Manhattan, enumeration district 913, Sheet 19A
^Dramaturgy: Notes from the Director May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Methacton Community Theater website. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
^Matthew C. Gunter (2012). The Capra Touch: A Study of the Director's Hollywood Classics and War Documentaries, 1934-1945. McFarland. pp. 49–51. ISBN9780786488285.
^See Keith L. Sprunger, "Another Look Another Look: Joseph Kesselring, Bethel College, and the Origins of Arsenic and Old Lace, Mennonite Life (May, 2013). February 24, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^Cox, Gordon (February 13, 2009). "Kesselring Fellowship honors duo; Playwrights Rajiv Joseph, David Adjmi awarded". Variety. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
^The Kesselring Fellowship January 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, The National Arts Club, The Exchange website. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
^NY Birth certificate June 21, 1900; WWI draft-card June 21, 1900; WWII draft-card June 21, 1900; 1925 NY State Census as of June 1, 1925 Joseph O. Kesselring age 24
April 18, 2023
joseph, kesselring, joseph, otto, kesselring, july, 1902, november, 1967, american, playwright, best, known, writing, arsenic, lace, broadway, from, 1939, 1944, other, countries, well, contents, biography, death, legacy, references, external, linksbiography, e. Joseph Otto Kesselring July 21 1902 1 November 5 1967 was an American playwright who was best known for writing Arsenic and Old Lace a hit on Broadway from 1939 to 1944 and in other countries as well Contents 1 Biography 2 Death and legacy 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditHe was born in New York City to Henry and Frances Kesselring His father s parents were immigrants from Germany His mother was an English Canadian 2 Kesselring spent much of his life in and around the theater In 1922 he began teaching vocal music and directed stage productions at Bethel College a Mennonite school in North Newton Kansas After two years Kesselring left teaching and returned to the stage working for two years with an amateur theatrical group in Niagara New York 3 He began working as a freelance playwright in 1933 completing 12 original plays of which four were produced on Broadway There s Wisdom in Women 1935 Cross Town 1937 Arsenic and Old Lace 1939 and Four Twelves are 48 1951 Arsenic and Old Lace was his masterpiece It ran for 1444 performances on Broadway and 1337 performances in London and became a staple in high school and dinner theater circuits The 1944 movie adaptation was also a comedy hit Arsenic and Old Lace appeared at a time of strong isolationist sentiment regarding European affairs of the sort that was very strong where Kesselring went to college The play suggested that the elite running America had a murderous heritage 4 Kesselring lived in a college house that would later be the basis of the set of Arsenic and Old Lace and locals have tried to identify who were some of the character models he used Kesselring was an Episcopalian who did not fit in well with the strait laced college Bethel replaced him in 1924 5 Death and legacy EditKesselring died on November 5 1967 in Kingston New York at the age of 65 In 1980 the National Arts Club created the Joseph Kesselring Prize for up and coming playwrights It was funded by Kesselring s widow Charlotte Among the playwrights who have won the prize are Tony Kushner David Adjmi Doug Wright Anna Deavere Smith David Auburn Rajiv Joseph Melissa James Gibson Jo Carson Nicky Silver David Lindsay Abaire Jose Rivera Naomi Wallace Philip Kan Gotanda Tracey Scott Wilson and Marion McClinton 6 7 References Edit 1 US Census 1920 New York Borough of Manhattan enumeration district 913 Sheet 19A Dramaturgy Notes from the Director Archived May 13 2008 at the Wayback Machine Methacton Community Theater website Retrieved February 19 2010 Matthew C Gunter 2012 The Capra Touch A Study of the Director s Hollywood Classics and War Documentaries 1934 1945 McFarland pp 49 51 ISBN 9780786488285 See Keith L Sprunger Another Look Another Look Joseph Kesselring Bethel College and the Origins of Arsenic and Old Lace Mennonite Life May 2013 Archived February 24 2014 at the Wayback Machine Cox Gordon February 13 2009 Kesselring Fellowship honors duo Playwrights Rajiv Joseph David Adjmi awarded Variety Retrieved April 3 2010 The Kesselring Fellowship Archived January 6 2010 at the Wayback Machine The National Arts Club The Exchange website Retrieved February 19 2010 1 1 External links EditJoseph O Kesselring writings 1932 1970 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts NY Birth certificate June 21 1900 WWI draft card June 21 1900 WWII draft card June 21 1900 1925 NY State Census as of June 1 1925 Joseph O Kesselring age 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph Kesselring amp oldid 1106589006, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
