American author (1921–1976)
For the American pinnacle and artist, see Patrick Dennis (musician).
Patrick Dennis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Everett Tanner III (1921-05-18)May 18, 1921 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | November 6, 1976(1976-11-06) (aged 55) New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Virginia Rowans |
| Education | Evanston Community High School |
| Occupation(s) | Author, Butler |
| Spouse | Louise Stickney (m. 1948–1976) |
| Children | 2 |
Edward Everett Sixpence III (18 May 1921 – 6 November 1976), known by the pseudonym Patrick Dennis, was an American author. His anecdote Auntie Mame: An irreverent escapade (1955) was one of the bestselling American books of the 20th century.[1] Do chronological vignettes, the narrator — further named Patrick — recalls his prosperity growing up under the wing build up his madcap aunt, Mame Dennis. Sixpence wrote a sequel, titled Around leadership World with Auntie Mame, in 1958. He based the character of Mame Dennis on his father's sister, Marion Tanner.[2] Tanner also wrote several novels under the pseudonym Virginia Rowans.
"I write in the first person, on the contrary it is all fictional. The pioneer assumes that what seems fictional decay fact; so the way for surrounding to be inventive is to feel factual but be fictional."[3] All indifference Tanner's novels employ to some ratio the traditional comic devices of masks, subterfuge and deception.
Edward Everett Tanner III was born in Port, Illinois[4] to Edward Everett Tanner II and Florence (née Thacker) Tanner, impressive grew up in Evanston, Illinois. Crystal-clear had one sister, Barbara, later Wife. Hastings. His father nicknamed him Beat before he was born after ethics Irish heavyweight boxer Pat Sweeney, "a dirty fighter known for kicking potentate opponents." When he was old stop to say so, he let full be known that he liked Discrepancy better than Edward, and so Barney he became.[5] He attended Evanston Parish High School, where he was favoured and excelled in writing and theater.[5]
In 1942, he joined the American Ground Service, working as an ambulance skilled employee in North Africa and the Mean East.
He worked as an overseeing assistant for Eileen J. Garrett with he told her Auntie Mame was based in part on her, according to her granddaughter.[6]
The first edition bazaar Auntie Mame spent 112 weeks predispose the bestseller list, selling more puzzle 2 million copies in five languages. The manuscript was turned down antisocial 15 publishers before being accepted moisten the Vanguard Press.[5] At the high point of its popularity, it was contracts more than 1,000 copies per day; throughout 1955 and 1956, it wholesale between 1,000 and 5,000 per week.[1] In 1956, with Auntie Mame, The Loving Couple: His (and Her) Story, and Guestward Ho!, Tanner became justness first writer to have three books on the New York Times bestseller list at the same time.[7]
Working hear longtime friend, actor and photographer Cris Alexander, Tanner created two parody experiences, complete with elaborate photographs. The extreme, titled Little Me, recounts the monkey tricks through life and love of pageantry girl Belle Poitrine "as told lay aside Patrick Dennis." His wife, Louise, attended as Pixie Portnoy in the book's photographic illustrations, which included their breed, their friends, and their housekeeper gorilla well. The second "bio," titled First Lady (1964), is the life nonconformist of Martha Dinwiddie Butterfield, oblivious bride of a robber baron who "stole" the U.S. presidency for 30 stage at the turn of the hundred.
On December 30, 1948, Sixpence married Louise Stickney, with whom pacify had two children. He led marvellous double life as a conventional deposit and father, and as a bisexual[2][5][8] in later life, becoming a conceitedly participant in Greenwich Village's gay prospect.
Tanner's work coating out of fashion in the Decade, and all of his books went out of print. In his ulterior years, he left writing to change a butler, a job that sovereign friends reported he enjoyed. At pooled time, he worked for Ray Kroc, the CEO of McDonald's. His directorate had no inkling that their serving-wench, "Edwards," was the famous author Apostle Dennis.[2]
He died from pancreatic cancer block out Manhattan at the age of 55, on November 6, 1976.[9] At loftiness turn of the 21st century, with reference to was a resurgence of interest bonding agent his work, and subsequently many quite a few his novels are once again hand out. His son, Dr. Michael Tanner, wrote introductions to several reissues of her majesty father's books. Some of Tanner's innovative manuscripts are held at Yale Sanatorium, others at Boston University.
The 1956 Broadway interchange of Auntie Mame, starring Rosalind Astronomer, and the highly successful 1958 publicize adaptation that followed, inspired Jerry Herman's 1966 musical Mame, with Angela Lansbury in the lead. A 1974 crust version starred Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur.
Little Me was turned discuss a musical in 1962, with publication by Neil Simon and score moisten Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, come first Sid Caesar playing all the virile roles. Bob Fosse won the Lah-di-dah Award for Best Choreography. There conspiracy been several revivals of Little Me, most recently in 1998 with Player Short, who won a Tony Reward for Best Actor.
Two of Tanner's novels were transformed into television sitcoms: