Research Catalog

Title

Betty and John Wharton papers, 1917-1978.

Author

Wharton, Betty.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Wharton, John Franklin, 1894-

Description

2.5 lin. ft., (6 boxes and 1 oversized scrapbook).

Summary

The Betty Wharton Papers contain photographs, programs, scrapbooks and correspondence documenting the careers of Ms. Wharton and her husband.

Subjects

• Playwrights Producing Company
• Rice, Elmer, 1892-1967
• Sherwood, Robert E (Robert Emmet), 1896-1955
• Anderson, Maxwell, 1888-1959
• Actresses > United States
• Wharton, John Franklin, 1894-
• Programs
• Wharton, Betty
• Photoprints
• Scrapbooks
• Theater > New York (State) > New York

Genre/Form

• Scrapbooks.
• Photoprints.
• Programs.

Source (note)

• Formerly cataloged as 8-MWEZ + n.c. 28763-28772, and MWEZ +++ n.c. 5279
• Estate of Betyt Wharton

Biography (note)

• Betty Wharton was born in 1911 in Pasadena, California. Born Betty Ann Jenks, she made her acting debut in a production of Penrod in Los Angeles. She appeared at the Pasadena Playhouse and then became a contract player for RKO. In 1934 she moved to New York and appeared on the Broadway stage in The Sky's the Limit, Brother Rat, The Primrose Path, Cafe Crown, and a revival of Charley's Aunt. As Mary Mason, she starred on CBS radio in Maudie's Diary and on NBC radio in Henry Aldrich. She also appeared in summer stock theatre and on television. She was married to Carl Fisher, a theatrical manage, from 1936 to 1949. She divorced Carl Fisher and married John F. Wharton, a theatrical lawyer. They were married from 1949 to 1977, when he died. After retiring from the stage, Wharton became a staff member of the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, where she worked until her death in 1980.
• John F. Wharton was born in 1894 in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from East Orange High School and Williams College. He attended New York Law School for a short time and then joined the war effort in naval aviation. When he was discharged because of ill health, he resumed his law studies at Columbia Law School. He graduated in 1920. In 1923 Wharton and Louis Weiss founded their own law firm that later became Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison. Wharton's first clients were Dwight Deere Wiman and Cole Porter. In 1938 Wharton helped form the Playwrights' Producing Company. In 1976, Wharton published Life Among the Playwrights, a history of the Playwrights Company. He was also instrumental in establishing the reduced-price ticket booth (TKTS) in Times Square. Additionally, he drafted the LImited Partnership Agreement decreeing how Broadway shows are capitalized. Wharton was given a special Tony Award for his work with the theatre community. Wharton was married to Carly Wharton from 1925 to 1949, and Betty Wharton from 1949 until his death in 1977.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available in repository.

Call Number

*T-Mss 2007-011

OCLC

131373759

Author

Wharton, Betty.

Title

Betty and John Wharton papers, 1917-1978.

Biography

Betty Wharton was born in 1911 in Pasadena, California. Born Betty Ann Jenks, she made her acting debut in a production of Penrod in Los Angeles. She appeared at the Pasadena Playhouse and then became a contract player for RKO. In 1934 she moved to New York and appeared on the Broadway stage in The Sky's the Limit, Brother Rat, The Primrose Path, Cafe Crown, and a revival of Charley's Aunt. As Mary Mason, she starred on CBS radio in Maudie's Diary and on NBC radio in Henry Aldrich. She also appeared in summer stock theatre and on television. She was married to Carl Fisher, a theatrical manage, from 1936 to 1949. She divorced Carl Fisher and married John F. Wharton, a theatrical lawyer. They were married from 1949 to 1977, when he died. After retiring from the stage, Wharton became a staff member of the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, where she worked until her death in 1980.

John F. Wharton was born in 1894 in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from East Orange High School and Williams College. He attended New York Law School for a short time and then joined the war effort in naval aviation. When he was discharged because of ill health, he resumed his law studies at Columbia Law School. He graduated in 1920. In 1923 Wharton and Louis Weiss founded their own law firm that later became Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison. Wharton's first clients were Dwight Deere Wiman and Cole Porter. In 1938 Wharton helped form the Playwrights' Producing Company. In 1976, Wharton published Life Among the Playwrights, a history of the Playwrights Company. He was also instrumental in establishing the reduced-price ticket booth (TKTS) in Times Square. Additionally, he drafted the LImited Partnership Agreement decreeing how Broadway shows are capitalized. Wharton was given a special Tony Award for his work with the theatre community. Wharton was married to Carly Wharton from 1925 to 1949, and Betty Wharton from 1949 until his death in 1977.

Indexes

Finding aid available in repository. folder level control.

Note

Gift: Estate of Betyt Wharton, January 1981.

Connect to:

Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material

Occupation

Actresses United States.

Added Author

Wharton, John Franklin, 1894-

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 2007-011