Hamtree Harrington

James Carl "Hamtree" Harrington (1889-1956) was a popular American comedian in the 1900s.^[1] He helped found the Negro Actors' Guild of America.^[2] He was in several films.^[3]

Early life

James Carl Harrington was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1889.^[1] At 14 years old, Harrington dropped out of school, ran away from home, and joined a traveling carnival.^[1][4]

Vaudeville career

Upon leaving the carnival, Harrington took work as a comedian and Black vaudeville performer, moonlighting as a barber when stage work was unavailable.^[1] Throughout the late 1920s, Harrington worked as a vaudeville performer, often teaming up with well-known Black female performers.^[4] In the 1930s, Harrington began to perform solo. During that time, he acted in movies, started a singing career, and helped found the Negro Actors' Guild of America.^[2] Harrington was one of the featured comics in Lew Leslie's Broadway production of Blackbirds of 1939, which starred Lena Horne and Tim Moore. Harrington's last show was in 1952.^[4] The genesis of Harrington's stage name, "Hamtree," is unknown, although it could have come from his large feet.^[1]

Personal life

Early in his career, Harrington romanced a chorus girl named Edna Murray.^[4] That relationship produced a son.^[4] Not long after, Harrington toured with Maude Mills, a vaudeville actress, whom he married in 1916. Their marriage lasted five years.^[1] Harrington never remarried again before his death in 1956.^[4]

References

1. Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; McNeilly, Donald (2007). "Hamtree Harrington". Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in America. Routledge. pp. 488–489. ISBN 978-0-415-93853-2.
2. Franklin, Benjamin V (2016). "Hamtree, Harrington (James Carl)". An Encyclopedia of South Carolina Jazz and Blues Musicians. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-61117-622-3.
3. Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. Routledge. 6 December 2012. ISBN 9781135455361.
4. Wintz, Cary D.; Finkelman, Paul, eds. (2004). "Hamtree, James Carl 'Hamtree'". Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance: A-J. Taylor & Francis. pp. 537–538. ISBN 978-1-57958-457-3.