McCracken, Joan

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Joan McCracken (1922?-1961) was a star of musical comedy, as well as film and television.

Born in Philadelphia on December 31, 1917 (most sources say 1922), Joan McCracken began her stage career as a trained ballerina, the youngest soloist in the Philadelphia Ballet, under the leadership of its founder/star Catherine Littlefield. McCracken joined Radio City Music Hall's corps-de-ballet and was there for a year before making her Broadway debut in the original production of OKLAHOMA! (1943). Other stage roles included BLOOMER GIRL, BILLION DOLLAR BABY, Clifford Odets' play THE BIG KNIFE (1949), Rodgers and Hammerstein's ME AND JULIET (1953), ANGEL IN THE PAWNSHOP and THE SLEEPING PRINCE (1957). McCracken appeared in the films HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN (1944) and GOOD NEWS (1947), and starred in the 1952 TV series CLAUDIA: THE STORY OF A MARRIAGE. She was married to the writer Jack Dunphy, and to choreographer Bob Fosse. Joan McCracken died on November 1, 1961.

From the description of Joan McCracken ephemera, ca. 1930-1958. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122626069

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf McCracken, Joan. Correspondence and contracts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf McCracken, Joan. Joan McCracken ephemera, ca. 1930-1958. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Mostel, Zero, 1915-1977. Zero and Kate Mostel papers, 1915-1986. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Littlefield, Catherine. person
associatedWith Mostel, Zero, 1915-1977. person
associatedWith Philadelphia Ballet Company. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
California
Subject
Theater
Dance
Motion pictures
Television
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1917-12-31

Death 1961-11-01

Americans

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