Anna Meeker Wheaton (November 26, 1894 – December 25, 1961) was an American musical theatre actress and singer of the early 20th century.
Biography
Wheaton was born on November 26, 1894 (some sources indicate 1893[4] or 1896[3]), in Savannah, Georgia.[1][5] As a young child, the family moved to Washington, D.C.[4] While still a youngster, she made her Broadway debut in the American premiere of Peter Pan starring Maude Adams in 1905.[3]
She is perhaps best known for her role as Jackie Simpson in the original production of Oh, Boy! in 1917. The hit musical featured the music of Jerome Kern with lyrics by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse. In the show, she performed "Till the Clouds Roll By" with Tom Powers. She subsequently recorded the song on Columbia Records with James Harrod, where it climbed to the top of the American music charts for six weeks.[6]
Earlier that year, she had a solo hit with "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I" from the revue, Hitchy-Koo. The song reached number two on the popular music charts.[6]
Personal
Wheaton married Walter Thomas Collins in New York City on June 18, 1919.[7] The couple had one child, Walter Kendall Collins (1921–1996).
"There's a Million Reasons Why I Shouldn't Kiss You" (w/ Sam Ash)[28]
Columbia 2303
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"How Can Any Girlie Be a Good Little Girl (When She Loves a Naughty Little Boy?)[28]
Columbia 2334
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"I Don't Want to be Loved a Little by a Lot of Little Boys (But by One Little Boy a Lot)" (from the musical, His Little Widows)/"I'd Love to be a Monkey in the Zoo"[27][28]
^Dickinson, Justus (January 1915). "Anna Wheaton Interviews Mr. Dickinson". The Green Book Magazine. XIII (1). Chicago: Story-Press Corporation: 279–283. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
^ abcJoel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954: The History of American Popular Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. 1991. p. 446.
^"Three Showers". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"Oh, Boy!". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"Miss Daisy". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"When Dreams Come True". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^Hines, Dixie; Hanaford, Harry Prescott, eds. (1914). "Who's Who in Music and Drama". New York: H. P. Hanaford: 481. Retrieved January 25, 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^"Iolanthe". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^Hines, Dixie; Hanaford, Harry Prescott, eds. (1914). "Who's Who in Music and Drama". New York: H. P. Hanaford: 478. Retrieved January 25, 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^"The Mikado". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"Beggar Student". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^Hines, Dixie; Hanaford, Harry Prescott, eds. (1914). "Who's Who in Music and Drama". New York: H. P. Hanaford: 473–474. Retrieved January 25, 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Hines, Dixie; Hanaford, Harry Prescott, eds. (1914). "Who's Who in Music and Drama". New York: H. P. Hanaford: 440–441. Retrieved January 25, 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^"Madame Troubadour". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"Up and Down Broadway". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"The Rose of Algeria". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"Cape Cod Folks". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"The Players". Everybody's Magazine. XV (5). North American Company: 681. November 1906. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^"Peter Pan". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved January 25, 2018.