Otis Bigelow Explained

Otis Munro Bigelow
Birth Date:	2 June 1920
Birth Place:	Exeter, New Hampshire, U.S.
Death Place:	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality:	American

Otis Munro Bigelow III (June 2, 1920 - October 6, 2007) was a Broadway actor, playwright, and stage manager. He was one of the best-looking men in Manhattan in the 1940s, and one of the first partners of Christian William Miller.^[1]

Early life

Otis Munro Bigelow III was born on June 2, 1920, in Exeter, New Hampshire. He was the only child of Otis Munro Bigelow II (1881-1932), professor of Romance languages at Phillips Exeter Academy, and Ruth Lillian Spalding (1885-1937). His grandfather, Otis Munro Bigelow I (d. 1939) was the president of the Baldwinsville State Bank.^[2]

He attended Rumsey Hall School, in Washington, Connecticut, where he had his first sexual experiences with classmates. In 1934 he transferred to Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was the lead actor in theatrical productions at the Old Farragut Playhouse, Rye Beach, New Hampshire. One newspaper said: "Otis Bigelow as "Corey Masters" did a very fine job and should be mentioned as one of the outstanding members of the cast."^[3] After high school he lost his father and his uncle Robert W. Keyes of Utica, New York, who had married his aunt, Olivia Bigelow Keyes (1894-1982), became his guardian. He entered Hamilton College in 1939 joining the Naval Reserve Officer Training. At Hamilton College, Bigelow had lead roles in the Charlatans productions and was managing editor of The Continental (a student-run magazine) and co-editor of Hamiltonews. He was a member of the Publications Board and of Pi Delta Epsilon, a journalism fraternity. He was part of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He sang in the College Choir and fenced for the Coach Glas. When he graduated in 1943, The Hamiltonian said that he was "the seniors' most diversified artist."

Career

At the beginning of his career, he acted and danced on Broadway. He later became a playwright and theatrical agent.

In 1941 he was writing songs, like "Seems Like Yesterday".^[4]

While he was at Hamilton College, Bigelow wrote a play that John C. Wilson optioned for Broadway, and in 1942, he asked Bigelow to come back to Broadway and rewrite it.

He was a reservist for the U.S. Navy and served during World War II as an officer aboard minesweepers in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. After two years of active duty, he was released in 1945 as a lieutenant.

He was in the cast of Red Letter, a hit in London, made his debut on Broadway as the sailor in Dear Ruth. In 1945 he was in the cast of Fifty-fifty by Andrew Rosenthal at the Sayville Playhouse, Sayville, New York, starring Margaret Bannerman.^[5]

In 1947 he made an audition at Warner Brothers in Hollywood, but was signed as screenwriter.^[6] He collaborated with Robert Richards for One Sunday Afternoon starring Dennis Morgan.^[7]

In 1948, he went to Paris "to get my mind straightened after Hollywood", and took odd jobs in French movies, including acting as well as translating and devising English subtitles. He appeared in films with Danielle Darrieux, Jean Pierre Aumont and Gene Kelly. In 1949 he was in the cast of Peg O' My Heart, starring Academy Award winner Peggy Ann Garner with the Chevy Chase Summer Theater in Wheeling, Illinois; a newspaper said: "The talented resident company, Paula Laurence, Martin Kingsley, Will Kuluva and Otis Bigelow, again will be turning in the excellent performances that marked last week's comedy starring Buster Keaton."^[8] The Tower Ticker column in the Chicago Tribune reported on July 25, 1949, that "Bobbysoxers treeked out to the Chevy Chase summer theater to get Peggy Ann Garner's autograf but stayed to mob Chicago juvenile Otis Bigelow."

Back to New York City, he concentrated on writing, but was not able to support himself. To Dorothy, a Son, by Roger MacDougal in collaboration with Bigelow, was a success for more than one year in London, directed by Herman Shumlin and was brought to Broadway in 1952. Starring was Ronald Howard, the son of Leslie Howard.^[9]

Bigelow took ballet lessons and became a dancer in for The King and I on Broadway for three years; he was the Siamese slave and remained with the production for two years.

In 1953, he joined the dance group Musical Americana, made of 20 men and women, and went on a tour which covered 33 states and 25,000 miles in four months.^{[10] [11]} He then spent a summer with the José Limón Company. In 1955 he then joined the cast of The Teahouse of the August Moon, produced by Maurice Evans (he was the young Okinawa suitor of the geisha girl)^[12] and in 1957 of Auntie Mame, starring Connie Bennett (he was the school teacher).^[13]

In 1957, he played the role of a set designer in the movie Designing Woman by Vincente Minnelli with Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall.^[14]

In the late 1950s, he was resident company lead for the Cherry County Playhouse in Traverse City, Michigan:

• In June 1959, he played the lead role in The Drunkard "one of the most played favorites in the show business history".^[15]
• In July 1959, he was in the cast of The Happy Time, starring Greta Thyssen; a newspaper said: "Kay Coulter and Otis Bigelow were wonderful as the parents."^[16]
• In July 1959, he was Max Hollyday in the cast of Dial M for Murder.^[17]
• In July 1959, he was Wesley Cartwright, lead role in the cast of "Post Road", starring ZaSu Pitts. Of Bigelow they said "The most was gotten out of a difficult role by Otis Bigelow, a very versatile actor."^[18]

• In August 1959, he was Newman in the cast of Yes Man, starring Jack Barry, a TV personality; about Bigelow, a newspaper said "they can search high and low, on Broadway or down alleys, but they'll never find a man who can do a better job of playing the robot part than Otis Bigelow. Absolutely fascinating."^[19]
• In August 1959, he was Tom MacKenzie in the cast of Seven Year Itch, starring Gene Raymond, popular stage, screen and television actor.^[20]
• In June 1960, he was in the cast of The Curious Savage by John Patrick, starring ZaSu Pitts. A newspaper said: "As the widow's daughter and sons, Suzanne Kaaren, Otis Bigelow, and Jim MacRoslie create a wonderfully unappetizing trio of characters."^[21]
• In August 1960, he was Harry King, the father of the lead, in the cast of Belvedere, starring veteran star of movie and TV Charlie Ruggles.^[22]
• In August 1960, he was Morris Dixon in the cast of Noël Coward's Present Laughter, starring Reginald Gardiner, movie and stage star.^[23]
• In August 1960, he was Orlov in the cast of Who Was That Lady I Saw You With, starring Julius LaRosa, again a TV personality.^[24]
• In August 1960, he was Bradford in the cast of Ballots Up, starring Marvin Miller, TV and radio personality.^[25]
• In August 1960, he was Jackson Eldredge in the cast of The Golden Fleecing, starring Eddie Bracken.^[26]

In 1960, he appeared in the San Juan Drama Festival in Puerto Rico. In June 1961, he had the lead role in Marriage-Go-Round with the Gretna Playhouse, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.^[27] He was then Hogan in Under the Yum Yum Tree.^[28] Later in the month, he was in the cast of Make a Million;^[29] a newspaper said: "He moves like a dancer with purpose and grace does Otis Bigelow who has leading roles at the Gretna Play."^[30] And in July 1961, he was in the cast of Plain Betsy.^[31] In late 1961, he was in the Broadway production A Cook for Mr. General.^[32] In June 1962, he was back with the Gretna Play for Everybody Loves Opal starring Kay MacDonald,^[33] and the week after, he was in the cast of "Write Me a Murder", starring Leonard Frey and Joseph Masiell.^[34] In 1965, he was in the cast of Never Too Late with Maureen O'Sullivan and Arthur Godfrey, produced on Broadway and then Palm Beach, Florida.^[35]

Later in life he moved to stage management for off-Broadway and summer tour productions. He worked for Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band (1968) and for the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Bucks County Playhouse. He was also a professor at Dartmouth College.

He retired in 1984.

Written plays

• My Fair Lady performed:^[36]
  • in 1947 at Broadway and in Bridgeport, Connecticut, starring Alexander Kirkland.^[37]
• The Marriner Method performed:
  • in 1957 at Broadway, produced by Maurice Evans^[38]
  • in 1958 in London and New York City, produced by Robert Morley and Robin Fox and in association with David Merrick in New York, starring Morley and Margaret Rutherford^[39]
• The Peacock Season performed:
  • in 1960 in Jones Beach, New York, directed by Jose Ferrer^[40]
  • in 1961 at Broadway, starring George Grizzard^[41]
  • in 1971 in Los Angeles, California.^[42]
  • in 1972 in Chicago, Illinois, directed by Tony Randall^[43]
  • in 1972 (till 1974) in St. Louis, Missouri^{[44] [45]}
  • in January 1975 in Stonington, Connecticut^[46]
  • in December 1975 (and again in 1985) in Marshfield, Wisconsin^{[47] [48]}
  • in 1981 in Charlotte, North Carolina^[49]
  • in 1983 in Columbus, Nebraska^[50]
  • in 1991 in Santa Clarita, California^[51]
• The Giant's Dance performed:
  • in 1964 in New York City at the Cherry Lane Theater, produced by Richard Barr and Clinton Wilder^{[52] [53]}
  • in 1967 in Pocatello, Idaho^[54]
  • in June 1968 in Indianapolis, Indiana.^[55]
  • in December 1968 in North Hollywood, California^[56]
  • in February 1970 in Beckley, West Virginia^[57]
  • in 1970 in Fairbanks, Alaska^[58]
  • in 1970 (till 1976) in Orlando, Florida, starring Dale Carpenter^{[59] [60] [61] [62]}
  • in 1972 in Los Angeles, California, starring Bennye Gatteys^[63]
  • in 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee^[64]
  • in 1977 in Columbus, Nebraska^[65]
  • in January 1978 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.^[66]
  • in April 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^[67]
  • in October 1981 in Great Falls, Montana^[68]
  • in November 1981 in Antioch, Illinois^[69]
  • in 1983 in Wilmington, Delaware^[70]
  • in 1994 in Clute, Texas^[71]
  • in 1997 in Saugus, California^[72]
• A.M. performed:
  • in 1965 in Westport, Connecticut, starring Leonard Frey and Alice Drummond^{[73] [74]}
  • in 1973 in Los Angeles, California^[75]
• The Morning After performed:
  • in 1968 in Manchester, Vermont^[76]
• The Prevalence of Mrs. Seal performed:
  • in 1974 in Foster City, California^[77]
  • in 1977 at Lexington Conservatory Theatre in Lexington, NY. Directed by the author, who dedicated the published play to the artistic director.^{[78] [79]}
  • in 1982 in Green Bay, Wisconsin^[80]
  • in 1997 in Saugus, California^[81]
  • in 2005 in Jackson, Tennessee^[82]
• The Unicorns performed:
  • in 1978 at Lexington Conservatory Theatre in Lexington, New York^[83]
• An Evening with a Great Lady of the Silver Screen
  • in 1976 at Lexington Conservatory Theatre in Lexington, NY^[84]

Personal life

While acting in a summer production in Rye Beach, New Hampshire, Bigelow met Gordon Merrick. They shared an apartment in New York on East 54th Street, and Richard Barr joined them. When Merrick wrote his gay romance The Lord Won't Mind, he modeled one of the characters after Bigelow.

In New York City in the 1940s, Bigelow became a prominent figure in the gay society. He was interviewed by Alfred Kinsey for his research on sexual behavior. He was in a relationship with millionaire George Gallowhur, but he left Gallowhur when he fell in love with Bill Miller.^[85]

He was friends with Maury Paul, the original Cholly Knickerbocker who wrote a society columnist for Hearst.

After retirement, Bigelow resided in New York City with Thierry Mahe, his long-term partner of more than 50 years. He had a summer house on Fire Island, New York and traveled often to France. He collected Art Nouveau glass and fin-de-sicle posters.

He died on October 6, 2007, in New York City.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hamilton College. 29 September 2017.
2. 01 Jul 1939, Sat • Page 16. The News Journal. 1939. 16. 29 September 2017.
3. Present Comedy at Rye Beach - 01 Sep 1937, Wed • Page 6. The Portsmouth Herald. 1937. 6. 29 September 2017.
4. Book: Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions, Part 3. 1942. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 814. 29 September 2017.
5. New Comedy at Sayville - 12 Aug 1945, Sun • Page 23. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1945. 23. 29 September 2017.
6. Somebody's Secret? - 03 Oct 1947, Fri • Page 37. Chicago Tribune. 1947. 37. 29 September 2017.
7. Warner Brothers Studio Hits New Writing Peak - 25 Jan 1948, Sun • Page 34. Lansing State Journal. 1948. 34. 29 September 2017.
8. Peggy Ann Garner in "Peg O' My Heart" lead at Chevy Chase - 22 Jul 1949, Fri • Page 15. Arlington Heights Herald. 1949. 15. 29 September 2017.
9. Up and Down Broadway - 11 Feb 1952, Mon • Page 4. The Terre Haute Tribune. 1952. 4. 29 September 2017.
10. "Musical Americana" Traces US History in Song, Dance - 14 Jan 1954, Thu • Page 1. The Ludington Daily News. 1954. 1. 29 September 2017.
11. "Musical Americana" Scheduled At High School Wednesday - 12 Oct 1954, Tue • Page 6. The Salem News. 1954. 6. 29 September 2017.
12. Comedy in Offing - 11 Jul 1957, Thu • Page 46. Oakland Tribune. 1957. 46. 29 September 2017.
13. Snapshots - 17 Dec 1957, Tue • Page 23. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1957. 23. 29 September 2017.
14. Web site: Otis Bigelow (1920–2007). . 29 September 2017.
15. Playhouse Opens 1959 Season Tuesday with "The Drunkard" - 29 Jun 1959, Mon • Page 1. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1959. 1. 29 September 2017.
16. "The Happy Time" Provides Good Playhouse Entertainment - 08 Jul 1959, Wed • Page 13. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1959. 13. 29 September 2017.
17. "Dial M" Is Good Entertainment - 15 Jul 1959, Wed • Page 7. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1959. 7. 29 September 2017.
18. As Usual, Zaza Wows 'Em at the Playhouse - 22 Jul 1959, Wed • Page 10. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1959. 10. 29 September 2017.
19. New Play Scores at Hill in Premiere - 05 Aug 1959, Wed • Page 11. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1959. 11. 29 September 2017.
20. Gene Raymond Scores Hit in Comedy at Playhouse - 12 Aug 1959, Wed • Page 15. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1959. 15. 29 September 2017.
21. ZaSu Pitts Delightful in Hinsdale - 29 Jun 1960, Wed • Page 30. Chicago Tribune. 1960. 30. 29 September 2017.
22. Charlie Ruggles Wows 'Em at Playhouse - 03 Aug 1960, Wed • Page 15. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1960. 15. 29 September 2017.
23. Gardiner Pace Excellent Cast in Coward Comedy - 10 Aug 1960, Wed • Page 11. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1960. 11. 29 September 2017.
24. LaRosa Shines in Slam-Bang Comedy - 17 Aug 1960, Wed • Page 13. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1960. 13. 29 September 2017.
25. "Ballots Up" Premiere Rated a Success - 24 Aug 1960, Wed • Page 8. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1960. 8. 29 September 2017.
26. Eddie Bracken Shines in Bouncy Comedy - 31 Aug 1960, Wed • Page 8. Traverse City Record-Eagle. 1960. 8. 29 September 2017.
27. Has Role of Husband in "Marriage-Go-Round" - 06 Jun 1961, Tue • Page 21. Lebanon Daily News. 1961. 21. 29 September 2017.
28. "Yum Yum Tree" Opens At Gretna Playhouse - 23 Jun 1961, Fri • Page 19. Lebanon Daily News. 1961. 19. 29 September 2017.
29. "Make a Million" Well Received at Mt. Gretna - 30 Jun 1961, Fri • Page 15. Lebanon Daily News. 1961. 15. 29 September 2017.
30. 05 Jul 1961, Wed • Page 15. Lebanon Daily News. 1961. 15. 29 September 2017.
31. Penna. Dutch Musical A Delight At Gretna - 18 Jul 1961, Tue • Page 15. Lebanon Daily News. 1961. 15. 29 September 2017.
32. Featured in Thriller at Gretna Playhouse - 16 Jun 1962, Sat • Page 6. Lebanon Daily News. 1962. 6. 29 September 2017.
33. Kay MacDonald Scores Hit As Lively Comedy Opens Summer Season - 11 Jun 1962, Mon • Page 15. Lebanon Daily News. 1962. 15. 29 September 2017.
34. Murder Drama Opens Week's Run at Mt. Gretna - 19 Jun 1962, Tue • Page 15. Lebanon Daily News. 1962. 15. 29 September 2017.
35. Arthur Godfrey, Miss O'Sullivan To Star Here - 14 Feb 1965, Sun • Page 73. The Palm Beach Post. 1965. 73. 29 September 2017.
36. 23 Nov 1957, Sat • Page 8. Pasadena Independent. 1957. 8. 29 September 2017.
37. 06 Sep 1947, Sat • Page 13. The Bridgeport Telegram. 1947. 13. 29 September 2017.
38. Broadway - 07 Jul 1957, Sun • Page 27. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. 1957. 27. 29 September 2017.
39. Desilu Purchasing Many L'Amour Works - 19 Apr 1958, Sat • Page 31. The Los Angeles Times. 1958. 31. 29 September 2017.
40. 07 Jan 1960, Thu • Page 19. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1960. 19. 29 September 2017.
41. 16 Nov 1961, Thu • Page 4. The Montgomery Advertiser. 1961. 4. 29 September 2017.
42. Fonda's Stage Capers - On and Off - 21 Nov 1971, Sun • Page 525. The Los Angeles Times. 1971. 525. 29 September 2017.
43. Saroyan's finest leads quintet - 20 Feb 1972, Sun • Page 266. Chicago Tribune. 1972. 266. 29 September 2017.
44. Community Theater Calendar - 29 Sep 1972, Fri • Page 55. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1972. 55. 29 September 2017.
45. "Peacock Season" Opens Guild's - 26 Sep 1974, Thu • Page 73. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1974. 73. 29 September 2017.
46. Thespians To Produce Comedy in Two Acts - 06 Jan 1975, Mon • Page 56. Hartford Courant. 1975. 56. 29 September 2017.
47. Neillsville School Plans Class Play - 04 Dec 1975, Thu • Page 17. Marshfield News-Herald. 1975. 17. 29 September 2017.
48. Yesterday... in Marshfield - 04 Dec 1985, Wed • Page 4. Marshfield News-Herald. 1985. 4. 29 September 2017.
49. 20 Nov 1981, Fri • Main Edition • Page 24. The Greenville News. 1981. 24. 29 September 2017.
50. "Peacock Season" at Columbus - 16 Jan 1983, Sun • Page 60. Lincoln Journal Star. 1983. 60. 29 September 2017.
51. 27 Jan 1991, Sun • Page 7. The Signal. 1991. 7. 29 September 2017.
52. "Giants' Dance" Said Sticky - 18 Nov 1964, Wed • Main Edition • Page 5. The Orlando Sentinel. 1964. 5. 29 September 2017.
53. Whimsical Bit Is Amusing - 17 Nov 1964, Tue • Main Edition • Page 24. The Central New Jersey Home News. 1964. 24. 29 September 2017.
54. Romance, Magic, Superstition Enliven "Giant's Dance" Drama - 05 Dec 1967, Tue • Page 3. Idaho State Journal. 1967. 3. 29 September 2017.
55. "Giants" Dance Set - 12 Jun 1968, Wed • Main Edition • Page 36. The Indianapolis News. 1968. 36. 29 September 2017.
56. 01 Dec 1968, Sun • Page 546. The Los Angeles Times. 1968. 546. 29 September 2017.
57. We'll Have Another Fling At The Learning Process - 26 Feb 1970, Thu • Page 4. The Raleigh Register. 1970. 4. 29 September 2017.
58. Giants' Dance set tonight at Schaible - 10 Apr 1970, Fri • Page 3. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 1970. 3. 29 September 2017.
59. IceHouse Play Slated - 28 Dec 1972, Thu • Other Editions • Page 9. The Orlando Sentinel. 1972. 9. 29 September 2017.
60. Dancers Sought - 05 Sep 1976, Sun • Main Edition • Page 91. The Orlando Sentinel. 1976. 91. 29 September 2017.
61. 12 Jan 1973, Fri • Main Edition • Page 53. Orlando Evening Star. 1973. 53. 29 September 2017.
62. Tea Table Chatter: Unique Invitation Heralds PESO Party Platter - 01 Mar 1970, Sun • Main Edition • Page 85. The Orlando Sentinel. 1970. 85. 29 September 2017.
63. Bennye Gatteys Will Star in "Giant Stance" (SIC) - 29 Jun 1972, Thu • Page 118. The Los Angeles Times. 1972. 118. 29 September 2017.
64. "Giants' Dance" Opens Circle Theater Season - 22 Sep 1974, Sun • Page 108. The Tennessean. 1974. 108. 29 September 2017.
65. Playhouse plans play "Mary, Mary" - 28 Sep 1977, Wed • Page 27. The Columbus Telegram. 1977. 27. 29 September 2017.
66. 18 Jan 1978, Wed • Main Edition • Page 8. Asbury Park Press. 1978. 8. 29 September 2017.
67. 23 Apr 1978, Sun • Main Edition • Page 228. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1978. 228. 29 September 2017.
68. Theatre schedules first play - 19 Oct 1981, Mon • Page 6. Great Falls Tribune. 1981. 6. 29 September 2017.
69. "The Giants' Dance" closes this weekend - 27 Nov 1981, Fri • Page 2. The Daily Sentinel. 1981. 2. 29 September 2017.
70. Highway Ensemble Names Cast - 06 Jun 1983, Mon • Page 34. The News Journal. 1983. 34. 29 September 2017.
71. Area students perform in Wharton musical - 30 Oct 1994, Sun • Page 18. The Facts. 1994. 18. 29 September 2017.
72. Theater - 26 Feb 1997, Wed • Page 8. The Signal. 1997. 8. 29 September 2017.
73. 29 Aug 1965, Sun • Page 46. The Bridgeport Post. 1965. 46. 29 September 2017.
74. White Barn to Close With Two One-Acters - 29 Aug 1965, Sun • Page 36. Hartford Courant. 1965. 36. 29 September 2017.
75. Happy Endings - 20 May 1973, Sun • Page 297. The Los Angeles Times. 1973. 297. 29 September 2017.
76. Manchester - 29 Apr 1968, Mon • Page 6. Bennington Banner. 1968. 6. 29 September 2017.
77. 19 Jul 1974, Fri • Page 25. The Argus. 1974. 25. 29 September 2017.
78. Book: Bigelow . Otis . The Prevalence of Mrs. Seal . 1982 . Samuel French . 9780573613623 . 3 . 12 February 2023.
79. News: Lexington Theatre Announces Season . The Daily Mail . May 28, 1977.
80. SNC cast to stage comedy - 12 Nov 1982, Fri • Main Edition • Page 10. Green Bay Press-Gazette. 1982. 10. 29 September 2017.
81. Casting dates set for CTG Halloween play - 22 Jul 1997, Tue • Page 6. The Signal. 1997. 6. 29 September 2017.
82. 12 Feb 2005, Sat • Page 4. The Jackson Sun. 2005. 4. 29 September 2017.
83. Theater to present staged readings - 05 Jul 1978, Wed • Page 33. Poughkeepsie Journal. 1978. 33. 29 September 2017.
84. News: Lexington Theatre Announces Season . The Daily Mail . May 28, 1977.
85. Book: Kaiser. Charles. The Gay Metropolis: The Landmark History of Gay Life in America. 2007. Grove Press. 9780802143174. 30 July 2017.