| Lawton Campbell | |
| Birth Name: | Charles Lawton Campbell |
| Birth Date: | April 17, 1896 |
| Death Date: | 1980 |
| Occupation: | Business executive |
| Alma Mater: | Princeton University |
Charles Lawton Campbell (April 17, 1896 – 1980) was a business executive in the advertising field, a reporter, and playwright from Montgomery, Alabama.
Campbell went to Princeton University (class of 1916). He served with American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I and also served during World War II. One of the companies he worked for was General Foods. He wrote Immoral Isabella (1927) and Solid South (1930).[1] Files on Campbell are held at the Birmingham Public Library and some of his papers at Princeton University's rare book collection.[2]
His parents were Charles L. and Myrtle (Booth) Campbell and he grew up on Sayre Street in Montgomery. He went to Sidney Lanier High School.[3]
Campbell was part of the Triangle Club at Princeton University with F. Scott Fitzgerald and was a friend and admirer of Zelda Fitzgerald who gave him one of her paintings. He was tall and blond.[4] A friend of F. Scott Fitzgerald from Princeton, he remained a part of their social circle after they were married.[1]
He wrote for the Journal of Commerce before getting into advertising.[3]
Campbell was a charter member of the American National Theater and Academy and served as its chairman of the board.[3]
His play Solid South was set in the Southern United States during the reconstruction era.[5] It starred Richard Bennett, Moffat Johnston, Jessie Royce Landis, Owen Davis Jr., and Bette Davis. Rouben Mamoulian directed.[5]
He wrote several plays including three that were staged:
His other plays include: