Changes: Chet O'Brien

Revision as of 17:47, 9 November 2014

Chet O'Brien (June 28, 1909 - July 14, 1996)^[1], born Chester O'Brien, was the original stage manager on Sesame Street^[2]. O'Brien also appeared on screen periodically, playing Mr. Macintosh from 1971 until 1992.

A former Broadway dancer in the 1930s, O'Brien transitioned from performer to stage manager, working on productions ranging from Brigadoon to Finnian's Rainbow. O'Brien shifted into television, serving as production stage manager/floor director on Sesame Street and related specials, for over a decade. Like Kermit Love, his behind the scenes work generally limited his on-screen appearances.

His brother Mortimer "Snooks" O'Brien was the floor (stage) manager for Sesame Street during the same time. When they were younger, they had worked together in vaudeville as a dance act. Their vaudeville history was referenced in a Sesame Street News Flash sketch, with "Chet and Snooks," a pair of comedians who casually assist Don Music in writing "The Alphabet Song."

O'Brien's other stage manager credits include the television version of the controversial musical O Calcutta! He was once married to Marilyn Miller, a Ziegfeld girl (1918-1919), who broke from the chorus line to have a decent acting career in Hollywood.

In 1991, both O'Briens were honored by the Directors Guild of America, receiving the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award "for an Associate Director or Stage Manager in Recognition of Career Achievement in the Industry and Service to the Directors Guild of America."

Sources

↑ Chester L Obrien, "United States Social Security Death Index", https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSJ7-D26, U.S. Social Security Death Indexm FamilySearch.org, 8 January 2014
↑ Davis, Michael. Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, Viking, 2008, p 223.

External links

Internet Broadway Database entry

[1] Chester L Obrien, "United States Social Security Death Index", https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSJ7-D26, U.S. Social Security Death Indexm FamilySearch.org, 8 January 2014

[2] Davis, Michael. Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, Viking, 2008, p 223.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Chet O'Brien''', also known as Chester O'Brien, portrayed [[Mr. Macintosh]] on [[Sesame Street]] from 1975 until 1992.
+[[Image:Chetobrien.jpg|frame|Chet O'Brien, snapping fingers with one of [[The Kids|the kids]] in ''[[The Sesame Street Special]]'']]
+'''Chet O'Brien''' (June 28, 1909 - July 14, 1996)<ref>Chester L Obrien, "United States Social Security Death Index", https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSJ7-D26, U.S. Social Security Death Indexm FamilySearch.org, 8 January 2014</ref>, born Chester O'Brien, was the original stage manager on ''[[Sesame Street]]''<ref>Davis, Michael. ''[[Street Gang|Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street]]'', Viking, 2008, p 223.</ref>. O'Brien also appeared on screen periodically, playing [[Mr. Macintosh]] from 1971 until 1992.
-A former Broadway dancer in the 1930's, O'Brien transitioned to acting as stage manager, working on shows ranging from ''Brigadoon'' to ''Finnian's Rainbow''. O'Brien shifted into television, serving as stage manager/floor director on "Sesame Street," and related specials, for over a decade. Like [[Kermit Love]], his behind the scenes work generally limits his on-screen appearances. He also served as stage manager for the television version of the controversial musical ''O Calcutta!''
+A former [[Broadway]] dancer in the 1930s, O'Brien transitioned from performer to stage manager, working on productions ranging from ''Brigadoon'' to ''Finnian's Rainbow''. O'Brien shifted into television, serving as production stage manager/floor director on ''Sesame Street'' and related specials, for over a decade. Like [[Kermit Love]], his behind the scenes work generally limited his on-screen appearances.
+His brother [[Mortimer J. O'Brien|Mortimer "Snooks" O'Brien]] was the floor (stage) manager for ''Sesame Street'' during the same time. When they were younger, they had worked together in [[Vaudeville|vaudeville]] as a dance act. Their vaudeville history was referenced in a [[Sesame Street News Flash#Don Music|Sesame Street News Flash]] sketch, with "Chet and Snooks," a pair of comedians who casually assist [[Don Music]] in writing "[[The Alphabet Song]]."
-==External Links==
-[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=81845 Internet Broadway Database entry]
+O'Brien's other stage manager credits include the television version of the controversial musical ''O Calcutta!'' He was once married to Marilyn Miller, a Ziegfeld girl (1918-1919), who broke from the chorus line to have a decent acting career in [[Hollywood]].
-[[Category:Sesame Street Cast|O'Brien]]
+In 1991, both O'Briens were honored by the Directors Guild of America, receiving the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award "for an Associate Director or Stage Manager in Recognition of Career Achievement in the Industry and Service to the Directors Guild of America."
+==Sources==
+<references />
+==External links==
+*[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=81845 Internet Broadway Database entry]
+[[Category:Sesame Street Cast|Obrien]]
+[[Category:Miscellaneous Crew|Obrien]]