Caldwell, Anne (1876–1936)
Caldwell, Anne (1876–1936)
American lyricist. Name variations: Anne O'Dea. Born Anne Marsh Caldwell in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1876; died on October 22, 1936; educated in New Bedford and Fairhaven; married James O'Dea.
In an age when many creative occupations were closed to women in American musical theater, a number of women lyricists made contributions to the field that would prove of historical importance. Anne Caldwell was among this group, which also included Rida Johnson Young and Dorothy Donnelly , and she was a prolific Broadway lyricist from 1912. Her collaborations with Jerome Kern totaled eight musicals for which Caldwell wrote lyrics and often the librettos. Caldwell also provided lyrics for one of Kern's collaborations with Otto Harbach, Criss Cross, starring Fred Stone. Thomas Hischak lauded this musical farce for its "delightfully silly" songs, including "In Araby with You," "You Will, Won't You?" and "I Love My Little Susie," the latter of which was sung by Fred Stone to a camel. She also collaborated on songs for the films Babes in Toyland and Flying Down to Rio. Caldwell retired in 1928.