Cornelia Otis Skinner
Cornelia Otis Skinner was an American writer and actress.
Biography
Skinner was born on 30 May 1899 in Chicago, Illinois as the only child of actor Otis Skinner and actress Maud Durbin. After attending the all-girls' Baldwin School and Bryn Mawr College, and studying theatre at the Sorbonne in Paris, Skinner made her professional stage debut on September 20, 1921 as Dona Sarasate in Tom Cushing's Blood and Sand at Broadway's Empire Theatre. She appeared in several plays before embarking on a tour of the United States from 1926 to 1929 in a one-woman performance of short character sketches which she had written. She also wrote numerous short, humorous pieces for publications such as The New Yorker. These pieces were eventually compiled into a series of books, including Nuts in May, Dithers and Jitters, Excuse It Please!, and The Ape in Me, among others.In a "comprehensive study" of Skinner's work, G. Bruce Loganbill refers to Skinner's scripts as "monologue-dramas," which were extensions of the "linked monologues" developed by Ruth Draper. Skinner's work differed in structure and content, however, as she created and performed full-length monologue-dramas that were based on the lives of historical figures. Such work was described as a "unique" and important contribution to the one-person show in America.
She starred in successful production of George Bernard Shaw's "Candida" in 1939, that toured venues in cities such as Cleveland before opening on Broadway.
She appeared with Orson Welles on The Campbell Playhouse radio play of "American Cavalcade: The Things We Have" on May 26, 1939.
With Emily Kimbrough, Skinner wrote Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, a light-hearted description of their European tour after college. Kimbrough and Skinner went to Hollywood to act as consultants on the film adaptation of the book, produced as a film of the same name, with Gail Russell playing Skinner. The book was also adapted as a 1950 television series The Girls, in which Skinner was portrayed by Bethel Leslie.
In 1952, Skinner's one-woman show Paris '90 premiered on Broadway. An original cast recording was produced by Goddard Lieberson for Columbia Records, and is now available on compact disc. In later years Skinner wrote Madame Sarah, and Elegant Wits and Grand Horizontals about the Belle Epoque.
In a 1944 conversation with Victor Borge, Skinner reportedly told the Danish comedian that she decided to drop the term "diseuse" from her act after reading in a Scottish newspaper: "Cornelia Otis Skinner, the American disease, gave a program last night."
In 1964, Skinner toured in a production of The Irregular Verb to Love with Cyril Ritchard, James Coco, and Robert Drivas, including a stop at the oldest Summer stock theater, Denver's Elitch Theatre.
Marriage
Cornelia Otis Skinner married Alden Sanford Blodget on October 5, 1928 in Warm Springs, Virginia. On August 28, 1930, she gave birth to her only child, a son, Otis Skinner Blodget, who died on March 11, 2007, aged 76.Performance
As an actress
Stage
Blood and Sand -. Professional debut. With Otis Skinner.Paris '90 - Original cast recording by Columbia Records, 1952.The Pleasure of His Company –. With Cyril Richard and George Peppard.Radio
The Campbell Playhouse: The Things We Have -. With Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead. Produced by Welles and John Houseman.Film
The Uninvited -. With Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey.The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing -. With Ray Milland and Joan Collins.The Swimmer -. With Burt Lancaster and Janet Lundgard.Television
Max Liebman Presents: Dearest Enemy -. With Anne Jeffreys and Cyril Richard. A musical TV play adapted by Neil Simon from the 1925 Broadway production with book by Herbert Fields, music and lyrics by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rogers. The Alcoa Hour -. With Margaret Hamilton.The Farmer's Daughter -. With Peter Lawford and Lee Remick.As herself
Film
Television
Toast of the Town episodes #4.7, #4.14, #5.32, and #7.8 Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town, episode dated June 23, 1951General Electric Guest House What's It For? episode dated October 12, 1957What's My Line? episode dated March 29, 1959This Is Your Life Charlie RugglesWorks
Non-fiction
;Essay compilations Tiny Garments - drawings by A. Winter. Excuse It, Please! - illustrations by Otto Soglow. Dithers and Jitters - drawings by Constantin Alajalov. Soap Behind the Ears - drawings by Constantin Alajalov. Popcorn - illustrations by Otto Soglow and Constantin Alajalov.That's Me All Over – illustrations by Constantin Alajalov. Nuts in May - drawings by Constantin Alajalov. Bottoms Up! - drawings by Constantin Alajalov. The Ape in Me - drawings by Constantin Alajalov.;MemoirsOur Hearts Were Young and Gay. Family Circle – an autobiographical work.
- "Those Friends of His" – humorous autobiographical piece from The New Yorker..
;BiographiesMadame Sarah – a biography of Sarah Bernhardt. Life with Lindsay and Crouse – a biography of the playwright duo Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
Playwriting
;PlaysCaptain Fury – her first play; written for her father, Otis Skinner.Edna, His Wife – play based on the 1935 novel of the same name by Margaret Ayer Barnes.The Pleasure of His Company – play.;MonologuesThe Wives of Henry VIII The Empress Eugenie The Loves of Charles II
- ''The Mansion on the Hudson''