| Hy Kraft | |
|---|---|
 Playwright, Screenwriter |
|
| Born | April 30, 1899 New York City, United States |
| Died | July 29, 1975 New York City, United States |
| Occupation | Playwright, Screenwriter Theatrical producer |
| Genres | Comedy, Musical |
Hyman Solomon Kraft (April 30, 1899 – July 29, 1975), aka Hy Kraft or H. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or Drama. Screenwriters or scenarists are Scriptwriters who write the Screenplays from which Films and Television programs are made A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. A literary genre is a category of literary composition Genres may be determined by Literary technique, tone, Content, or even (as in the case of fiction Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. S. Kraft, was an American writer, screenwriter, playwright, and theatrical producer. A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms Screenwriters or scenarists are Scriptwriters who write the Screenplays from which Films and Television programs are made A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or Drama. A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production.
Among the notable comedy plays that he wrote were Ten Per Cent (1932), Poppa (1929), Cafe Crown (1942), and Top Banana (1952). Top Banana is a 1951 musical produced by Paula Stone and Mike Sloane that won comedian Phil Silvers a Tony award in 1952 In 1964 Cafe Crown was revised as a Broadway musical produced by Philip Rose and Swanlee with music by Albert Hague and lyrics by Marty Brill. Albert Hague ( October 13 1920 &ndash November 12 2001) was a German-born Songwriter and Composer. The musical plot is set in the early 1930s in and around the Cafe Crown at the corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street in New York City. The City of New York It had one Broadway revival in 1989. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located [1]
Hy Kraft's 1954 musical play Top Banana was filmed for the screen and released as a movie in 1954, starring Phil Silvers as a television comic trying to regain his ratings on TV. Top Banana is a 1951 musical produced by Paula Stone and Mike Sloane that won comedian Phil Silvers a Tony award in 1952 Phil Silvers ( May 11, 1911 &ndash November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and Comedy actor Feeling the show was a personal swipe at him, Milton Berle wrote of it, "The only public attack I got any pleasure from was the one dreamed up by Hy Kraft and Johnny Mercer, and starring Phil Silvers. Mendel "Milton Berle" Berlinger ( July 12, 1908 &ndash March 27, 2002) was an Emmy -winning American Comedian John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer ( November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American Songwriter and Singer It was a big Broadway musical called Top Banana, in which Phil played an egomaniac named Jerry Biffle who had a top-rated television show and who directed his rehearsals with a whistle. It was a vicious and funny swipe at me, and I loved it so much, I offered to sue Hy Kraft for the publicity value. Anything to help. After all, I had put some money into the show. "[2]
In 1950 Hy Kraft was made part ot the Hollywood blacklist by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. "Hollywood Ten" redirects here For the 1950 short documentary film see The Hollywood Ten. The House Committee on Un-American Activities ( HUAC or HCUA 1938–1975 was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives.
Kraft's screenwriting credits include Stormy Weather (1943) with Lena Horne and short story credit for Smartest Girl In Town (1936) and Champaign Waltz (1937), in the latter case collaborating with Billy Wilder. Stormy Weather is the title of an American musical Motion picture produced and released by 20th Century Fox in 1943 Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (born June 30, 1917) is an iconic American singer and Actress. Billy Wilder ( June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian born Jewish - American Journalist He also contributed writing (uncredited) to Mark of the Vampire (1935) with Lionel Barrymore and Bela Lugosi. Mark of the Vampire (also known as Vampires of Prague) is a 1935 Horror film, starring Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Lionel Barrymore ( April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American Academy Award -winning actor of stage radio Béla Lugosi (October 20 1882 &ndash August 16 1956 was an iconic Hungarian stage and film actor best known for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the American
Kraft also wrote an autobiography, On My Way to the Theater, Macmillan, 1971. The jacket reads, "A lifetime's stroll from New York's Lower East Side to Broadway, with side trips to Hollywood, London, and Washington, D. C. , and singular associations with Victor Herbert, Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, and the House Un-American Activities Committee. Victor August Herbert ( February 1 1859 &ndash May 26 1924) was a Cellist, conductor and Composer best known Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser ( August 27 1871 &ndash December 28 1945) was an American novelist and journalist Sinclair Lewis ( February 7, 1885 – January 10, 1951) was an American Novelist, Short-story writer and The House Committee on Un-American Activities ( HUAC or HCUA 1938–1975 was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. " Kraft was born and died in New York City. He was married to Reata Kraft, who was the costume designer on Three Husbands (1951).
Footnotes
- ^ Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Milton Berle: An Autobiography with Haskel Frankel. NY: Delacorte Press (1974) p. 305.
External links
- H.S. Kraft at the Internet Broadway Database
- H.S. Craft at the Internet Movie Database
- Archive: New York Times Review of Cafe Crown
- Champagne Waltz
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