Anna Meeker Wheaton (November 26, 1894 – December 25, 1961) was an American musical theatre actress and singer of the early 20th century.
Biography Wheaton was born on November 26, 1894 (some sources indicate 1893 or 1896), in Savannah, Georgia. As a young child, the family moved to Washington, D.C. While still a youngster, she made her Broadway debut in the American premiere of Peter Pan starring Maude Adams in 1905.
She is perhaps best known for her role as Jackie Simpson in the original production of Oh, Boy! in 1917. The hit musical featured the music of Jerome Kern with lyrics by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse. In the show, she performed "Till the Clouds Roll By" with Tom Powers. She subsequently recorded the song on Columbia Records with James Harrod, where it climbed to the top of the American music charts for six weeks.
Earlier that year, she had a solo hit with "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I" from the revue, Hitchy-Koo. The song reached number two on the popular music charts.
Personal Wheaton married Walter Thomas Collins in New York City on June 18, 1919. The couple had one child, Walter Kendall Collins (1921–1996).
Death She died from a cerebral hemorrhage on December 25, 1961, in a Pasadena, California hospital.
Theatre credits
Year Production Theatre(s) Role1921Ziegfeld 9 O'Clock FrolicDanse de Follies1920Three ShowersHarris Theatre / Plymouth TheatreRoberta Lee "Bob" White1917Oh, Boy!Princess Theatre / Casino TheatreJackie Simpson1914Miss DaisyShubert Theatre / Lyric TheatreElsie Swigget1913When Dreams Come TrueLyric Theatre / 44th Street TheatreMargaret SmithIolantheCasino TheatreCeliaThe MikadoCasino TheatrePitti-SingThe Beggar StudentCasino TheatreBronislava1912The Passing Show of 1912Winter Garden TheatreThe Quaker Girl1910Madame TroubadourLyric Theatre / Nazimova's 39th Street TheatreGeorgetteUp and Down BroadwayCasino TheatreMiss Frite1909The Rose of Algeria Herald Square Theatre / West End Theatre Mrs. Billings F. Cooings1906Cape Cod FolksAcademy of MusicSophronia1905Peter PanEmpire TheatreLiza
Selected discography YearSingleLabel and numberUS Chart1917"M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I"Columbia 22242"Till the Clouds Roll By" (w/ James Harrod) / "Drip, Drip, Drip, Went the Waterfall"Columbia 22611"Help, Help, I'm Sinking"Columbia 2295-"There's a Million Reasons Why I Shouldn't Kiss You" (w/ Sam Ash)Columbia 2303-"How Can Any Girlie Be a Good Little Girl (When She Loves a Naughty Little Boy?)Columbia 2334-"I Don't Want to be Loved a Little by a Lot of Little Boys (But by One Little Boy a Lot)" (from the musical, His Little Widows)/"I'd Love to be a Monkey in the Zoo"Columbia 2384-
References
External links Anna Wheaton at Discogs Anna Wheaton at the Internet Broadway Database