John Marriott (September 30, 1893 - April 5, 1977) was an actor of stage, film, and television, whose career spanned five decades. The collection consists of six audio recordings including commercial demos by Marriott and one audition recording of radio and television personality Jim Harriott for radio station WMCA.
John Marriott (September 30, 1893 - April 5, 1977) was an actor of stage, film, and television, whose career spanned five decades. Marriott was born in Boley, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). He received a bachelor of science degree from Wilberforce University in Ohio. Marriott began his acting career in 1922 as a member of the Karamu Players, a theater group associated with Karamu House in Cleveland, Ohio. He maintained this association for twelve years. His first significant role was in the short-lived Broadway production Too Many Boats in 1934. Throughout his career, he appeared in over twenty Broadway productions including The Little Foxes (1939); a revival of Mulatto (circa 1940); No Way Out (1944); The Iceman Cometh (1946); The Green Pastures (1951); The Miracle Worker (1959); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (1963); and You Can't Take it With You (1966).
Marriott's film performances include The Little Foxes (1941), in which he reprised his role from the Broadway production of the same name; The Joe Louis Story (1953); The Cool World (1963); and Dog Day Afternoon (1975). His guest performances on television include Omnibus (1953-1955), Route 66 (1962), and The Patty Duke Show (1963). He also acted in radio and television commercials.
Marriott died at eighty-three years old in New York City.
The collection consists of six audio recordings including commercial demos by Marriott and one audition recording of radio and television personality Jim Harriott for radio station WMCA. They are arranged alphabetically by title. The audio items' original formats are open-reels and some contain two parts. Unless otherwise noted, all demos are voiced by Marriott.
Beatrice Marriott, 1978.
Acquisition information added by Ornella U. Baganizi. (2025-09-26)
Collection inventoried by Stacey Doyle Ference. Collection processed and described by Ornella U. Baganizi, archivist. Finding aid published in 2025.
See the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division for the John Marriott papers, Sc MG 149.
See the Photographs and Prints Division for the John Marriott photograph collection, Sc Photo John Marriott Collection.