Henderson, Ray, 1889-1937

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.)