# Arthur Hammerstein

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{{short description|American songwriter}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Arthur Hammerstein
| image              = Arthur Hammerstein.jpg
| image_size         = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = Hammerstein in 1912
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1872|12|21}}
| birth_place        = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), [U.S.](/source/U.S.)
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1955|10|12|1872|12|21}}
| death_place        = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), [U.S.](/source/U.S.)
| resting_place      = [Woodlawn Cemetery](/source/Woodlawn_Cemetery%2C_Bronx), [Bronx](/source/Bronx), [New York City](/source/New_York_City)
| occupation         = Songwriter<br>Dramatist<br>Playwright<br>Theater manager<br>Producer
| years_active       = 1908–1930
| spouse             = Jean Allison<br>Grace Weir<br>Claire Nagle<br>Dorothy Dalton
| children           = Elaine Hammerstein
| parents            = Oscar Hammerstein I
}}
'''Arthur Hammerstein''' (December 21, 1872 – October 12, 1955) was an American songwriter, dramatist, playwright and theater manager.

==Biography ==
Born and educated to a [Jewish](/source/American_Jews) family in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), Hammerstein was the son of the theater impresario and composer [Oscar Hammerstein I](/source/Oscar_Hammerstein_I). Arthur started out as a bricklayer and plasterer,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19300826&id=FF4hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7YUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1215,6213854|title=Hammerstein In Footsteps Of His Father|date=August 26, 1930|newspaper=[Schenectady Gazette](/source/Schenectady_Gazette)|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> working on projects with his father including the Victoria Theater and [Manhattan Opera House](/source/Manhattan_Center).

In 1908 Hammerstein started working on becoming a producer, signing Italian singer [Luisa Tetrazzini](/source/Luisa_Tetrazzini) to the family's Manhattan Center and negotiating with [Otto Kahn](/source/Otto_Kahn) before moving to London in 1910.  While there Arthur and his father had a disagreement with money spending and Arthur vowed never to speak to him again.  With his father's support, Arthur embarked on his first production, ''Naughty Marietta''.<ref name="Encyclopedia-2004">{{cite book |last=Bloom |first=Ken  |author-link = Ken Bloom (writer) |date=2004 |title=Broadway: Its History, People, and Places : an Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GBiEO8q59f0C&q=Arthur+Hammerstein+Because+of+You&pg=PA205 |publisher=[Taylor & Francis](/source/Taylor_%26_Francis) |isbn=0415937043 |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> 
Arthur's brother [Willie Hammerstein](/source/Willie_Hammerstein) died in June 1914, and Arthur took over management of the family's [Victoria Theater](/source/Victoria_Theater_(Hammerstein's)). However, the theater was not financially viable and would be closed the next year. On its site, the first movie palace in Times Square, the Rialto Theatre, was built.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dodge|first1=Richard Irving|last2=Rogers|first2=Will|title=The Indian Territory Journals of Colonel Richard Irving Dodge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fV83-1F8-bkC&pg=PA157|access-date=2014-05-19|year=2000|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3267-9}}</ref>

Hammerstein was the producer of the [Rudolf Friml](/source/Rudolf_Friml) operettas ''[The Firefly](/source/The_Firefly_(operetta))'' (1912), ''[Katinka](/source/Katinka_(operetta))'' (1915) and ''[Rose-Marie](/source/Rose-Marie)'' (1924), which he collaborated on with his nephew, [Oscar Hammerstein II](/source/Oscar_Hammerstein_II).  Arthur produced almost 30 musicals in 40 years in show business.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19551013&id=o_4ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CA4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7499,888213|title=Arthur Hammerstein|date=October 13, 1955|newspaper=[Toledo Blade](/source/Toledo_Blade)|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>

During a performance of ''[Tickle Me](/source/Tickle_Me_(play))'' in 1920, Hammerstein was arrested for possessing what was thought to be whiskey during the [Prohibition era](/source/Prohibition_era), which later turned out to be iced tea.  In 1930 Hammerstein was accused by a dance director George Haskell for assault<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19300919&id=rqZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tCEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4132,1456124|title=Arthur Hammerstein Accused of Assault|date=September 19, 1930|newspaper=[The Milwaukee Journal](/source/The_Milwaukee_Journal)|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> but the charges were later dropped and the two reconciled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19301010&id=ebZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j2gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5398,6263852|title=Hammerstein is Acquitted|date=October 10, 1930|newspaper=[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette)|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> To search for better business opportunities, Hammerstein went to Hollywood to produce his one and only film ''The Lottery Bride'', which was a failure and he returned to Broadway again. Hammerstein's last productions were ''Luana'' and ''Ballyhoo'' in 1930, which were considered failures. Hammerstein suffered bankruptcy in 1931 due to some musical failures<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19310327&id=wxlAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iaQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2538,272373|title=Arthur Hammerstein Relieved, Optimistic|date=March 27, 1931|newspaper=[The Telegraph](/source/The_Telegraph_(Nashua))|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> and went into retirement.

In 1925-1927 Hammerstein had built what is now known as the [Ed Sullivan Theater](/source/Ed_Sullivan_Theater) at 1697 Broadway in Manhattan.

Hammerstein made an appearance as himself in an episode of the film series ''[Popular Science](/source/Popular_Science_(film))'' in 1949. He was one of the writers of the song "[Because of You](/source/Because_of_You_(1940_song))," a major hit (#1 for 10 weeks) for [Tony Bennett](/source/Tony_Bennett) in 1951. Hammerstein wrote the song in 1940. It was used in the film ''[I Was an American Spy](/source/I_Was_an_American_Spy)'' (1951).

==Personal life ==
Hammerstein was married four times. He married Jean Allison in 1893. They had a daughter, actress [Elaine Hammerstein](/source/Elaine_Hammerstein), and were divorced in 1910. He remarried to Grace Weir months later; they divorced in 1915.<ref>{{cite news |title=HAMMERSTEIN'S SON WEDS MRS. HOAGLAND; Second Mrs. Arthur Hammerstein Was Divorced from John A. Hoagland Only Last Friday. WAS FORMERLY GRACE WEIR A Pupil of De Reszke -- Marriage at Greenwich, Conn. -- First Mrs. Hammerstein Got Divorce in April. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1910/09/15/archives/hammersteins-son-weds-mrs-hoagland-second-mrs-arthur-hammerstein.html |access-date=October 3, 2022 |work=New York Times |date=September 15, 1910}}</ref> His marriage to actress Claire Nagle in 1919 ended with her death in 1921.<ref>{{cite news |title=HAMMERSTEIN WEDS AGAIN; Miss Claire Nagle Is Third Bride of Musical Comedy Director. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1919/06/10/archives/hammerstein-weds-again-miss-claire-nagle-is-third-bride-of-musical.html |access-date=October 3, 2022 |work=New York Times |date=June 10, 1919}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MRS. A. HAMMERSTEIN DEAD; Claire Nagle Dies at Reno, Where She Went to Obtain a Divorce. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/11/12/archives/mrs-a-hammerstein-dead-claire-nagle-dies-at-reno-where-she-went-to.html |access-date=October 3, 2022 |work=New York Times |date=November 12, 1921}}</ref> In 1924 Hammerstein was married to silent film actress and stage personality [Dorothy Dalton](/source/Dorothy_Dalton).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19240422&id=8GYyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YK8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6791,5278668|title=Dorothy Dalton, Arthur Hammerstein Will Marry|date=April 22, 1924|newspaper=[Argus-Press](/source/Argus-Press)|access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>
Hammerstein died on October 12, 1955, from a [heart attack](/source/heart_attack) at age 82.

He is interred at [Woodlawn Cemetery](/source/Woodlawn_Cemetery_(Bronx%2C_New_York)) in [the Bronx](/source/the_Bronx), New York City.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Scott |year=2016 |title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOHgDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA312 |edition=3 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland |page=312 |isbn=9781476625997 }}</ref>

The Arthur and Dorothy Dalton Hammerstein House, the couple's former residence in [Beechhurst, Queens](/source/Beechhurst%2C_Queens), is a [New York City designated landmark](/source/New_York_City_designated_landmark).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1282.pdf|title=Arthur and Dorothy Dalton Hammerstein House, Wildflower|last=|first=|date=1982-07-27|website=|publisher=[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission](/source/New_York_City_Landmarks_Preservation_Commission)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228180430/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1282.pdf |archive-date=2020-02-28 |access-date=2020-02-28}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0358565}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hammerstein, Arthur}}
Category:1872 births
Category:1955 deaths
Category:American male songwriters
Arthur
Category:Jewish American dramatists and playwrights
Category:Jews from New York (state)
Category:American people of German-Jewish descent

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arthur Hammerstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Hammerstein) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Hammerstein?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.