Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1891 November 5 | Born in Philadelphia |
| 1914 | Graduated from Harvard University |
| 1917-1920 | Performed in various musical comedies |
| 1917 | Earned a JD at University of Pennsylvania Married Mary Middleton Mitchell (1894-1955) |
| 1918 | Birth of son Vinton Freedley (died 1985) Served in the United States Marine Corps Elected to the theatrical organization The Lambs |
| 1920 | Played the leading role in Victor Herbert's musical comedy Oui Madame Met producer Alex Aarons, who was producing his first show, Fred Jackson's play A Hole in the Wall |
| 1922 | Performed the lead role in the musical For Goodness' Sake, which Aarons produced |
| 1923 | Began a long-term partnership with Aarons |
| 1924 | Co-produced his first show with Aarons, Cosmo Hamilton's play The New Poor |
| 1924 September 23 | Daughter Eleanor Ann born (died circa 1995) |
| 1924-1925 | Co-produced George and Ira Gershwin's musical Lady Be Good! with Aarons |
| 1927 | Opened the Alvin Theatre (now named the Neil Simon Theater) on Broadway with Aarons |
| 1930-1931 | Co-produced George and Ira Gershwin's musical Girl Crazy with Aarons, which was the first major stage production starring Ethel Merman and Ginger Rogers |
| 1933 | Ceased partnership with Aarons |
| 1934-1935 | Produced Cole Porter's musical Anything Goes |
| 1938-1939 | Produced Cole Porter's musical Leave It to Me!, which was Mary Martin's first stage performance |
| 1940-1941 | Produced Vernon Duke's musical Cabin in the Sky with an entirely Black cast |
| 1941-1942 | Produced his last major theatrical success, Cole Porter's musical Lady in the Dark, which featured Danny Kaye |
| circa 1941-1954 | Elected treasurer of The Actors Fund |
| 1943 | Elected president of The Episcopal Actors Guild |
| 1950 | Produced his final production, Anderson Lawler and Russell Marker's musical Great to Be Alive |
| 1954-1964 | Elected president of The Actors Fund |
| 1969 June 5 | Died in New York City |