July 12, 2012
On this date in 1895,
Oscar Hammerstein II was born in
New York City. Hammerstein grew up immersed in theater culture. His
grandfather and namesake, Oscar Hammerstein I, worked in theatre and
opera along with his father and his uncle, Arthur Hammerstein, a
well-known producer. While attending Columbia University (1912–1917),
Hammerstein joined the Columbia University Players, beginning his
prolific career in theater. He wrote the book and lyrics for the noted
production “Show Boat” (1927), working with
Jerome Kern (also a nonbeliever). An accomplished writer and lyricist, he teamed up with atheist
Richard Rodgers
to create Broadway classics such as “Oklahoma!” (1943), “South Pacific”
(1949), “The King and I” (1951) and “The Sound of Music” (1959).
Rodgers and Hammerstein won the 1944 Pulitzer Prize for “Oklahoma!” and
the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for “South Pacific.” He married Dorothy Jacobson
in 1929 and had three children: William, Alice and James.
Hammerstein was raised in very secular Judaism: his Jewish father did
not practice any religious traditions or customs or give Hammerstein any
religious education. Although Hammerstein did not specify his religious
views, he was nonreligious. He did not attend church or synagogue,
wrote no religious music and requested a secular funeral.
D. 1960.
“Oscar Hammerstein II [was] nonreligious.”
—
Dan Barker, The Good Atheist, 2010
Compiled by Sabrina Gaylor (FFRF)
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