John Peter Toohey
Encyclopedia
John Peter Toohey was an American writer and publicist. He is best known as a member of the Algonquin Round Table
.
According to Ross and The New Yorker by Dale Kramer, Toohey supplied the name for the famous magazine. According to the story, when several Algonquin types were brainstorming for a name, he asked them about who the magazine was intended for. When he was told "New Yorkers," he replied, "Then call it The New Yorker
"-- and he returned to his lunch.
Toohey started his career as a reporter for the Scranton [Pa.] Tribune, then later worked for the Washington Post and the New York Evening World
before moving into publicity. From 1930 to 1942, Toohey was "general representative," i.e., the chief publicist, of the Broadway
producer Sam H. Harris
's company.
He co-wrote two comedic plays produced on Broadway, Swifty (1922) with Walter C. Percival, and Jonesey (1929) with Anne Morrison.
in the film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
(1994).
Algonquin Round Table
The Algonquin Round Table was a celebrated group of New York City writers, critics, actors and wits. Gathering initially as part of a practical joke, members of "The Vicious Circle", as they dubbed themselves, met for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 until roughly 1929...
.
According to Ross and The New Yorker by Dale Kramer, Toohey supplied the name for the famous magazine. According to the story, when several Algonquin types were brainstorming for a name, he asked them about who the magazine was intended for. When he was told "New Yorkers," he replied, "Then call it The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
"-- and he returned to his lunch.
Toohey started his career as a reporter for the Scranton [Pa.] Tribune, then later worked for the Washington Post and the New York Evening World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
before moving into publicity. From 1930 to 1942, Toohey was "general representative," i.e., the chief publicist, of the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
producer Sam H. Harris
Sam Harris (playwright)
Sam H. Harris was a Broadway producer and theater owner.-Career:After a stint as a cough drop salesman and boxing manager, Harris's first production was Theodore Kremer's The Evil That Men Do co-produced with Al Woods in 1903. Harris found success in 1904 as the producing partner of George M...
's company.
He co-wrote two comedic plays produced on Broadway, Swifty (1922) with Walter C. Percival, and Jonesey (1929) with Anne Morrison.
Film portrayal
Toohey was portrayed by actor Jake JohannsenJake Johannsen
Jake Johannsen is an American comedian.Johannsen attended Iowa State University in the early 1980s, originally majoring in veterinary medicine, and then later changing to chemical engineering. He left after three years in college and relocated to San Francisco, California in order to pursue a...
in the film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle is a 1994 film scripted by writer/director Alan Rudolph and former Washington Star reporter Randy Sue Coburn...
(1994).