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Gray, Houston Albert (Tony) (June 18, 1913-November 26, 1989)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: June 18, 1913 - November 26, 1989

Biography

Houston A. (“Tony”) Gray was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 18, 1913. He attended Kansas City Kansas Community College, graduating in 1933, and went on to receive a BA in English Literature from the University of Kansas in 1935, as well as an MA in English Literature from Harvard in 1937. Serving in the Army during World War II, Gray produced a mimeographed news-sheet for the troops and directed theatrical productions in Belgium and France.

Moving back to New York City after the war, Gray found success as an editor and playwright. Among his works for the stage are New York Nativity Play and Noah and the Flood, which was an adaptation of an old English Mystery Play. He edited the magazine Photoplay for five years, and also worked as editor on Movie Play, Movie Spotlight, Movie Western, Silver Screen, and Screenland.

Gray returned to the Kansas City area in 1960, at which time he began operating Gray’s Tree Farm in Edwardsville, Kansas, which he would continue to do until his death. In 1984-85, a Houston Gray Film Series was presented at the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, including displays from his collection of movie memorabilia, which had been donated to the school in February 1984. He died on November 26, 1989 in Kansas City, Kansas, at the age of 76.

Source: Derived from Mary P. Fenlon’s Background Notes for the Houston Gray Collection at KCKCC, the entirety of which can be found in Box 1, Folder 1.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Houston "Tony" Gray Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0239
Scope and Contents The Houston "Tony" Gray Collection was a transfer from Kansas City Kansas Community College in July 2013. The collection is comprised almost entirely of movie memorabilia, including Periodicals, Promotional Materials, Photographs, and a wide array of other film-related items, spanning decades from the 1910s to the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the collection was Gray’s, though some of the items were acquired by Gray from Reed Porter, a columnist for the Hollywood Reporter.The...
Dates: 1910 - 1988