Hamtree Harrington

James Carl Harrington was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1889.[1] At 14 years old, Harrington dropped out of school, ran away from home, and joined a traveling carnival.[1][3]

Upon leaving the carnival, Harrington took work as a comedian and Black vaudeville performer, moonlighting as a barber when stage work was unavailable.[1] Throughout the late 1920s, Harrington worked as a vaudeville performer, often teaming up with well-known Black female performers.[3] In the 1930s, Harrington began to perform solo. During that time, he acted in movies, started a singing career, and helped found the Negro Actors' Guild of America.[2] Harrington was one of the featured comics in Lew Leslie's Broadway production of Blackbirds of 1939, which starred Lena Horne and Tim Moore. Harrington's last show was in 1952.[3] The genesis of Harrington's stage name, "Hamtree," is unknown, although it could have come from his large feet.[1]

Early in his career, Harrington romanced a chorus girl named Edna Murray.[3] That relationship produced a son.[3] Not long after, Harrington toured with Maude Mills, a vaudeville actress, whom he married in 1916. Their marriage lasted five years.[1] Harrington never remarried again before his death in 1956.[3]