Millard Lampell (born Milton Lampell, January 23, 1919 – October 3, 1997) was an American movie and television screenwriter who first became publicly known as a member of the Almanac Singers in the 1940s.

Early life and career

Lampell was born in Paterson, New Jersey, one of five children born to Charles S. and Bertha Lampell."United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4F2-RRK : accessed 24 March 2022), Charles S Lampell, Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 86, sheet 3B, line 73, family 27, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1381; FHL microfilm 2,341,116. He studied at the

West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State Coll ...

, where he gained his first exposure to folk music. In 1940 he formed the Almanac Singers with

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

and Lee Hays, later adding

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...

. Lampell wrote songs with both Seeger and Guthrie, and adapted traditional songs into labor anthems and pro-union messages. During the period of the Hitler-Stalin pact from 1939 to 1941, the group also sang songs attacking

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

as a warmonger and opposing Britain's war against Nazi Germany. After the Almanac Singers disbanded in 1942, Lampell wrote the lyrics for ''The Lonesome Train'', a ballad opera on the death of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

, with music composed by Earl Robinson. He went on to a career as a scriptwriter for movies and, later, television. In the 1950s, he refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was blacklisted. He wrote the screenplay for the marriage guidance film ''This Charming Couple'' (1950) using the pseudonym H. Partnow. Some other of his screenplays were ''

Blind Date A blind date is a social engagement between two people who have not met, usually arranged by a mutual acquaintance. Structure A blind date is arranged for by a mutual acquaintance of both participants. The two people who take part in the blind ...

'' (1959), '' The Idol'' (1966) and ''

Do Not Fold, Staple, Spindle or Mutilate ''Do Not Fold, Staple, Spindle or Mutilate'' is a 1967 Canadian short drama film, directed by John Howe for the National Film Board of Canada.Gary Evans, ''In the National Interest: A Chronicle of the National Film Board of Canada from 1949 to 1 ...

'' (1967). Notable television plays included ''

The Adams Chronicles ''The Adams Chronicles'' is a thirteen-episode miniseries by PBS that aired in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial. Synopsis The series chronicles the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (dra ...

'' and the mini-series '' Rich Man, Poor Man'' (both 1976). In 1966, he was awarded an Emmy for his teleplay for the Hallmark Hall of Fame drama '' Eagle in a Cage''. He also wrote novels, and the play ''The Wall'' which was produced on Broadway. Lampell died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 78.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lampell, Millard 1919 births 1997 deaths Writers from Paterson, New Jersey American male screenwriters American folk singers Deaths from lung cancer Deaths from cancer in Virginia 20th-century American singers Screenwriters from New Jersey 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American screenwriters