Henderson, Ray, 1889-1937

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Ray Henderson, press agent, was born John Ray Henderson on August 25, 1889 in Saguache County, Colorado, the youngest child of Robert Louis Henderson and Willamartha Laura Harris. At an early age he developed a love of the performing arts, attending theatrical and musical performances as they toured the Colorado Springs area. He began his career as a publicity man in Colorado Springs, doing house publicity for local theaters. Later, he joined the Forbes-Robertson Company as a press agent in Omaha, Nebraska. His clients included George Arliss, E. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe, Ethel Barrymore and finally Katharine Cornell and Guthrie McClintic.

He started working for Katharine Cornell and Guthrie McClintic in 1930, working as both an advance man and a publicist. Henderson was well-known and well-respected in his field where he was acknowledged to be the road's number one advance man. He was the first president of the New York Theatrical Press Agents.

In 1937, on an advance trip for an upcoming Katharine Cornell tour to Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe, he was killed in a plane crash off the coast of Athens, Greece. He was buried in Athens but through the intervention of Lillian Gish and Katharine Cornell his body was returned to the United States, aboard the ship Valconia and he was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

From the description of Ray Henderson papers, 1904-1937 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 144651943

Ray Henderson, press agent, was born John Ray Henderson on August 25, 1889 in Saquache County, Colorado, the youngest child of Robert Louis Henderson and Willamartha Laura Harris. At an early age he developed a love of the performing arts, attending theatrical and musical performances as they toured the Colorado Springs area. He began his career as a publicity man in Colorado Springs, doing house publicity for local theaters. Later, he joined the Forbes-Robertson Company as a press agent in Omaha, Nebraska. During his career, his clients included George Arliss, E. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe, Ethel Barrymore and finally Katharine Cornell and Guthrie McClintic.

He started working for Katharine Cornell and Guthrie McClintic in 1931, working as both an advance man and a publicist. Henderson was well-known and well-respected in his field where he was acknowledged to be the road's number one advance man. He was the first president of the New York Theatrical Press Agents.

In 1937, on an advance trip for an upcoming Katharine Cornell tour to Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe, he was killed in a plane crash off the coast of Athens, Greece. He was buried in Athens but through the intervention of Lillian Gish and Katharine Cornell his body was returned to the United States, aboard the ship Valconia and he was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

From the guide to the Ray Henderson papers, 1904-1937, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aherne, Brian person
associatedWith Ames, Winthrop, 1870-1937 person
associatedWith Arliss, George, 1868-1946. person
associatedWith Barrymore, Ethel, 1879-1959 person
associatedWith Besier, Rudolf, 1878-1942 person
associatedWith Blanche Yurka person
associatedWith Brooklyn Academy of Music corporateBody
associatedWith Burns Mantle person
associatedWith Cornell, Katharine, 1893-1974. person
associatedWith Daly, Mary. person
associatedWith E. H. Sothern person
associatedWith Elliott, Maxine, 1871-1940. person
associatedWith Ethel Barrymore person
associatedWith Farrington, George Louis person
associatedWith Fiske, Minnie Maddern, 1865-1932 person
associatedWith Forbes-Robertson Company corporateBody
associatedWith Forbes-Robertson, Johnston, Sir, 1853-1937. person
associatedWith Frohman, Daniel, 1851-1940 person
associatedWith George Arliss person
associatedWith Gielgud, John, Sir, 1904- person
associatedWith Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), 1836-1911 person
associatedWith Hackett, James Ketelas, 1869-1926 person
associatedWith Hampden, Walter, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Henderson family family
associatedWith Henderson family family
associatedWith Henderson, Robert Louis, 1874-1963 person
associatedWith Henderson, Willamartha Harris, 1853-1909 person
associatedWith H. T. Parker person
associatedWith James K. Hackett person
associatedWith Julia Marlowe person
associatedWith Katharine Cornell person
associatedWith MacKaye, Percy, 1875-1956 person
associatedWith Marlowe, Julia, 1865-1950. person
associatedWith Mary Daly person
associatedWith Maxine Elliott person
associatedWith McClintic, Guthrie, 1893-1961. person
associatedWith Opp, Julie, 1871-1921 person
associatedWith Ray Henderson person
associatedWith Shaw, Bernard, 1856-1950 person
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Short, Hassard, d. 1956 person
associatedWith Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson person
associatedWith Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson Company corporateBody
associatedWith Sothern and Marlowe. corporateBody
associatedWith Sothern and Marlowe Company corporateBody
associatedWith Sothern, E. H. (Edward Hugh), 1859-1933. person
associatedWith Sullivan, Arthur, Sir, 1842-1900 person
associatedWith Taylor, Deems, 1885-1966 person
associatedWith Tree, Iris, 1897-1968 person
associatedWith Walter Hampden person
associatedWith Yurka, Blanche person
associatedWith Yurka, Blanche. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Colorado
Colorado
Subject
Theater
Theater
Publicity agents
Publicity agents
Road tours
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1889-08-25

Death 1937-10-01

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