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{{short description|American theatre owner and producer}}
[[File:Sam Harris (playwright) 001.jpg|thumb|Sam H. Harris 1909]]
[[File:Sam-Harris-1928.jpg|thumb|Sam H. Harris in 1928]]
'''Sam H. Harris''' (February 3, 1872 – July 3, 1941) was a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[theatre producer|producer]] and theater owner.
'''Sam H. Harris''' (February 3, 1872 – July 3, 1941) was a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[theatre producer|producer]] and theater owner.


==Career==
==Career==
{{Moresources|section|date=July 2023}}
[[File:GEORGE M COHAN SAM H HARRIS SIGNED.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small>[[George M. Cohan|Cohan]] and Harris</small>]]After a stint as a cough drop salesman and boxing manager, Harris's first production was Theodore Kremer's ''The Evil That Men Do'' co-produced with [[Albert H. Woods|Al Woods]] in 1903. Harris found success in 1904 as the producing partner of [[George M. Cohan]], with whom he produced eighteen Broadway musicals, fifteen of which were Cohan's own. From 1916 to 1919, most of these productions were in the Chandler Theater on 42nd street, renamed the Cohan and Harris Theater in 1916.<ref>The Broadway League. [http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=23772 Sam H. Harris]. ''Internet Broadway Database'' website.</ref>
Samuel Henry Harris was born on Manhattan's [[Lower East Side]] to poor Jewish parents.<ref name="Palgrave">{{cite book |last1=MacDonald |first1=Laura |last2=Everett |first2=William A. |title=The Palgrave Handbook of Musical Theatre Producers |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781137433084 |pages=83–93 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2N9DgAAQBAJ&q=sam+h.+harris+obituary+1941&pg=PA83 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Transposing Broadway">{{cite book |last1=Hecht |first1=S. |title=Transposing Broadway: Jews, Assimilation, and the American Musical |date=2014 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781137001740 |page=3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NQjIAAAAQBAJ&q=sam+h.+harris+jewish&pg=PA3 |language=en}}</ref>


After a stint as a cough drop salesman and boxing manager, Harris's first production was Theodore Kremer's ''The Evil That Men Do'', which he co-produced with [[Albert H. Woods|Al Woods]] in 1903. Harris found success in 1904 as the producing partner of [[George M. Cohan]], with whom he produced eighteen Broadway musicals, fifteen of which were Cohan's own. In 1908, Harris married Alice Nolan (1888
Harris separated from Cohan after a 1919 actors strike, and renamed the theater the Sam H. Harris Theatre. He sold it in 1926 to the [[Shubert Organization]], but it continued to operate under the Harris name until 1933 when it was converted to a [[movie palace|movie house]].
— 1930), sister of Cohan's second wife, Agnes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 4, 1908|title=Theatrical Manager Weds|page=2|work=Asbury Park Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/143938478/|access-date=19 Sep 2021}}</ref>


From 1916 to 1919, most of these productions were in the [[Sam H. Harris Theatre|Candler Theater]] on 42nd street, renamed the Cohan and Harris Theater in 1916.<ref>The Broadway League. [http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=23772 Sam H. Harris], Internet Broadway Database. Accessed July 27, 2023.</ref>
He proposed a musical revue to his friend [[Irving Berlin]] in 1919, and with him built the [[Music Box Theatre]] in 1921, specially for Berlin's ''[[Music Box Revue]]''. His estate held an interest in the theater through 1960. On Harris's death, most shares in the theater were sold to Berlin and to the [[Shubert Organization]].


Harris separated from Cohan after a 1919 actors strike, and renamed the theater the [[Sam H. Harris Theatre]]. He sold it in 1926 to the [[Shubert Organization]], but it continued to operate under the Harris name for the next 68 years, even after it was converted to a [[movie palace|movie house]] in 1933; the theater finally closed in 1994 and, except for its facade, was demolished in 1997.
Harris produced over 130 shows, several of the biggest hits of the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for fairness to actors and writers amid the generally harsh treatment prevailing in the industry.
[[File:Music Box Theatre NYC 2007 Deuce.jpg|thumb|The Music Box Theatre]]
He proposed a musical revue to his friend [[Irving Berlin]] in 1919, and with him built the [[Music Box Theatre]] in 1921, specially for Berlin's ''[[Music Box Revue]]''. His estate held an interest in the theater through 1960. On Harris's death, most shares in the theater were sold to Berlin and to the Shubert Organization.


Harris produced over 130 shows, including several of the biggest hits of the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for fairness to actors and writers amid the generally harsh treatment prevailing in the industry.
Sam Harris was portrayed by [[Richard Whorf]] in the Academy Award winning biopic, [[Yankee Doodle Dandy]] (1942).


Harris was portrayed by [[Richard Whorf]] in the Academy Award-winning biopic, ''[[Yankee Doodle Dandy]]'' in 1942.
Weakened by an [[appendectomy]] Harris died on July 3, 1941 of pneumonia. Harris was buried next to Cohan in [[Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx)|Woodlawn Cemetery]] in [[the Bronx]], [[New York City]].

Weakened by an [[appendectomy]], Harris died of pneumonia on July 3, 1941.


==Productions==
==Productions==
Notable productions include:
Notable productions include:
*''[[The Errand Boy (musical)|The Errand Boy]]'' (George Totten Smith, 1904)
* ''[[Little Johnny Jones]]'' ([[George M. Cohan]], 1904)
* ''[[Little Johnny Jones]]'' ([[George M. Cohan]], 1904)
* ''The Royal Vagabond'' (George M. Cohan, 1919)
* ''The Royal Vagabond'' (George M. Cohan, 1919)
* ''Music Box Reviews'' ([[Irving Berlin]], 1921–1924)
* ''Music Box Reviews'' ([[Irving Berlin]], 1921–1924)
* ''Rain'' (John Colton and Clemence Randolph, 1923)
* ''Rain'' (John Colton and Clemence Randolph, 1923)
* ''[[Red Light Annie]]'' ([[Norman Houston]] and Sam Forrest, 1923)
* ''[[Red Light Annie]]'' ([[Norman Houston (screenwriter)|Norman Houston]] and Sam Forrest, 1923)
* ''[[The Cocoanuts (musical)|The Cocoanuts]]'' (Irving Berlin, [[George S. Kaufman]], [[Morrie Ryskind]], 1925)
* ''[[The Cocoanuts (musical)|The Cocoanuts]]'' (Irving Berlin, [[George S. Kaufman]], [[Morrie Ryskind]], 1925)
* ''[[Stage Door]]'' ([[Edna Ferber]] and George S. Kaufman, 1926)
* ''[[Stage Door (play)|Stage Door]]'' ([[Edna Ferber]] and George S. Kaufman, 1926)
* ''[[Animal Crackers (musical)|Animal Crackers]]'' ([[Marx Brothers]], 1928)
* ''[[Animal Crackers (musical)|Animal Crackers]]'' ([[Bert Kalmar]], [[Harry Ruby]], George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, 1928)
* ''[[Once in a Lifetime (play)|Once in a Lifetime]]'' ([[Moss Hart]] and George S. Kaufman, 1930)
* ''[[Once in a Lifetime (play)|Once in a Lifetime]]'' ([[Moss Hart]] and George S. Kaufman, 1930)
* ''[[Of Thee I Sing]]'' ([[George Gershwin|George]] and [[Ira Gershwin]], 1931)
* ''[[Of Thee I Sing]]'' ([[George Gershwin|George]] and [[Ira Gershwin]], 1931)
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0365296|Sam Harris}}
* {{IMDb name|0365296|Sam Harris}}
* {{IBDB name|23772}}
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=23772 Internet Broadway Database entry]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Sam}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Sam M.}}
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:American theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:American theatre managers and producers]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in New York (state)]]
[[Category:American Jews]]

Latest revision as of 12:23, 16 June 2024

Sam H. Harris in 1928

Sam H. Harris (February 3, 1872 – July 3, 1941) was a Broadway producer and theater owner.

Career

[edit]

Samuel Henry Harris was born on Manhattan's Lower East Side to poor Jewish parents.[1][2]

After a stint as a cough drop salesman and boxing manager, Harris's first production was Theodore Kremer's The Evil That Men Do, which he co-produced with Al Woods in 1903. Harris found success in 1904 as the producing partner of George M. Cohan, with whom he produced eighteen Broadway musicals, fifteen of which were Cohan's own. In 1908, Harris married Alice Nolan (1888 — 1930), sister of Cohan's second wife, Agnes.[3]

From 1916 to 1919, most of these productions were in the Candler Theater on 42nd street, renamed the Cohan and Harris Theater in 1916.[4]

Harris separated from Cohan after a 1919 actors strike, and renamed the theater the Sam H. Harris Theatre. He sold it in 1926 to the Shubert Organization, but it continued to operate under the Harris name for the next 68 years, even after it was converted to a movie house in 1933; the theater finally closed in 1994 and, except for its facade, was demolished in 1997.

The Music Box Theatre

He proposed a musical revue to his friend Irving Berlin in 1919, and with him built the Music Box Theatre in 1921, specially for Berlin's Music Box Revue. His estate held an interest in the theater through 1960. On Harris's death, most shares in the theater were sold to Berlin and to the Shubert Organization.

Harris produced over 130 shows, including several of the biggest hits of the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for fairness to actors and writers amid the generally harsh treatment prevailing in the industry.

Harris was portrayed by Richard Whorf in the Academy Award-winning biopic, Yankee Doodle Dandy in 1942.

Weakened by an appendectomy, Harris died of pneumonia on July 3, 1941.

Productions

[edit]

Notable productions include:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ MacDonald, Laura; Everett, William A. (2017). The Palgrave Handbook of Musical Theatre Producers. Springer. pp. 83–93. ISBN 9781137433084.
  2. ^ Hecht, S. (2014). Transposing Broadway: Jews, Assimilation, and the American Musical. Springer. p. 3. ISBN 9781137001740.
  3. ^ "Theatrical Manager Weds". Asbury Park Press. March 4, 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 19 Sep 2021.
  4. ^ The Broadway League. Sam H. Harris, Internet Broadway Database. Accessed July 27, 2023.
[edit]