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5 unusual facts about Kenneth MacKenna


Kenneth MacKenna

the son of a prominent Reform rabbi, Moses Mielziner, and Ella Lane McKenna Friend (March 18, 1873 – February 2, 1968).

Mary Martin, who starred in that production, created an embroidered signature scarf of all the stars in that first production of South Pacific and presented it as a gift of thanks to Kenneth and Mary.

The Moses Mielziner family, Kenneth's paternal grandfather, immigrated from Posen, Prussia, and Kenneth's grandfather was a Reform Rabbi, Moses Mielziner associated with Hebrew Union College Moses Mielziner was a descendant of Joseph Caro.

Much about the life of Kenneth MacKenna, the history of Moses Mielziner, his grandfather, and the life of his brother Jo Mielziner can be learned through the respectful and accurate descriptions given in Mary C. Henderson's book about his brother, Jo Mielziner, Mielziner: Master of Modern Stage Design (2001).

Moses Mielziner

Leo Mielziner would marry Ella Friend McKenna and become the father of five-time Tony Award winning stage designer, Jo Mielziner and of the noted actor and MGM Story Director, Kenneth MacKenna.


Sin Takes a Holiday

Plain, poor secretary Sylvia Brenner (Constance Bennett) is secretly in love with her philandering boss, Gaylord Stanton (Kenneth MacKenna).


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