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.

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, 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. Loretta Young made a recording of the story for Decca records released in 1950. 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).

Birth and Death Data: Born June 2, 1900 (Des Moines), Died June 26, 1972 (Chesterfield)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca L 3760 10-in. 3/28/1945 The littlest angel: Part 1 Loretta Young author  
Decca L 3761 10-in. 3/28/1945 The littlest angel: Part 2 Loretta Young author  
Decca L 3762 10-in. 3/28/1945 The littlest angel: Part 3 Loretta Young author  
Decca L 3763 10-in. 3/28/1945 The littlest angel: Part 4 Loretta Young author  
Decca L 3764 10-in. 3/28/1945 The littlest angel: Part 5 Loretta Young author  
Decca L 3765 10-in. 3/28/1945 The littlest angel: Part 6 Loretta Young author  
Decca L 4379 3/20/1947 The small one: Part 1 Bing Crosby author  
Decca L 5063 6/26/1949 Lullaby of Christmas: Part 1 Gregory Peck author  
Decca L 5064 6/26/1949 Lullaby of Christmas: Part 2 Gregory Peck author  
Decca L 5065 7/26/1949 Lullaby of Christmas: Part 3 Gregory Peck author  
Decca L 5066 6/26/1949 Lullaby of Christmas: Part 4 Gregory Peck author  
Decca L 5067 6/26/1949 Lullaby of Christmas: Part 5 Gregory Peck author  
Decca L 5068 6/26/1949 Lullaby of Christmas: Part 6 Gregory Peck author  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tazewell, Charles," accessed June 1, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/210062.

Tazewell, Charles. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/210062.

"Tazewell, Charles." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 1 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/210062

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