Allan Carr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allan Carr
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Carr in 1989
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| Born |
Allan Solomon
May 27, 1937 |
| Died | June 29, 1999 (aged 62) |
| Education | Lake Forest College |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1969–1999 |
Allan Carr (born Allan Solomon; May 27, 1937 – June 29, 1999) was an American producer and manager. He helped create many famous movies and stage shows. Carr was nominated for several awards, winning a Tony Award and two People's Choice Awards. He was also named Producer of the Year by the National Association of Theatre Owners.
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Early Career in Show Business
Allan Carr was born Allan Solomon in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Lake Forest College and Northwestern University. But his real passion was always show business. While still in college, he invested a small amount of money in a Broadway musical called Ziegfeld Follies. Later, he invested in another show, The Happiest Millionaire, which was a success. This helped him start his career in entertainment.
In the 1960s, Carr opened the Civic Theater in Chicago. He helped fund plays like The World of Carl Sandburg and Mary Stuart. Over time, he became known for planning amazing events and parties. These events helped promote movies and shows.
Managing Famous People
In 1966, Allan Carr started his own company, Allan Carr Enterprises. He became a talent manager, which means he helped guide the careers of actors and other entertainers. He managed many well-known people, including Tony Curtis, Peter Sellers, Rosalind Russell, and Marlo Thomas.
He also produced several television specials for stars like Ann-Margret. Other famous people he managed included Joan Rivers, Peggy Lee, and Paul Anka. Carr is also known for discovering new talent, such as Mark Hamill, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Steve Guttenberg.
Grease and Broadway Hits
In 1975, a producer named Robert Stigwood hired Allan Carr to help promote the movie Tommy. The film was a big hit. Carr then helped with another film called Survive! in 1976, which was also very successful. This success gave him a lot of influence in Hollywood.
In 1977, Carr helped promote Saturday Night Fever. He turned its movie premiere into a big TV special. It worked so well that Stigwood asked him to work on Grease (1978). Carr not only managed the advertising and premiere party for Grease, but he also helped produce the movie. He even cast his client, Olivia Newton-John, in the film. Grease became the highest-grossing movie of that year, earning almost $100 million. It won two People's Choice Awards.
In 1979, Carr produced the musical film Can't Stop the Music starring the Village People. Although he created grand premieres for it, the movie was released after disco music became less popular and did not do well. Despite this, he went on to produce Grease 2 (1982). While not as big a hit as the first Grease, it was not a financial loss.
Later, Carr saw a play in Paris called La Cage aux Folles. He decided to produce a musical version of it for Broadway. The show opened in 1983 and was a huge success. It ran for five years and won six Tony Awards, including "Best Musical" for Carr.
Producing the Academy Awards
Allan Carr was known for throwing expensive and amazing parties. Because of this, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked him to produce the 61st Academy Awards in 1989. Carr wanted to make the show different and more exciting. He decided the ceremony would not have one host, but instead feature famous actors presenting in pairs.
The show began with a musical number featuring Snow White, played by Eileen Bowman. She tried to greet stars in the audience, which some found a bit awkward. Later, Snow White sang a duet with Rob Lowe. Another musical number featured young actors called "The Stars of Tomorrow."
The ceremony received mixed reviews. However, the TV ratings were slightly better than the previous year. Carr also made some lasting changes to the Oscars. He changed the announcement from "And the winner is..." to "And the Oscar goes to...", which is still used today. He also helped make the red carpet arrivals a bigger part of the show.
Later Projects
After the Academy Awards, Carr continued to work on theater projects. In 1989, he helped create Goya: A Life in Song, a musical about the artist Francisco Goya. Famous singers like Plácido Domingo and Dionne Warwick recorded music from it.
Carr also supported Royal Shakespeare Company productions like Cyrano de Bergerac and Much Ado About Nothing. These shows earned many Tony Award nominations. In 1998, Carr returned to Paramount Pictures to help re-release Grease for its 20th anniversary. This included a TV special and new versions of the movie and soundtrack.
Production Filmography
Allan Carr produced many movies, including:
- The First Time (1969)
- C.C. and Company (1970)
- Grease (1978)
- Can't Stop the Music (1980)
- Grease 2 (1982)
- Where the Boys Are '84 (1984)
- Cloak & Dagger (1984)
Personal Life and Death
Allan Carr passed away on June 29, 1999, in Beverly Hills, California, from liver cancer. At the time of his death, he was working on new theater projects. His ashes were scattered at sea in Hawaii by his friends.
In 2017, a documentary about Allan Carr's life was released called The Fabulous Allan Carr.
