Playwright, Theatrical Producer. He was one of six children of John M. Dunn, an electrochemist, and his wife Mary Dunn. He completed two years of high school. He began his career at age twelve as an extra and a carnival magician, before enlisting in the Navy during World War I. While President Woodrow Wilson was bound for Europe aboard the S. S. George Washington, Dunning was assigned to keep the president's party, the officers and crew in a happy frame of mind. One of his shipboard hits was a farce called "Uncle Tom's Stateroom". The President enjoyed his performance and wrote his appreciation with signature on his program as a memento for Dunning. One of the acts, "Every Sailor," ran for sixty-five consecutive weeks in vaudeville after the war. He collaborated with George Abbott to create "Broadway", one of the most successful plays of the 1920s. They produced "Twentieth Century", the Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur satire on the theater. He served in the Navy during World War II and produced the all-Navy show “Biff! Bang!” He worked in Hollywood for Darryl Zanuck as a screenwriter. After swimming with his wife at Westport's Compo Beach, he complained of shortness of breath. He died en route to the Norwalk Hosptial of a myocardial infarct.
Playwright, Theatrical Producer. He was one of six children of John M. Dunn, an electrochemist, and his wife Mary Dunn. He completed two years of high school. He began his career at age twelve as an extra and a carnival magician, before enlisting in the Navy during World War I. While President Woodrow Wilson was bound for Europe aboard the S. S. George Washington, Dunning was assigned to keep the president's party, the officers and crew in a happy frame of mind. One of his shipboard hits was a farce called "Uncle Tom's Stateroom". The President enjoyed his performance and wrote his appreciation with signature on his program as a memento for Dunning. One of the acts, "Every Sailor," ran for sixty-five consecutive weeks in vaudeville after the war. He collaborated with George Abbott to create "Broadway", one of the most successful plays of the 1920s. They produced "Twentieth Century", the Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur satire on the theater. He served in the Navy during World War II and produced the all-Navy show “Biff! Bang!” He worked in Hollywood for Darryl Zanuck as a screenwriter. After swimming with his wife at Westport's Compo Beach, he complained of shortness of breath. He died en route to the Norwalk Hosptial of a myocardial infarct.
Bio by: kraus
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