Oliver Morosco
Encyclopedia
Oliver Morosco was an American theatrical producer, director, writer
and theater owner.
, Morosco was raised in San Francisco, California. He worked as a child in an acrobatics act led by Walter Morosco, from whom he took his stage name.
He went on to work in and manage theaters in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. He began producing plays in 1909 and mounted over 40 productions on Broadway including Peg o' My Heart and The Bird of Paradise both starring Laurette Taylor
. He contributed lyrics to a Victor Schertzinger
song he had added to L. Frank Baum
and Louis F. Gottschalk
's musical, The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
, which he produced in 1913. Through this show he discovered Charlotte Greenwood
and made her a star.
In 1926 the once successful Morosco filed for bankruptcy, his fortune lost in part due to a large speculative purchase of land in California where he planned to create a development called "Morosco Town".
At the age of 69, Morosco was struck and killed by a streetcar in Hollywood. He had been married four times and was the father of Walter Morosco
the film producer.
and theater owner.
Biography
Born Oliver Mitchell in Logan, UtahLogan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
, Morosco was raised in San Francisco, California. He worked as a child in an acrobatics act led by Walter Morosco, from whom he took his stage name.
He went on to work in and manage theaters in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. He began producing plays in 1909 and mounted over 40 productions on Broadway including Peg o' My Heart and The Bird of Paradise both starring Laurette Taylor
Laurette Taylor
Laurette Taylor was an American stage and silent film actress.-Personal life:Laurette Taylor was born in New York City of Irish extraction as Loretta Helen Cooney.-Personal life:...
. He contributed lyrics to a Victor Schertzinger
Victor Schertzinger
Victor L. Schertzinger was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include Paramount on Parade , Something to Sing About with James Cagney, and the first two "Road" pictures Road to Singapore and Road to Zanzibar...
song he had added to L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
and Louis F. Gottschalk
Louis F. Gottschalk
Louis Ferdinand Gottschalk was an American composer and conductor born in St. Louis, Missouri. The son of a Missouri governor, also named Louis, he studied music in Stuttgart, Germany, where his father, a judge, was American consul.He came to attention as conductor of the U.S. premiere of Franz...
's musical, The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
The Tik-Tok Man of Oz is a musical play with book and lyrics by L. Frank Baum and music by Louis F. Gottschalk that opened in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 1913. It is loosely inspired by Baum's book, Ozma of Oz , and the basis for his 1914 novel, Tik-Tok of Oz. It was promoted as "A...
, which he produced in 1913. Through this show he discovered Charlotte Greenwood
Charlotte Greenwood
Frances Charlotte Greenwood was an American actress and dancer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Greenwood started in vaudeville, and eventually starred on Broadway, movies and radio. Standing around six feet tall, she was best known for her long legs and high kicks...
and made her a star.
In 1926 the once successful Morosco filed for bankruptcy, his fortune lost in part due to a large speculative purchase of land in California where he planned to create a development called "Morosco Town".
At the age of 69, Morosco was struck and killed by a streetcar in Hollywood. He had been married four times and was the father of Walter Morosco
Walter Morosco
Walter Morosco was an American film producer, writer, and director.Morosco was born in San Francisco, California, the son of theater impresario Oliver Morosco...
the film producer.
Further reading
- Life of Oliver Morosco; The Oracle of Broadway, Written from His Own Notes and Comments. Morosco, Oliver, Helen McRuer Morosco, and Leonard Paul Dugger. Caldwell, Id: Caxton Printers, 1944.