Nancy Hamilton was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on July 27, 1908, daughter of Charles Lee Hamilton and Margaret Miller Marshall. She was educated at Miss Dickinson's School in Sewickley, at the Sorbonne, and received a B.A. from Smith College in 1930.[1]
At Smith, Hamilton was active in the theater and was president of the school's Dramatic Association her senior year. She caused a bit of a scandal at the college with And So On, a topical revue that she wrote and directed. Billy J. Harbin, Kim Marra and Robert A. Schanke, in their book The Gay & Lesbian Theatrical Legacy: A Biographical Dictionary of Major Figures in American Stage History in the Pre-Stonewall Era, wrote "She [Hamilton] had received special permission from the president of this women's college to hire men to play in the show's orchestra. On opening night the audience was scandalized when it was discovered that Hamilton had incorporated many of the men into onstage scenes."[2]: 180
CareerEdit
After a period of amateur acting and producing in Pittsburgh and Montclair, New Jersey, she moved to New York City in 1932 and leased a large apartment with an assortment of women friends. For a short time, she worked for Stern's Department Store and then for RKO Pictures as a spy who checked audience reactions and reported on vaudeville acts.[1]
She made her Broadway debut in 1934 in New Faces, appearing in the show and writing many of the lyrics. When it closed, she turned to play writing. She collaborated with Rosemary Casey and James Shute on Return Engagement, which was made into the film Fools for Scandal. During the next two years, Hamilton wrote radio scripts for comic actress Beatrice Lillie, Fred Astaire, and Lois Long, and published articles and poems in Stage Magazine and Harper's Bazaar.[1]
She wrote lyrics for three successful Broadway revues (a genre of musical theater that flourished in the 1930s): One for The Money (1939) ran for 132 performances, Two for the Show (1940) ran for 124 performances, and Three to Make Ready (1946) ran for 323 performances. These revues launched the careers of Alfred Drake, Keenan Wynn, Gene Kelley, Betty Hutton, Eve Arden, and Ray Bolger.[1]
In her book Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen, Linda Dahl quoted Hamilton as saying "The only way to get a show is to write a show."[3] Dahl added "The revues she wrote, chock-full of talented unknowns who later became stars, pulled in chic New York audiences."[3]
Hamilton is perhaps best known as the lyricist for the popular song "How High the Moon."[3]
In 1945, she spent six months with the American Theater Wing War Players touring the battle areas of France, Italy, Belgium, and Netherlands. In the mid-1950s, Hamilton produced Helen Keller In Her Story (also known as The Unconquered), a documentary on the life of Helen Keller, narrated by Katharine Cornell.[1]
^ abcdef"Collection: Nancy Hamilton papers | Smith College Finding Aids". findingaids.smith.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-11. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.
^ abcHarbin, Billy J.; Marra, Kim; Schanke, Robert A. (2005). The Gay & Lesbian Theatrical Legacy: A Biographical Dictionary of Major Figures in American Stage History in the Pre-Stonewall Era. University of Michigan Press. p. 107. ISBN047206858X. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
^ abcDahl, Linda (1984). Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 301. ISBN9780879101282. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
^"Awards Database". Academy Awards. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
nancy, hamilton, july, 1908, february, 1985, american, actress, playwright, lyricist, director, producer, contents, early, life, education, career, personal, life, death, awards, references, external, linksearly, life, education, edit, born, sewickley, pennsyl. Nancy Hamilton July 27 1908 February 18 1985 was an American actress playwright lyricist director and producer Nancy Hamilton Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Awards 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and education EditNancy Hamilton was born in Sewickley Pennsylvania on July 27 1908 daughter of Charles Lee Hamilton and Margaret Miller Marshall She was educated at Miss Dickinson s School in Sewickley at the Sorbonne and received a B A from Smith College in 1930 1 At Smith Hamilton was active in the theater and was president of the school s Dramatic Association her senior year She caused a bit of a scandal at the college with And So On a topical revue that she wrote and directed Billy J Harbin Kim Marra and Robert A Schanke in their book The Gay amp Lesbian Theatrical Legacy A Biographical Dictionary of Major Figures in American Stage History in the Pre Stonewall Era wrote She Hamilton had received special permission from the president of this women s college to hire men to play in the show s orchestra On opening night the audience was scandalized when it was discovered that Hamilton had incorporated many of the men into onstage scenes 2 180 Career EditAfter a period of amateur acting and producing in Pittsburgh and Montclair New Jersey she moved to New York City in 1932 and leased a large apartment with an assortment of women friends For a short time she worked for Stern s Department Store and then for RKO Pictures as a spy who checked audience reactions and reported on vaudeville acts 1 Hamilton s initial venture into New York theater was as the understudy to Katharine Hepburn in The Warrior s Husband 2 180 She made her Broadway debut in 1934 in New Faces appearing in the show and writing many of the lyrics When it closed she turned to play writing She collaborated with Rosemary Casey and James Shute on Return Engagement which was made into the film Fools for Scandal During the next two years Hamilton wrote radio scripts for comic actress Beatrice Lillie Fred Astaire and Lois Long and published articles and poems in Stage Magazine and Harper s Bazaar 1 She wrote lyrics for three successful Broadway revues a genre of musical theater that flourished in the 1930s One for The Money 1939 ran for 132 performances Two for the Show 1940 ran for 124 performances and Three to Make Ready 1946 ran for 323 performances These revues launched the careers of Alfred Drake Keenan Wynn Gene Kelley Betty Hutton Eve Arden and Ray Bolger 1 In her book Stormy Weather The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen Linda Dahl quoted Hamilton as saying The only way to get a show is to write a show 3 Dahl added The revues she wrote chock full of talented unknowns who later became stars pulled in chic New York audiences 3 Hamilton is perhaps best known as the lyricist for the popular song How High the Moon 3 In 1945 she spent six months with the American Theater Wing War Players touring the battle areas of France Italy Belgium and Netherlands In the mid 1950s Hamilton produced Helen Keller In Her Story also known as The Unconquered a documentary on the life of Helen Keller narrated by Katharine Cornell 1 Personal life EditHamilton was the lifelong partner of actress Katharine Cornell 2 Death EditHamilton died in New York City February 18 1985 after a long illness 1 Awards EditIn 1955 Hamilton won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for Helen Keller in Her Story 1954 4 becoming the first woman to win that award The film was restored by the Academy Film Archive in 2006 5 nbsp Biography portalReferences Edit a b c d e f Collection Nancy Hamilton papers Smith College Finding Aids findingaids smith edu Retrieved 2020 08 11 nbsp This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3 0 license a b c Harbin Billy J Marra Kim Schanke Robert A 2005 The Gay amp Lesbian Theatrical Legacy A Biographical Dictionary of Major Figures in American Stage History in the Pre Stonewall Era University of Michigan Press p 107 ISBN 047206858X Retrieved 16 November 2016 a b c Dahl Linda 1984 Stormy Weather The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen Hal Leonard Corporation p 301 ISBN 9780879101282 Retrieved 16 November 2016 Awards Database Academy Awards Retrieved May 19 2020 Preserved Projects Academy Film Archive External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nancy Hamilton Nancy Hamilton Papers 1927 1972 held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Nancy Hamilton papers at the Sophia Smith Collection Smith College Special Collections Nancy Hamilton at the Internet Broadway Database Nancy Hamilton at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nancy Hamilton amp oldid 1150738770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
