Franklin P. Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franklin P. Adams
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Adams in the 1940s
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| Born | Franklin Leopold Adams November 15, 1881 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | March 23, 1960 (aged 78) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Columnist |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Genre | Light verse, sportswriting |
| Years active | 1903–1941 |
| Notable works | "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" "The Conning Tower" |
Franklin Pierce Adams (born November 15, 1881 – died March 23, 1960) was a famous American writer. People knew him as Franklin P. Adams or just F.P.A. He was well-known for his clever humor. Adams wrote a popular newspaper column called "The Conning Tower." He also appeared often on a radio show called Information Please. He wrote many short, funny poems. Adams was part of a famous group of writers and artists called the Algonquin Round Table. This group met in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s.
Contents
Becoming a Newspaper Columnist
Franklin Leopold Adams was born in Chicago on November 15, 1881. His parents, Moses and Clara Schlossberg Adams, were immigrants from Germany. When he was 13, he changed his middle name to "Pierce."
Adams finished school at Armour Scientific Academy in 1899. He then studied at the University of Michigan for one year. After that, he worked in the insurance business for three years.
Starting His Writing Career
In 1903, Adams began working for the Chicago Daily Journal. He first wrote about sports. Then, he started a humor column called "A Little About Everything." The next year, he moved to New York City.
He joined the New York Evening Mail in 1904. There, he started his famous column, which was first called "Always in Good Humor." Readers could send in their own contributions to his column.
"Baseball's Sad Lexicon"
While at the Evening Mail, Adams wrote his most famous poem. It was called "Baseball's Sad Lexicon." This poem honored the Chicago Cubs' great double play team. It mentioned the players "Tinker to Evers to Chance."
In 1911, he added another column. It was a funny copy of an old diary. It shared notes from F.P.A.'s own life.
"The Conning Tower"
In 1914, Adams moved his column to the New-York Tribune. Here, it got its famous name, "The Conning Tower." This column became known as the best place for clever writing.
During World War I, Adams served in the U.S. Army. He worked in military intelligence. He also wrote a column called "The Listening Post" for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. He became a captain in the army.
After the war, Adams returned to New York. He continued his column at the Tribune. In 1922, he moved to the New York World newspaper. His column stayed there until 1931. Then, the paper joined with the New York Telegram.
He went back to his old paper, which was then called the New York Herald Tribune. He stayed there until 1937. Finally, he moved to the New York Post. He wrote his last column there in September 1941.
Famous Contributors
Many famous writers contributed to "The Conning Tower." These included Robert Benchley, Edna Ferber, and Dorothy Parker. Getting your work published in "The Conning Tower" could help start a writing career. Dorothy Parker once joked that Adams "raised me from a couplet." She even dedicated her 1936 book of poems to him.
The writer E. B. White greatly admired Adams. He said that walking past Adams's house made him feel excited.
Adams is also known for creating the word "aptronym." This word describes last names that fit a person's job or career.
Funny Writings and Parodies
Franklin P. Adams often wrote funny pieces and parodies. A parody is a humorous imitation of something.
No Sirree!
In April 1922, Adams helped create a show called No Sirree!. It was a funny copy of a popular European show. This show was put on for only one night.
No Sirree! was planned at the studio of Neysa McMein. This place was like a meeting spot for the Algonquin Round Table members. The show had many acts. These included songs and short plays. Famous people like Tallulah Bankhead and Helen Hayes were in the "chorus girls" act.
Other Satires
F.P.A. often put parodies in his newspaper column. He wrote a funny version of Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Annabel Lee." This parody was later put into his book, Something Else Again (1910).
Radio Appearances
Franklin P. Adams was a regular guest on the radio show Information Please. He appeared on the show from 1938 to 1948. He was the expert on poetry and old songs. He also knew a lot about Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
A running joke on the show was that if he didn't know a quote, he would say Shakespeare wrote it. Another expert, John Kieran, was the real Shakespeare expert. He could quote from Shakespeare's plays for a long time.
Adams also translated works by old writers like Horace. He worked with O. Henry on a musical comedy called Lo.
Death and Burial
Franklin P. Adams died in Manhattan, New York. His body was cremated. His ashes were buried in Ferncliff Cemetery. There is no marker on his grave.
Film Portrayal
The actor Chip Zien played Franklin P. Adams in the 1994 movie Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle.
Quotes
- "I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way."
- "To err is human; to forgive, infrequent."
- "Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody."
See also
- Eugene Field
- Edgar Guest
- Nick Kenny
- O. O. McIntyre
