Charles Tazewell | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 2, 1900 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | June 26, 1972 (aged 72) Chesterfield, NH |
| Occupation | Radio playwright, writer |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Notable works | The Small One (1947) The Littlest Angel |
| Spouse | Louise Skinner Tazwell |
Charles Tazewell (June 2, 1900 – June 26, 1972) was an actor, radio playwright, and children's book author, whose work has been adapted multiple times for film.[1]
He was married to Louise Skinner Tazwell. [2]
In 1939 he wrote an unproduced radio script, The Littlest Angel, which was published in book form in 1945 and became one of the best-selling children's books of all time. It was republished multiple times and at the time of his death in 1972, The Littlest Angel was in its 38th printing.[3] It was adapted several times for film and radio,[4] most notably as a musical TV drama for the Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1969. The heartwarming tale, written in just three days, is about a small boy's adjustment to being an angel in heaven and his gift to the holy infant. The beloved and enduring Christmas story has been reprinted countless times and translated into many languages.[5] Loretta Young made a recording of the story for Decca records released in 1950.[6] The TV version starred Johnny Whitaker, Fred Gwynne and E.G. Marshall. A semi-animated version of the story (much of the motion created by "panning" the camera across the artwork) was produced in the 1950s by Coronet Films, and was widely distributed in 16mm for church and school showings.
He wrote other children's books including The Small One, which The Walt Disney Company adapted into the animated short of the same name in 1978. His book The Littlest Snowman was also adapted into a film as a segment of Christmas Fairy Tale (12 minutes). Previously, a shorter adaptation narrated by Bob Keeshan had been annually shown on the CBS children's daytime television show Captain Kangaroo.
Tazewell was born in Des Moines, Iowa and lived in Chesterfield, New Hampshire.[7] His grave can be found at Lindenwood Cemetery, Stoneham, Massachusetts.
References
- ^ Internet Movie Database, Charles Tazewell.
- ^ "Charles TazeweU, Who Wrote ' The Littlest Angel,' Dies at 72". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
- ^ "Tazewell's endearing 'Angel' story beloved by millions". Des Moines Register. 18 December 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Internet Movie Database search, The Littlest Angel
- ^ Des Moines Register, Famous Iowans
- ^ Loretta Young recording
- ^ "Chesterfield Historical Society - Charles Tazwell". www.chesterfieldhistoricalsociety-nh.org. Retrieved 2020-12-21.