Michael P. Grace II

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The Imperial Theater. Michael Grace's production of John Murray Anderson's Almanac premiered there in 1953.

Michael Paul Grace ll (August 6, 1917– April 1, 1995)[1] was the producer of the Broadway shows King of Friday's Men (1951)[2] and John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953).[3]

He was the lyricist and composer of some of the music for the Almanac show and was the author/co-author of a variety of copyrighted music in the recording industry.[4]

He later became an oil and gas producer as well as becoming involved in mining industry applications of oil and gas technology by means of what is called solutions mining. He made philanthropic donations to create several professorships at Notre Dame University.

Early life[edit]

Michael P. Grace II was born on August 6, 1917. His father was Joseph P. Grace, the former chairman of W. R. Grace and Company,[5] and his siblings were Janet Maureen Grace, Charles M. Grace and J. Peter Grace, who was also the former chairman of W. R. Grace and Company.[6] His grandfather was William Russell Grace, the first Roman Catholic mayor of New York City and the founder of W. R. Grace and Company. His great uncle was industrialist and chairman of the board of the directors of W. R. Grace, Michael P. Grace.

He attended Harvard University, University of Notre Dame, and Fordham School of Law.[7]

Theatre and music career[edit]

Sean McClory was in Grace's production of King of Friday's Men as Rory Commons. Seen here with Nan Leslie in the television show The Californians (1957-1959)

King of Friday's Men[edit]

He first produced King of Friday's Men in 1951 on Broadway in New York City. It was a comedy set in the 18th century Ireland by Irish playwright Michael Joseph Molloy, and had been directed by David Alexander.[8]

The cast members for the show were:

Sean McClory: Rory Commons

Maggie McNamara: Una Brehony

Walter Macken: Bartley Dowd

Both his grandfather, William R. Grace, and his great uncle, Michael P. Grace, had been born in Ireland.

However, the show closed after two days and four performances.[9][10]

John Murray Anderson's Almanac[edit]

Mike Grace's production of John Murray Anderson's Almanac was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson, seen here in an image from approximately 1918.

He then produced with Stanley Gilky and Harry Rigby the Broadway production of the musical revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac, which opened on December 10, 1953, and continued until June 26, 1954. The show ran for 229 performances.[11]

John Murray Anderson's Almanac was a music and comedy revue and consisted of casts members Billy De Wolfe, Orson Bean, Tina Louise, Hermione Gingold, Harry Belafonte, Polly Bergen, Carleton Carpenter, and Monique van Mooren. The show was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson, and Henry Sullivan was one of the composers. Both had worked together in Murray Anderson's Almanac (1929)[12] as well as on part of the soundtrack for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).[13]

Michael P. Grace II, along with being one of the producers, wrote some of the music and lyrics for the show as well.[14] Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, who wrote most of the music and lyrics, started their careers in Broadway theatre with this show, going on to write songs for The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees over the course of the next two years (1954–1955).[15][16] Singer and actress Hermione Gingold, originally from England, started her Broadway career as well with this show. She and fellow cast member Billy de Wolfe would go on to win the 1954 Donaldson Award for Male and Female Debut in a Musical. In the same award ceremony, Harry Belafonte won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.[17]

Hermione Gingold, seen here in publicity image for I've Got a Secret, began her career on Broadway as well as in US cinema with Mike Grace's production John Murray Anderson's Almanac.
Examples of music talent management:
Before John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953) After the 1953 Show
John Murray Anderson & Henry Sullivan had written part of the soundtrack for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, who had written a majority of the music, would go on to write music for The Pajama Game (1954) and Damn Yankees (1955).
Billie Holiday starred in the Jazz Under the Stars concert. Image from 1947

Concert producer[edit]

In 1957, Grace and Chris F. Anderson presented Jazz Under the Stars at the Wollman Memorial Theatre in New York City's Central Park. It was produced by Grace in association with Monte Kay and Pete Kameron. Kay and Kameron would later go on to create FM Records. The show starred Billie Holiday, the Jerry Mulligan Quartet, Dinah Washington, Buddy Rich, Stan Getz, and Jo Jones. Commentary was provided by Al "Jazzbo" Collins and Sean Shepherd.[18]

Composer and lyricist[edit]

Grace, along with having created some of the music and lyrics to his Broadway production, had written a variety of copyrighted songs for the recording industry as well. He wrote/co-wrote the music for Teeny, Weeny Martini (1953) and Cradled in the Arms of Love (1953) with Sammy Gallup and Helmy Kresa.[19][20] He and John Rox, a fellow lyricist and composer from the Almanac show, wrote Let a Little Time Go By (1954).[21] He also did musical collaborations with Clay Boland and Alfonso D'Artega. (Please See Discography Below).

Personal life[edit]

Michael Grace and Corinne Bissette were married at the Sacred Heart Chapel on the University of Notre Dame campus in 1954. Notre Dame was Mike Grace's alma mater.

While his Almanac musical was on stage on Broadway, Michael Grace married Corinne Bissette, an actress and graduate from the Women's College at the University of North Carolina. The wedding was held at Michael Grace's alma mater, the University of Notre Dame at the university's chapel of the Sacred Heart. The wedding took place on April 26, 1954. At the time of the wedding, he was president of Fatima Charities in New York City.[7]

Discography[edit]

Title Year Words Music
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder[22] 1947 Michael Grace, George Tonak,

Nola Hooper, & Dale Wood

Michael Grace, George Tonak,

Nola Hooper,

& Dale Wood

Are You Really in Love[23] 1947 Michael Grace & Charlie Beal Michael Grace & Charlie Beal
Brooklyn, USA[24] 1947 Michael Grace Michael Grace
Darling[25] 1947 Michael Grace & Dale Wood Michael Grace & Dale Wood
Did You Know I Love You[26] 1947 Michael Grace & Dale Wood Michael Grace & Dale Wood
FATIMA-Lady of Love[27] 1947 Michael Grace & Carl Tucker † Michael Grace & Carl Tucker
GEE, I'd Like to Fall in Love[28] 1947 Michael Grace Michael Grace
Hangin' 'Round[29] 1947 Michael Grace, George Tonak,

& Dale Wood

Michael Grace, George Tonak,

& Dale Wood

I Dare to Dream[30] 1947 Michael Grace, George Tonak,

& Dale Wood

Michael Grace, George Tonak,

& Carl Tucker

GO FOR YOU[31] 1947 Michael Grace & Dale Wood Michael Grace & Dale Wood
If Love Can Happen[32] 1947 Michael Grace & Dale Wood Clay Boland
I am Just a Hillbilly Boy[33] 1947 Michael Grace Michael Grace
I'm Tired of Being the Fall Guy[34] 1947 Michael Grace & Carl Tucker Michael Grace & Carl Tucker
Isn't Love a Funny Thing[35] 1947 Michael Grace & Clay Boland Michael Grace & Clay Boland
Personality Tune[36] 1947 Michael Grace & Carl Tucker Michael Grace & Carl Tucker
Pourquoi[37] 1947 Michael Grace, Carl Tucker,

& Dale Wood

Michael Grace, Carl Tucker,

& Dale Wood

Roses Sprinkled With Stardust[38] 1947 Michael Grace, William Sullivan,

Dale Wood, & Phil Venegas

Mike Grace, William Sullivan,

Dale Wood, & Phil Vanegas

Santa Mater Ecclesia[39] 1947 Michael Grace & Carl Tucker Michael Grace & Carl Tucker
Song of the East[40] 1947 Michael Grace & Dale Wood Clay Boland
The Yankee Polka[41] 1947 Michael Grace Michael Grace
Smiling through the tears[42] 1948 James Cassin & Marin Bierne Michael Grace & Dale Wood
That's Why My Heart Feels So Gay[43] 1948 Michael Grace & Maureen Grace Michael Grace &

Maureen Grace (his sister)

Pourquoi[44] 1948 Michael Grace & Carl Tucker Michael Grace & Carl Tucker
Marry Me[45] 1948 Michael Grace Michael Grace
Calling All Cars

Police, secours[46]

1949 English Version: Michael Grace

French Version: Michael Emer

Michael Emer
Baby[47] 1949 Michael Grace Michael Grace
I Never Saw So Much Love as

I See in Your Eyes[48]

1952 Jack Scholl Michael Grace & Helmy Kresa
Miracle of Fatima[49] 1952 Michael Grace Helmy Kresa
Astral Ballet[50]†† 1953 Michael Grace & Alfonso D'Artega
Act I, Opening Act[51](John Murray Anderson's Almanac) 1953 Michael Grace
Are They Really In Love?[52] 1953 Michael Grace Michael Grace
I'm Not Walking, I'm Dancing[53] 1953 Sammy Gallop Michael Grace
Midnight in New York[54] 1953 Sammy Gallop Michael Grace & Helmy Kresa
Christmas Holiday[55] 1953 Michael Grace Michael Grace
I Dare to Dream[56] 1953 Sammy Gallop Michael Grace & Carl Tucker
Fall in Love[57] 1953 Michael Grace Michael Grace
Teeny, Weeny Martini[58] 1953 Sammy Gallop Michael Grace & Helmy Kresa
Cradled in the Arms of Love[20] 1953 Sammy Gallop Michael Grace & Helmy Kresa
Be Natural[59] 1953 Michael Grace Michael Grace
Let a Little Time Go By[21] 1954 John Rox††† Michael Grace
Let a Little Time Go By[58] 1978 Michael Grace

NOTES:

†- Carl Tucker would later go on to write additional music in Grace's production on John Murray Anderson's Almanac[60]

††-Alfonso D'Artega & William D. Van Ness had written a screenplay for a science fiction musical fantasy in 1953.[61]

†††-John Rox and Mike Grace were both composers and lyricists in John Murray Anderson's Almanac.

Oil industry[edit]

In 1965, he started a new career as an oil and gas producer. He operated wells mostly in New Mexico and was based in Carlsbad, New Mexico.[62] In 1975, he took a case all the way to the New Mexico Supreme Court concerning the proration of natural gas production in the South-Carlsbad Morrow Gas Pool in Eddy County.[63] In the 1970s, he was able to lease acreage from Santa Fe Pacific Railroad in attempt to produce uranium ore from a depth of 3,000 to 5,000 feet with a process called solution mining.[64]

Wells[edit]

Wells produced or with participatory interest by Michael P. Grace in New Mexico

  • Humble Grace (1970)[65]
  • Tracy B[66](1974)
  • Grace Atlantic #001[67](1973)
  • Airport Grace[68](1973)

Philanthropy[edit]

Billie Holiday at the Club Bali (1948).

According to the NPR (National Public Radio) article about Billie Holiday, Billie Full Of Grace: How Billie Holiday Learned to Sing at the House of the Good Shepherd, Grace, a fellow Catholic, stepped up to pay for her funeral in 1959.[69]

He provided the charitable contributions for the Michael P. Grace Chair in Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame in the US. The professorship is a part of scholarly work in medieval research.

A good example of the professorship's success was its encouragement for the writing of the book Aquinas on Human Action: A Theory of Practice[70] by Ralph McInerny, Michael P. Grace Professor of medieval studies in the department of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame.

His charitable contribution also created a professorship and assistant professorship in economics at the university.[71]

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.fold3.com/record/12349445/michael-p-grace-us-social-security-death-index
  2. ^ https://playbill.com/production/the-king-of-fridays-men-playhouse-theatre-vault-0000009381
  3. ^ "Cast and Production Credits for John Murray Anderson's Almanac (Playbill)".
  4. ^ "US Copyright Office, Song written or cowritten by Michael P. Grace". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  5. ^ "Michael P Grace in the 1940 Census". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  6. ^ "Matter of Grace". The reference is a court case which explains how the person in this biography is related to J. Peter Grace and Joseph Grace.
  7. ^ a b "MISS BISSETTE WED i TO MICHAEL GRACE". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  8. ^ "IRISH COMEDY DUE TO OPEN TONIGHT". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "The King of Friday's Men". Playbill.
  10. ^ Louis Calta (February 24, 1951). "Molloy's Comedy Quits Broadway; King of Friday's Men Taker Off Boards After 4th Showing – 2 Others End Tonight". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  11. ^ "Jerome Murray Anderson's Almanac". Playbill.
  12. ^ "Murray Anderson's Almanac (Playbill)".
  13. ^ "WebVoyage Titles". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  14. ^ "Production Credits for John Murray Anderson's Almanac (Playbill)".
  15. ^ "Richard Adler". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  16. ^ "Jerry Ross". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  17. ^ Billboard, 1953-1954 Donaldson Award Winners, p. 54. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1954-06-19.
  18. ^ "Flicklives". www.flicklives.com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  19. ^ "US Copyright Office for Copyright of "Teeny, weeny martini", the song". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  20. ^ a b "US Copyright Office for copyright of "Cradled in the arms of love" song". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  21. ^ a b "US Copyright Office for copyright of "Let a little time go by" (1954) song". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  22. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0108 1945-1954
  23. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0109 1945-1954
  24. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0110 1945-1954
  25. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0112 1945-1954
  26. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0113 1945-1954
  27. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0114 1945-1954
  28. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0117 1945-1954
  29. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0118 1945-1954
  30. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0119 1945-1954
  31. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0121 1945-1954
  32. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0124 1945-1954
  33. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0125 1945-1954
  34. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0127 1945-1954
  35. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0128 1945-1954
  36. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0132 1945-1954
  37. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0134 1945-1954
  38. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0135 1945-1954
  39. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0136 1945-1954
  40. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0139 1945-1954
  41. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0141 1945-1954
  42. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0137 1945-1954
  43. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0140 1945-1954
  44. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0133 1945-1954
  45. ^ Grace, Michael P. R602339 Marry Me, words and music by Michael P. Grace © 1 April 1948; R602339
  46. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0147 1945-1954
  47. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0145 1945-1954
  48. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0123 1945-1954
  49. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0130 1945-1954
  50. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0144 1945-1954
  51. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0142 1945-1954
  52. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0143 1945-1954
  53. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0126 1945-1954
  54. ^ T rea, lelmy.MIDNIGHT IN NEW, YORK; w Sammy Gallopm Michael Grace &'Helmy Kresa ©Gabriel Records 7May53 EU315329IILibrary of CongressCopyright Office
  55. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0148 1945-1954
  56. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0120 1945-1954
  57. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0114 1945-1954
  58. ^ a b "US Copyright Office for copyright of "Teeny, Weeny Martini" song". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  59. ^ US Copyright Office Virtual Card Catalog, Drawer: Grac-Grac, Card #.0146 1945-1954
  60. ^ "Carl Tucker – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
  61. ^ US Copyright Virtual Card Catalog Drawer Label: Drawer: VANN-VANR Card .0172 1946-1954
  62. ^ "Obituary for Corinne B. Grace at West Funeral Home". www.westfuneralhomellc.com. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  63. ^ "Grace v. Oil Conservation Commission of New Mexico, No. 9821". vLex. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  64. ^ "Ormsbee Development Company, a Wyoming Corporation v. Corrine Grace and Michael P. Grace,..., 668 F.2d 1140 – CourtListener.com". CourtListener. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  65. ^ "NM OCD Well Data: Humble Grace" (PDF).
  66. ^ "NM OCD Well Data for Tracy B" (PDF).
  67. ^ "OCD Online: Imaging". ocdimage.emnrd.nm.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  68. ^ "OCD Online: Imaging". ocdimage.emnrd.nm.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  69. ^ "Billie Full Of Grace: How Billie Holiday learned to sing at the House of the Good Shepherd". NPR.
  70. ^ McInerny, Ralph. Aquinas on Human Action: A Theory of Practice. ISBN 9780813221090.
  71. ^ "Michael P. Grace Professorships at Notre Dame University". University of Notre Dame. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
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