Anne Caldwell

Anne Caldwell in 1911

Anne Caldwell (August 30, 1867 – October 22, 1936), also known as Anne Caldwell O'Dea, was a prolific playwright and lyricist. She was born Anne Marsh Caldwell in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] She wrote both pop songs and Broadway shows, sometimes working with composer Jerome Kern.

She married lyricist James O'Dea on August 15, 1904.[2]

In 1929, lured by producer William LeBaron, she went to Hollywood where she became a script doctor and write lyrics for RKO Pictures. It was announced that she was engaged by Max Hart to write songs with Harry Tierny.[3] By October she was signed to write the lyrics for the film Dixiana.[4]

Her final credited work was a radio adaptation of the 1933 film (on which she had also worked) Flying Down to Rio.[5]

She died in Beverly Hills, California after a short illness. Her children Pat O'Day and Molly O'Day were with her.[5]

Upon her passing, Variety called her "one of the most prolific librettists known to show business. A quiet, unassuming woman she developed a technique that rarely failed and was both book writer and lyricist."[6]

Shows

Scene from Caldwell's "The Nest Egg" with Zelda Sears at the Park Theatre, Boston, ca.1911

Caldwell wrote lyrics and/or dialogue for dozens of Broadway shows:[7]

  • Sergeant Brue (1905)
  • The Top o’ th’ World (1907)
  • The Nest Egg (1910)
  • Uncle Sam (1911)
  • The Lady of the Slipper (1912)
  • When Claudia Smiles (1914)
  • Chin Chin (1914)
  • Pom-pom (1916)
  • Go to It (1916)
  • Jack O’Lantern (1917)
  • The Canary (1918)
  • She’s a Good Fellow (1919)
  • The Lady in Red (1919)
  • The Night Boat (1920)
  • The Sweetheart Shop (1920)
  • Tip Top (1920)
  • Hitchy-Koo (1920)
  • Good Morning Dearie (1921)
  • The Bunch and Judy (1922)
  • Sally (1923)
  • Stepping Stones (1923)
  • Peg-O’-My-Dreams (1924)
  • The Magnolia Lady (1924)
  • The City Chap (1925)
  • Criss Cross (1926)
  • Yours Truly (1927)
  • Lucky (1927)
  • Take the Air (1927)
  • Yours Truly (1928)
  • Three Cheers (1928)

References

  1. ↑ "Caldwell, Anne (1876–1936)". Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Gale. 2000.
  2. ↑ "Brides Index: Caldwell, Anna," Kings County, certificate #6075, Italian Genealogy Group.
  3. ↑ "Radio-Music: Caldwell-Tierney Talker," Variety (Jun. 5, 1929), p. 56.
  4. ↑ "Anne Caldwell Signed," Billboard (Oct 12, 1929), p. 22.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Obituaries: Anne Caldwell," Variety (Oct. 28, 1936), p. 63.
  6. ↑ "Inside Stuff-Legit," Variety *(Oct. 28, 1936), p. 54.
  7. ↑ "Anne Caldwell". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

External links

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Anne Caldwell