Carol Haney: Difference between revisions

Carol Haney
Carol Haney
Born	Carolyn Haney; December 24, 1924; New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	May 10, 1964 (aged 39); Saddle River, New Jersey, U.S.
Years active	1945–1957
Spouses	; Eugene Dorian Johnson (m. 1945⁠–⁠1953) ; Larry Blyden; (m. 1955⁠–⁠1962)
Children	2
Awards	Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (1955)

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Carol Haney (born Carolyn Haney; December 24, 1924^[1]^[2] – May 10, 1964) was an American dancer and actress. After assisting Gene Kelly in choreographing films, Haney won a Tony Award for her role in Broadway's The Pajama Game, while later work as a stage choreographer earned her three Tony nominations.

Life and career

Haney was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts,^[3] to Norman Vincent Haney (1899-1990), a bank teller, and his Danish-born wife, Ellen (née Christensen) Haney (1900-1952).^[4] She had an older sister, Mrs. Miriam Woodcock (1922-1961).^[4] She began to dance at age five and opened a dancing school in her teens.^[1]

After high school, Haney left her home town for Hollywood and landed bit parts in movies until she was spotted by dancer/choreographer Jack Cole, becoming his dance partner and assistant from 1946 to 1948. In 1949, Haney was hired by Gene Kelly to be his assistant choreographer on several M-G-M musical films, and she aided Kelly in some of his best work, including On the Town (1949), Summer Stock (1950), An American in Paris (1951), Singin' in the Rain (1952),^[5] as well as Kelly's dream project, Invitation to the Dance (1956).^[5]

As Kelly's Dance Captain, Haney routinely worked with his partners and upon learning their strong points, choreographed numbers around them. Kelly attempted to elevate Haney's film presence, most notably by wanting her for the "Gotta Dance" sequence in Singin' in the Rain. He was continually overruled by the studio who felt Haney lacked sufficient physical appeal.^{[citation needed]}

Known as the most lithe dancer in films, Haney danced with Bob Fosse in the 1953 film version of Kiss Me, Kate. When Fosse landed his first Broadway choreographing assignment, The Pajama Game (1954), he recommended that Haney be cast in a small dancing part. She impressed director George Abbott so much that Abbott combined her role with a larger part, resulting in the character of Gladys Hotchkiss, showcasing her in two specialty dance numbers "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway". The role shot Haney to Broadway fame and won her a Tony Award and two Donaldson awards. The role of Gladys was lucky for Haney's understudy, Shirley MacLaine. A month into the run of The Pajama Game, in May 1954, Haney injured her ankle during a Wednesday matinee, and MacLaine played the role.^[6] MacLaine was spotted by Hollywood producer Hal Wallis, who had come to the show to see Haney, and MacLaine got a contract that launched her film career.^[5]^[7]

After this, Haney appeared in a few shows, including the touring production Ziegfeld Follies of 1956, but developed paralyzing stage fright.^[5] She was seen on television, and she recreated her performance as Gladys in the film version of The Pajama Game (1957). She then focused her career on choreography for Broadway shows: Flower Drum Song (1958, directed by Gene Kelly), Bravo Giovanni (1962), She Loves Me (1963) and Funny Girl (1964). The American Dance Machine (1978) featured her choreography from television. Haney earned three Tony Award for Best Choreography nominations: for Flower Drum Song, Bravo Giovanni, and Funny Girl (posthumous). In May 1958, she appeared with Dick Van Dyke as a guest star on Polly Bergen's short-lived NBC variety show, The Polly Bergen Show, as well as popular game shows such as What's My Line? She demonstrated her talent as a dramatic actress in occasional stage productions such as the role of "Lila" in William Inge's A Loss of Roses, opposite newcomer Warren Beatty, who, ironically, was Shirley MacLaine's real-life brother. However, for the film version she was again passed over for a part she had originated on stage.^{[citation needed]}

Family

Haney was married to Eugene Dorian Johnson from 1945 to 1953 and then Broadway actor and TV host Larry Blyden from 1955 to 1962, whom she choreographed in Flower Drum Song. She and Blyden had two children, Joshua (1957–2000) and Ellen (b. 1960).

Death

Haney died in Saddle River, New Jersey in 1964, at age 39, six weeks after the opening of Funny Girl, which she choreographed (and ten years to the month after she injured her ankle and was replaced by Shirley MacLaine in The Pajama Game). The cause was pneumonia, complicated by diabetes and alcoholism.

Blyden and Haney resided in the historic Achenbach House in Saddle River, New Jersey, which they believed to be haunted by the spirit of its builder. The house was later sold to tour operator Mario Perillo and was destroyed by fire in 2004.^[8]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1945	Wonder Man	Goldwyn Girl	Uncredited
1945	Ziegfeld Follies	Ziegfeld Girl	Uncredited
1949	On the Town	Dancer in 'Day in New York' Ballet	Uncredited
1950	Summer Stock	Stock Company Member	Uncredited
1950	Tea for Two	Chorus Girl	Uncredited
1953	Kiss Me Kate	Specialty Dancer
1956	Invitation to the Dance	Scheherazade in 'Sinbad the Sailor'
1957	The Pajama Game	Gladys Hotchkiss

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Hess, Earl J.; Dabholkar, Pratibha A. (2009). Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece. University Press of Kansas. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7006-1656-5.
^ "Carol Haney". October 10, 2019.
^ Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860–1970
^ ^a ^b 1930 United States Federal Census
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Bloom, Ken; Vlastnik, Frank (2004). Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of all Time. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-5791-2390-1.
^ Finstsad, Suzanne (October 24, 2006). Warren Beatty: A Private Man. Random House. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-3073-4529-5. The exact nature of Haney's injury – a sprain, a torn ligament, a break, a fracture – varies from different sources.
^ MacLaine, Shirley (May 4, 2011). My Lucky Stars: A Hollywood Memoir. Random House. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-3077-6505-5.
^ Fisher, Janon. "Bergen County House on Historic Register Is Fire Victim", The New York Times, March 20, 2004. Accessed February 4, 2012. "In the 1960s, the private house, known as the Achenbach House, was the home of the actor and producer Larry Blyden and his wife, the actress and dancer Carol Haney, who believed the house was haunted. Later it was owned by Mario Perillo of Perillo Tours, well known for his television commercials selling package tours to Italy; after his death, the house passed to Mr. Perillo's son Stephen, the current owner."

External links

Carol Haney at Find a Grave
Carol Haney at the Internet Broadway Database
Carol Haney at IMDb

[Hess-1] Hess, Earl J.; Dabholkar, Pratibha A. (2009). Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece. University Press of Kansas. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7006-1656-5.

[2] "Carol Haney". October 10, 2019.

[3] Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860–1970

[1930_United_States_Federal_Census-4] 1930 United States Federal Census

[Bloom-5] Bloom, Ken; Vlastnik, Frank (2004). Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of all Time. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-5791-2390-1.

[6] Finstsad, Suzanne (October 24, 2006). Warren Beatty: A Private Man. Random House. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-3073-4529-5. The exact nature of Haney's injury – a sprain, a torn ligament, a break, a fracture – varies from different sources.

[7] MacLaine, Shirley (May 4, 2011). My Lucky Stars: A Hollywood Memoir. Random House. p. 168. ISBN 978-0-3077-6505-5.

[8] Fisher, Janon. "Bergen County House on Historic Register Is Fire Victim", The New York Times, March 20, 2004. Accessed February 4, 2012. "In the 1960s, the private house, known as the Achenbach House, was the home of the actor and producer Larry Blyden and his wife, the actress and dancer Carol Haney, who believed the house was haunted. Later it was owned by Mario Perillo of Perillo Tours, well known for his television commercials selling package tours to Italy; after his death, the house passed to Mr. Perillo's son Stephen, the current owner."

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Linkrot}}
 {{Short description|American dancer and actress (1924–1964)}}
 {{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 | death_date  = {{death date and age|1964|5|10|1924|8|24}}
 | death_place = [[Saddle River, New Jersey]], U.S.
-| spouse      = {{marriage|Eugene Dorian Johnson|1945|1953}}<br>{{marriage|[[Larry Blyden]]<br>|1955|1962}}
+| spouse      = {{plainlist|
+* {{marriage|Eugene Dorian Johnson|1945|1953}}
+* {{marriage|[[Larry Blyden]]<br>|1955|1962}}
+}}
 | children    = 2
 | yearsactive = 1945–1957
 | awards  = [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical]] (1955)}}
-'''Carol Haney''' (born Carolyn Haney; December 24, 1924<ref name="Hess"/><ref>https://historicwomensouthcoast.org/carol-haney/</ref> – May 10, 1964) was an American dancer and actress. After assisting [[Gene Kelly]] in choreographing films, Haney won a [[Tony Award]] for her role in [[Broadway theatre|Broadway's]] ''[[The Pajama Game]]'', while later work as a stage [[choreographer]] earned her three Tony nominations.
+'''Carol Haney''' (born '''Carolyn Haney'''; December 24, 1924<ref name="Hess"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://historicwomensouthcoast.org/carol-haney/|title=Carol Haney|date=October 10, 2019}}</ref> &ndash; May 10, 1964) was an American dancer and actress. After assisting [[Gene Kelly]] in choreographing films, Haney won a [[Tony Award]] for her role in [[Broadway theatre|Broadway's]] ''[[The Pajama Game]]'', while later work as a stage [[choreographer]] earned her three [[Tony Awards|Tony nominations]].
 ==Life and career==
 Haney was born in [[New Bedford, Massachusetts]],<ref>Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860–1970</ref> to
-Norman Vincent Haney, a bank teller, and his [[Denmark|Danish]]-born wife, Iris Ellen ({{nee}} Christensen) Haney.<ref name="1930 United States Federal Census">1930 United States Federal Census</ref> She had an older sister, Marian.<ref name="1930 United States Federal Census"/> She began to dance at age five and opened a dancing school in her teens.<ref name="Hess">{{cite book |last1=Hess |first1=Earl J. |last2=Dabholkar |first2=Pratibha A. |title=Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece |year=2009 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |isbn=978-0-7006-1656-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780700616565/page/41 41] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780700616565/page/41 }}</ref>
+Norman Vincent Haney (1899-1990), a bank teller, and his [[Denmark|Danish]]-born wife, Ellen ({{nee}} Christensen) Haney (1900-1952).<ref name="1930 United States Federal Census">1930 United States Federal Census</ref> She had an older sister, Mrs. Miriam Woodcock (1922-1961).<ref name="1930 United States Federal Census"/> She began to dance at age five and opened a dancing school in her teens.<ref name="Hess">{{cite book |last1=Hess |first1=Earl J. |last2=Dabholkar |first2=Pratibha A. |title=Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece |year=2009 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |isbn=978-0-7006-1656-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780700616565/page/41 41] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780700616565/page/41 }}</ref>
 After high school, Haney left her home town for [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] and landed bit parts in movies until she was spotted by dancer/choreographer [[Jack Cole (choreographer)|Jack Cole]], becoming his dance partner and assistant from 1946 to 1948. In 1949, Haney was hired by [[Gene Kelly]] to be his assistant choreographer on several [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|M-G-M]] [[musical film]]s, and she aided Kelly in some of his best work, including ''[[On the Town (film)|On the Town]]'' (1949), ''[[Summer Stock]]'' (1950), ''[[An American in Paris (film)|An American in Paris]]'' (1951), ''[[Singin' in the Rain]]'' (1952),<ref name=Bloom/> as well as Kelly's dream project, ''[[Invitation to the Dance (film)|Invitation to the Dance]]'' (1956).<ref name=Bloom/>
-As Kelly's Dance Captain, Haney routinely worked with his partner and upon learning their strong points, choreographed numbers around them. Kelly attempted to elevate Haney's film presence, most notably by wanting her for the "Gotta Dance" sequence in ''Singin' in the Rain''. He was continually overruled by the studio who felt Haney lacked sufficient physical appeal.{{cn}}
+As Kelly's Dance Captain, Haney routinely worked with his partners and upon learning their strong points, choreographed numbers around them. Kelly attempted to elevate Haney's film presence, most notably by wanting her for the "Gotta Dance" sequence in ''Singin' in the Rain''. He was continually overruled by the studio who felt Haney lacked sufficient physical appeal.{{cn|date=April 2022}}
 Known as the most lithe dancer in films, Haney danced with [[Bob Fosse]] in the 1953 film version of ''[[Kiss Me, Kate (film)|Kiss Me, Kate]].'' When Fosse landed his first Broadway choreographing assignment, ''[[The Pajama Game]]'' (1954), he recommended that Haney be cast in a small dancing part.  She impressed director [[George Abbott]] so much that Abbott combined her role with a larger part, resulting in the character of Gladys Hotchkiss, showcasing her in two specialty dance numbers "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway". The role shot Haney to Broadway fame and won her a [[Tony Award]] and two Donaldson awards. The role of Gladys was lucky for Haney's understudy, [[Shirley MacLaine]]. A month into the run of ''The Pajama Game'', in May 1954, Haney injured her ankle during a Wednesday matinee, and MacLaine played the role.<ref>{{cite book| last=Finstsad| first=Suzanne| title=Warren Beatty: A Private Man| date=October 24, 2006| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ytZ7Nf7PxaAC&q=carol+haney| publisher=Random House| page=106| isbn=978-0-3073-4529-5}} The exact nature of Haney's injury – a sprain, a torn ligament, a break, a fracture – varies from different sources.</ref> MacLaine was spotted by Hollywood producer [[Hal Wallis]], who had come to the show to see Haney, and MacLaine got a contract that launched her film career.<ref name=Bloom/><ref>{{cite book| last=MacLaine| first=Shirley| title=My Lucky Stars: A Hollywood Memoir| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U5bZsWqDxCMC&q=carol+haney&pg=PR4| publisher=Random House| date=May 4, 2011| page=168| isbn=978-0-3077-6505-5}}</ref>
-After this, Haney appeared in a few shows, including the touring production ''Ziegfeld Follies of 1956'', but developed paralyzing stage fright.<ref name=Bloom>{{cite book| last1=Bloom| first1=Ken| last2=Vlastnik| first2=Frank| year=2004| title=Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of all Time| publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers| location=New York| page=248| isbn=978-1-5791-2390-1}}</ref>  She was seen on television, and she recreated her performance as Gladys in the film version of ''[[The Pajama Game (film)|The Pajama Game]]'' (1957). She then focused her career on choreography for Broadway shows: ''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' (1958, directed by Gene Kelly), ''[[Bravo Giovanni]]'' (1962), ''[[She Loves Me]]'' (1963) and ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]'' (1964). ''The American Dance Machine'' (1978) featured her choreography from television. Haney earned three [[Tony Award for Best Choreography]] nominations: for ''Flower Drum Song'', ''Bravo Giovanni'', and ''Funny Girl'' (posthumous). In May 1958, she appeared with [[Dick Van Dyke]] as a guest star on [[Polly Bergen]]'s short-lived [[NBC]] [[variety show]], ''The Polly Bergen Show'', as well as popular game shows such as ''[[What's My Line?]]'' She demonstrated her talent as a dramatic actress in occasional stage productions such as the role of "Lila" in [[William Inge]]'s ''A Loss of Roses'', opposite newcomer [[Warren Beatty]], who, ironically, was Shirley MacLaine's real-life brother. However, for the [[The Stripper (film)|film version]] she was again passed over for a part she had originated on stage.{{cn}}
+After this, Haney appeared in a few shows, including the touring production ''Ziegfeld Follies of 1956'', but developed paralyzing stage fright.<ref name=Bloom>{{cite book| last1=Bloom| first1=Ken| last2=Vlastnik| first2=Frank| year=2004| title=Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of all Time| publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers| location=New York| page=248| isbn=978-1-5791-2390-1}}</ref>  She was seen on television, and she recreated her performance as Gladys in the film version of ''[[The Pajama Game (film)|The Pajama Game]]'' (1957). She then focused her career on choreography for Broadway shows: ''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' (1958, directed by Gene Kelly), ''[[Bravo Giovanni]]'' (1962), ''[[She Loves Me]]'' (1963) and ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]'' (1964). ''The American Dance Machine'' (1978) featured her choreography from television. Haney earned three [[Tony Award for Best Choreography]] nominations: for ''Flower Drum Song'', ''Bravo Giovanni'', and ''Funny Girl'' (posthumous). In May 1958, she appeared with [[Dick Van Dyke]] as a guest star on [[Polly Bergen]]'s short-lived [[NBC]] [[variety show]], ''The Polly Bergen Show'', as well as popular game shows such as ''[[What's My Line?]]'' She demonstrated her talent as a dramatic actress in occasional stage productions such as the role of "Lila" in [[William Inge]]'s ''A Loss of Roses'', opposite newcomer [[Warren Beatty]], who, ironically, was Shirley MacLaine's real-life brother. However, for the [[The Stripper (film)|film version]] she was again passed over for a part she had originated on stage.{{cn|date=April 2022}}
 ==Family==
-{{Unsourced|section}}
+{{Unsourced|section|date=April 2022}}
 Haney was married to Eugene Dorian Johnson from 1945 to 1953 and then Broadway actor and TV host [[Larry Blyden]] from 1955 to 1962, whom she choreographed in ''Flower Drum Song''.  She and Blyden had two children, Joshua (1957–2000) and Ellen (b. 1960).
@@ Line 83: / Line 86: @@
 [[Category:American musical theatre actresses]]
 [[Category:American choreographers]]
-[[Category:Deaths from diabetes]]
+[[Category:Deaths from diabetes in the United States]]
 [[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in New Jersey]]
 [[Category:Donaldson Award winners]]
@@ Line 95: / Line 98: @@
 [[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
 [[Category:20th-century American dancers]]
+[[Category:Musical theatre choreographers]]

v t e Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
1950–1975	Juanita Hall (1950) Isabel Bigley (1951) Helen Gallagher (1952) Sheila Bond (1953) Gwen Verdon (1954) Carol Haney (1955) Lotte Lenya (1956) Edie Adams (1957) Barbara Cook (1958) Pat Stanley (1959) Patricia Neway (1960) Tammy Grimes (1961) Phyllis Newman (1962) Anna Quayle (1963) Tessie O'Shea (1964) Maria Karnilova (1965) Beatrice Arthur (1966) Peg Murray (1967) Lillian Hayman (1968) Marian Mercer (1969) Melba Moore (1970) Patsy Kelly (1971) Linda Hopkins (1972) Patricia Elliott (1973) Janie Sell (1974) Dee Dee Bridgewater (1975)
1976–2000	Kelly Bishop (1976) Delores Hall (1977) Nell Carter (1978) Carlin Glynn (1979) Priscilla Lopez (1980) Marilyn Cooper (1981) Liliane Montevecchi (1982) Betty Buckley (1983) Lila Kedrova (1984) Leilani Jones (1985) Bebe Neuwirth (1986) Frances Ruffelle (1987) Judy Kaye (1988) Debbie Shapiro (1989) Randy Graff (1990) Daisy Eagan (1991) Tonya Pinkins (1992) Andrea Martin (1993) Audra McDonald (1994) Gretha Boston (1995) Ann Duquesnay (1996) Lillias White (1997) Audra McDonald (1998) Kristin Chenoweth (1999) Karen Ziemba (2000)
2001–present	Cady Huffman (2001) Harriet Sansom Harris (2002) Jane Krakowski (2003) Anika Noni Rose (2004) Sara Ramirez (2005) Beth Leavel (2006) Mary Louise Wilson (2007) Laura Benanti (2008) Karen Olivo (2009) Katie Finneran (2010) Nikki M. James (2011) Judy Kaye (2012) Andrea Martin (2013) Lena Hall (2014) Ruthie Ann Miles (2015) Renée Elise Goldsberry (2016) Rachel Bay Jones (2017) Lindsay Mendez (2018) Ali Stroker (2019) Lauren Patten (2020/21) Patti LuPone (2022) Bonnie Milligan (2023) Kecia Lewis (2024)

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