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He was born George Francis Abbott in Forestville, New York: his father was mayor of Salamanca, New York 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 19111911 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January-June January 1 Northern Territory is separated from South Australia January 3 In London, a shootout between Russian anarchists and the Scots Guard January 10 Major Jimmi, and wrote the play Perfectly Harmless that was performed at the University Dramatic Club in 19111911 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January-June January 1 Northern Territory is separated from South Australia January 3 In London, a shootout between Russian anarchists and the Scots Guard January 10 Major Jimmi.
Abbott then went to Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and a member of the Ivy League. It was founded on September 8, 1636 by a vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, making it the oldest post-secondary s where he studied play writing under George Pierce BakerGeorge Pierce Baker ( 1866 1935), American educator. He graduated in the Harvard class of 1887, and taught in the English Department at Harvard 1888-1924. He started his '47 workshop' class in playwrighting in 1906. He was instrumental in creating the Har; under his tutelage he wrote the play The Head of the Family, which was performed at the Harvard Dramatic Club in 19121912 is a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar) Events January 1 Establishment of Republic of China. January 6 New Mexico is admitted as the 47th U. January 17 British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott and a team of four begin the. He then won a play contest at the Bijou Theatre in Boston, MassachusettsAlternate meanings: Boston (disambiguation Old State House in Boston is surrounded by tall buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries. Boston is the capital and largest city in Massachusetts in the United States. It is the unofficial capital of the region k, (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 19131913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. click on link for calendar) Events January-March January 30 House of Lords rejects Irish Home Rule Bill February 1 New York City's Grand Central Station opens as the world's largest train station. February 3 Th. While acting in several plays in New York CitySkyline, with Statue of Liberty New York, New York" redirects here. For alternate meanings, see New York, New York (disambiguation). New York — officially named City of New York and often called New York City to distinguish it from the state of New York,, he began to write, with this first successful play being 1925Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 See also 1925 in aviation 1925 in film 1925 in literature 1925 in mu'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, 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": when a show was having difficulties in tryouts or previews, he would be called in to supervise changes.
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 Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 107. He stands as one of the most admired men in the history of Broadway.