[Ads-l] "Tony" award, slight antedating

[Shapiro, Fred]

Here's a little earlier citation:

Tony (OED 1947 [7 Apr.])

1947 Daily News (New York) 27 Mar. 67/1 (Newspapers.com)

The bestowing of Tonys upon deserving stage workers will be every bit as important as the heaping of Oscars in Hollywood.

Fred Shapiro



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Sent: Monday, June 8, 2026 8:18 AM
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Subject: "Tony" award, slight antedating


OED has 7 April 1947.

Watt Douglas. “Reproduce Canteen for Perry Awards; an Atomic Comedy.” Daily News (New York), 2 April 1947, 63/1. ProQuest Newspapes.

"The balloting for recipients of Tonys has been secret but there are indications that several 'important theatre personalities will be taking bows' Sunday night, not for 'firsts' or 'bests' but for 'original contributions, innovations and departures considered to further a good trend in the theatre.'"

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