Mary Coyle Chase (25 February 1906 – 20 October 1981) was an American journalist, playwright and children's novelist, known primarily for writing the Broadway play Harvey, later adapted for film starring James Stewart. She wrote fourteen plays, two children's novels, one screenplay, and worked seven years at the Rocky Mountain News as a journalist. Three of her plays were made into Hollywood films: Sorority House (1939), Harvey (1950), and Bernardine (1957).
February 25, 1906, Denver, Colorado, United States
Died
October 20, 1981, Denver, Colorado, United States
Place Of Birth
Denver, Colorado, USA
Profession
Writer
Spouse
Robert L. Chase (m. 1928)
Children
Barry Jerome Chase, Colin Chase, Michael Chase
Star Sign
Pisces
#
Fact
1
"Harvey" debuted in an era when only the most popular Broadway plays and musicals ran more than one season, and a run of more than two seasons was considered phenomenal. "Harvey" ran five seasons - debuting on 1 November 1945, closing 15 January 1949 - with 1775 performances at the 48th Street Theatre.
2
From 1924 to 1931, she worked as a reporter for the Denver Times and Rocky Mountain News. She subsequently freelanced for the United Press International news agency and the International News Service.
3
Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Denver in 1947.
4
Was a member of the Dramatists' Guild.
5
Won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the play "Harvey".
6
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 144-145. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Harvey
based on the play by announced
Harvey
1996
TV Movie play
Mein Freund Harvey
1985
TV Movie play "Harvey"
Caniko
1976
TV Movie play "Harvey"
Harvey
1972
TV Movie play
Mein Freund Harvey
1970
TV Movie play "Harvey"
Mein Freund Harvey
1967
TV Movie play "Harvey"
Mein Freund Harvey
1959
TV Movie play
The DuPont Show of the Month
1958
TV Series play - 1 episode
Omnibus
1958
TV Series play - 1 episode
Bernardine
1957
play
Harvey
1950
from the Pulitzer Prize Play by / screenplay
Sorority House
1939
from the story "Chi House" by - as Mary Coyle Chase