Here’s the 1960 Tony Awards, with a segment at the 22:35 mark that is of special interest this being Thurber Thursday.
At that mark you’ll see the actor Eddie Albert introduce Elliot Nugent to “present an award to his college friend, Mr. James Thurber.” The award was a Special Tony for A Thurber Carnival (as you’ll see, a Special Tony was also presented to the revue’s director, Burgess Meredith who accompanied Thurber to the stage).
If you stick around for the entire broadcast you’ll see Vivien Leigh, Jackie Gleason, Christopher Plummer, Lauren Bacall, Anne Bancroft, Ray Bolger, and so many more.
Screenshot: Burgess Meredith, Thurber, and Elliot Nugent
Nugent and Thurber never did lose their Midwestern voices! It’s great to see them and Burgess Meredith in motion.
Thurber’s Tony award disappeared from the Thurber House museum room in Columbus, Ohio, a number of years ago. If anyone has seen it since, please let them know!