Thonnis Calhoun

Thonnis Watson Calhoun (1917–1965) was an American writer of plays, radio programs, and television shows.^[1][2]

Biography

Calhoun attended Central High School in Houston, Texas.^[3] He was in the Navy.^[4]

Calhoun earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Texas.^[5][6] He performed in a play for the college's Experimental Theater in 1947.^[7] While he was a sophomore in 1948, his political satire Josephine was produced.^[8][9]

He was involved in theatre in Houston.^[10][11][4] He submitted a script to Elliott Lewis of the radio show On Stage; Lewis called Calhoun in the middle of the night to express his interest. The script was produced as the episode "Canary Yellow".^[4][5][12] He wrote other scripts for radio and television in the 1950s.^[13][14]

Thonnis Calhoun died of a brain tumor at Sawtelle Veterans' Hospital in Los Angeles in 1965. Calhoun's mother, and his sister, Evelyn, survived him.^[15][16]

Selected works

Plays

• And the Clown Laughed. 1945.^[17]
• Josephine. 1948.^[9][8]
• Aeneas '63: A Play in Three Acts. 1948.^[18]
• Take My Hand: A Play in Three Acts. 1948.^[18]
• Story of a Boy: A Play in Three Acts. 1950.^[19]

Radio

• "Canary Yellow". On Stage with Cathy and Elliott Lewis, 1954.^[5][4]
• "Ditty and Mr. Jasper". On Stage with Cathy and Elliott Lewis, 1954.^[4][20]
• "Fork of the Road". On Stage with Cathy and Elliott Lewis, 1954.^[4][21][22]
• "Driftwood". On Stage with Cathy and Elliott Lewis, 1954.^[2][23]
• "The Courage of Carver". Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1955.^[14]

Television work

• The Lineup. Actor: "The Submachine Gun Case", 1955.
• Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. Writer: "Devils Mountain", 1956.^[13]
• Circus Boy. Story: "Elmer the Great", 1956.^[13]
• This Man Dawson. Teleplay: "The Silent Men", 1959.^[13]