Carl Sawyer
CARL
SAWYER, ATPAM Manager since 1959, passed away January 9th in
San Francisco. He was 85.
Carl
graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University
and immediately joined the firm of Gibson, Cox in New York. After serving
in World War II, he embarked on a life-long career in the theater. His
first venture, while still in his twenties, was as a co-producer of a play
at the Booth Theater on Broadway.
His career
included a period with the Jaffe Agency as an actors’ and directors’ agent
and later with Lewis & Young Productions as general manager. In that
capacity, Carl was responsible for several touring productions, concert
tours and the Sacramento Music Circus. Carl then built and managed the
Camden County Music Circus in Camden, N.J. while serving as production
associate in Huntington Hartford’s version of JANE EYRE at the Belasco
Theater.
Early work
in London’s West End led to a position as George Abbott’s assistant and
then with Edward Choate as Associate Producer on a revival of HARVEY, the
Judith Anderson company of CHALK GARDEN and the Shirely McLaine company of
SLEEPING PRINCE. He was production supervisor on Frankie Laine’s MAD
AVENUE and with 13 DAUGHTERS starring Don Ameche. He was general manager
for Dore Schary’s production of LOVE AND KISSES starring Larry Parks.
In 1959,
Carl opened the Meadowbrook, America’s first dinner theater, in Cedar
Grove, N.J. A highly successful new concept in entertainment, he expanded
the Meadowbrook concept to Boston, New York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Los
Angeles, and it became the blueprint for such theaters across the country.
Beginning
with San Francisco’s production of HAIR, Carl went on to manage
productions of the hit musical around the world. He then produced MAN OF
LA MANCHA at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theater and LENNY at Bimbo’s 365
Club. He also served as General Manager of the Orpheum and later the
Curran Theater.
In the
1980’s Carl served as Company Manager for the Broadway revival of CAMELOT
with Richard Burton, followed by Richard Harris. He was also Company
Manager for Marcel Marceau for all of his American tours.
He is
survived by his daughter Susan McLellan of New York, two grandchildren and
three great-grandsons. Carl’s ashes were scattered under the Golden Gate
Bridge in a private ceremony on January 23rd. |
