The Fattering Word

George Edward Kelly (January 16, 1887 – June 18, 1974) was an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He began his career in vaudeville as an actor and sketch writer. He became best known for his satiric comedies, including The Torch-Bearers (1922) and The Show-Off (1924). He was the brother of American businessman and Olympic champion sculler John B. Kelly Sr. and the uncle of actress Grace Kelly and rower John B. Kelly Jr. Throughout his career, Kelly remained a realistic playwright, unaffected by the experiments of theatrical modernism. Novelist Edward Maisel described him as “a simple moralist using the theatre for simple moral purposes.” Kelly’s plays are often dominated by characters of monstrous egotism, and he casts a harsh light on their shortcomings. Uncompromising in his vision, he scrupulously avoided sentimentality and depictions of romance. Arthur Willis noted “Kelly appears to be anti-love, anti-romantic love, certainly, and distrustful of the tender emotions.” As a result of the box-office failure of his later works, Kelly moved to Hollywood, and only rarely returned to the theatre. The Fatal Weakness (1946) was his last Broadway play. At the time of his death, four of his plays remained unperformed and have yet to premiere. George Kelly maintained a 55-year relationship with his lover William Ellsworth Weagley, Jr., who up until his death was often referred to as his valet. That Kelly was gay was a closely guarded secret and went unacknowledged by his family to the point of not inviting Weagley to his funeral; he instead slipped in and sat quietly on a back seat. Kelly died in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The Flattering Word, by George Kelly (Playing time: 34:13)<br /> Starring George Backman, Leslie Ann story, Frank Hotchkiss, Edie Talt, Julie Holst and Loraine Hull Smithers (What happens when a famous person visits his home town and faces bigotry?) The post The Flattering Word appeared first on SANTA BARBARA THEATRE OF THE AIR.