William hammerstein biography

William Hammerstein, director, producer and member of the illustrious American theater family that included his father, legendary lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, died Friday in Connecticut of complications following a stroke suffered Jan. 6. He was 82.

He was born in New York City, first in the fourth generation of the prominent family. He began his professional career as stage manager at the Saint Louis Municipal Opera, moving on to Broadway and road productions.

Hammerstein established and managed the New York City Center Light Opera Co., for which he was recognized with a special Tony Award in 1957. On Broadway he produced Garson Kanin’s “A Gift of Time,” starring Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland, and Neil Simon’s first play, “Come Blow Your Horn.”

As a director, his credits included numerous productions at New York City Center, the 1956 London premiere of “Fanny,” and the 1979 Broadway revival and U.S. national tour of “Oklahoma!” the landmark musical written by his father and Richard Rodgers.

For television, he produced “The Bell Telephone Hour,” “The Arthur Godfrey Show” and various network specials.

Until shortly before his death, Hammerstein was active in the management of the theatrical and music publishing interests included in the legacy of his father and was the Hammerstein family rep with the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

He was also a director of the American Theatre Wing and served on the Tony Awards administration and management committees.

He is survived by his wife, Jane-Howard Hammerstein; three daughters; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and two sisters.

William Hammerstein, the director and producer who was the eldest child of Oscar Hammerstein II, and directed the 1979 Broadway revival of his father's Oklahoma!, died March 9 of complications following a stroke suffered Jan. 6, according to Theodore S. Chapin, president of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

Mr. Hammerstein, 82, was born in New York City, first in the fourth generation of a family prominent in the American theatre for more than 100 years.

According to the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, which maintains and promotes the work of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist-librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, Mr. Hammerstein began his professional career as stage manager at the Saint Louis Municipal Opera, moving on to Broadway and road productions. During World War II he served with the U.S Navy in the South Pacific. After the war he resumed work in the theatre as a production manager, working for producer Leland Hayward, directors Joshua Logan, Garson Kanin, and others. Mr. Hammerstein established and managed the New York City Center Light Opera Company, for which he was recognized with a special Tony Award in 1957.

On Broadway, he produced Neil Simon's first play, Come Blow Your Horn, and Garson Kanin's A Gift of Time starring Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland. As a director, his credits included numerous productions at New York City Center, the 1956 London premiere of Fanny, and the 1979 Broadway and U.S. national tour of Oklahoma! For television he produced "The Bell Telephone Hour," "The Arthur Godfrey Show" and network specials.

Until shortly before his death, Mr. Hammerstein was active in the management of the theatrical and music publishing interests included in the legacy of his father, Oscar Hammerstein II, and was the Hammerstein family representative with The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. Formerly, he was president of The Hammerstein Music and Theatre Company and The Boston Music Company, chairman of

WASHINGTON, Conn. — William Hammerstein, a director, producer and a fourth-generation member of one of the most prominent families in American theater, has died. He was 82.

Hammerstein died at home Friday of complications from a stroke, said Theodore S. Chapin, president of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.

On Broadway, Hammerstein produced Neil Simon’s first play, “Come Blow Your Horn,” in 1961 and Garson Kanin’s “A Gift of Time,” starring Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland.

As a director, his credits included numerous productions at New York City Center, the 1956 London premiere of “Fanny” and the 1979 Broadway revival and national tour of “Oklahoma!” created by his father Oscar II along with composer Richard Rodgers.

For television, William Hammerstein produced “The Bell Telephone Hour,” “The Arthur Godfrey Show” and network specials.

Until shortly before his death, Hammerstein was active in the management of the theatrical and music publishing interests of his father as his literary executor. In addition to “Oklahoma!” the Rodgers and Hammerstein team wrote such musicals as “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music.”

Oscar Hammerstein II, with Jerome Kern, also wrote “Show Boat” in 1927 and his son became a major spokesman for the evolution of the musical when it was revived a few years ago.

He had been a small boy when the work was written, Hammerstein told Newsday in 1994, and well remembered an automobile ride during which his father burst into the new song “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” and putting “my little hand into this enormous black hand” of the legendary singer Paul Robeson, the show’s best-known character, Joe.

“Show Boat,” Hammerstein said, “changed the attitude about musicals. Up to that time they’d been very frivolous.”

Hammerstein, who was born in New York, began his professional career as a stage manager at the St. Louis Munici

American theatre manager

William Hammerstein (September 26, 1875 – June 10, 1914) was an American theater manager. He ran the Victoria Theatre on what became Times Square, Manhattan, presenting very popular vaudeville shows with a wide variety of acts. He was known for "freak acts", where celebrities or people notorious for scandals appeared on stage. Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre became the most successful in New York.

Early years

William Hammerstein was born in New York City on September 26, 1875, son of Oscar Hammerstein, the theater impresario, and his first wife, née Rose Blau. He started work as a press agent, then built a vaudeville theatre on 110th Street, Manhattan, called Little Coney Island. He also managed burlesque shows. Willie Hammerstein managed his father's Olympia Theater, which opened in 1895. In November 1896 Willie Hammerstein brought the Cherry Sisters to the Olympia roof garden. The sisters put on a terrible act where they sang sentimental, dialect or patriotic songs. One of them played the piano and another banged a drum. Willie knew how bad they were. He provided a net that protected them when the audience, as expected, started throwing produce and garbage at the stage. The word spread, and the sisters became a big draw.

Oscar Hammerstein went bankrupt in 1898 and his Olympia theater, which Willie was managing, was sold at auction, but he simultaneously built the Victoria Theatre and the roof top Venetian Terrace Garden. Willie took over management of the complex, by then known collectively as "Hammerstein's", in February 1904.

Victoria Theatre

Willie was talented at finding, booking, and promoting variety acts, plays, and musicals. Willie mounted popular low-brow vaudeville shows at low prices. He promoted new performers and established celebrities of all types, physical freaks, illusionists, and risqué exotic dancers. The highly varied programs drew large, boisterous, a