Charles Tazewell

Charles Tazewell (June 2, 1900 – June 26, 1972) was a radio playwright and children's book author, whose work has been adapted multiple times for film.[1]

Charles Tazewell
Born(1900-06-02)June 2, 1900
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 1972(1972-06-26) (aged 72)
Chesterfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
OccupationRadio playwright, writer
LanguageEnglish
ResidenceChesterfield, New Hampshire, U.S.
GenreChildren's literature
Notable worksThe Small One (1947)

He was the author of the children's book The Small One, which The Walt Disney Company adapted into the animated short of the same name in 1978.

In 1939 he wrote an unproduced radio script, The Littlest Angel, which was published in book form in 1945 and adapted several times for film and radio,[2] most notably as a musical TV drama for the Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1969. The heartwarming tale, written in just three days in 1939, is about a small boy's adjustment to being an angel in heaven and his gift to the holy infant. The beloved and enduring Christmas story has been reprinted countless times and translated into many languages.[3] Loretta Young made a recording of the story for Decca records released in 1950.[4] The TV version starred Johnny Whitaker, Fred Gwynne and John McGiver. A semi-animated version of the story (much of the motion created by "panning" the camera across the artwork) was produced in the 1950s by Coronet Films, and was widely distributed in 16mm for church and school showings.

His book The Littlest Snowman was also adapted into a film as a segment of Christmas Fairy Tale (12 minutes), which can be viewed on YouTube. Previously, a shorter adaptation narrated by Bob Keeshan had been annually shown on the CBS children's daytime television show Captain Kangaroo.

Tazewell was born in Des Moines, Iowa and lived in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. His grave can be found at Lindenwood Cemetery, Stoneham (Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA).

References
  1. Internet Movie Database, Charles Tazewell.
  2. Internet Movie Database search, The Littlest Angel
  3. Des Moines Register, Famous Iowans
  4. Loretta Young recording
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