Partner Cheryl Crawford, Cecelia McMahon
Queer Places:
801 Oak St, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Moonshine, 1000 W Brow Rd, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
Witch's Cabin, 1400 Patten Rd, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
610 Palmetto St, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Forest Hills Cemetery
Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
Dorothy Patten (January 24, 1905 – April 11, 1975) was an American theatre producer and actress.[1]
In the 1930s Cheryl Crawford had an affair with Dorothy
Patten; Crawford rented her apartment to Aaron Copland
so that she could move in with Patten.
Dorothy Patten was born January 24, 1905. She was born in to a wealthy family, part of the Chattanooga Medicine Company founders. Her father was Zeboim Charles Patten and her mother was Helen Lyerly Patten. Z.C. Patten was also known as Jr. so that Chattanooga business world did not confuse him with his uncle, the founder of Chattanooga Medicine Co, Zeboim Cartter Patten. Her mother, Helen Lyerly Patten, was the daughter of Charles Abner Lyerly, who was a banker in Chattanooga.
Dorothy grew up primarily at 801 Oak Street in the Fort Wood District. The family also owned two summerhouses on Lookout Mountain. One was on the brow near Point Park and was named "Moonshine". The second house was in Georgia near the nature trails of the new Rock City and was called " Witches Cabin"
She was educated at Bright School and graduated from Girls Preparatory School in 1922. Dorothy was stage struck at an early age. She was always in the school plays. She continued her education at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City. There was only one other Southern that attended this school and that was Hildegard Scholze. Together they put on a skit that opened the eyes of the northern girls to southern charm. In 1923, Dorothy was chosen to take a steamer voyage and christen the new steamer "The City of Chattanooga". She was 18. The steamer traveled from Chattanooga to Newport News, VA. In Va., Dorothy threw the champagne bottle to christen the boat.
In 1927, Helen Patten died. Z.C. Patten wanted his daughter to stay at home and be the hostess, but the theatre was Dorothy's love. Against the wishes of her father's wishes, the southern socialite journeyed to New York to pursue her career in theatre. She went to Broadway. She walked in and out of Broadway for 4 months before her first job. She really felt the struggles of beginning artists. Her first break was the person of "Penelope" in the play " Elizabeth, the Queen" in 1929. She had to costume her own roles on a $20.00 a week salary.
Patten was linked romantically with actress Cheryl Crawford in the 1930s, who together with Harold Clurman and Lee Strasberg formed The Group Theatre in 1931.[2] Patten financed several of the group's shows, and also acted in several of them. Patten and Crawford lived together and visited each other's family homes in Chattanooga and Akron.[3] Patten returned to Chattanooga during WWII to assist her father with his work. After his death, she donated their family home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to become Patten Hall, and became a philanthropist to arts and theatre organizations in Chattanooga.[4] The house on 610 Palmetto Street was donated to St. Paul's Church. The University's "Patten Performances", funded by her grant and named for her, have been ongoing for over thirty years. As of 2009, it was reported that they had brought theatre performances to over 100,000 people in Chattanooga and earned almost one million dollars for the University.[5] After the break-up of her relationship with Crawford circa 1937, Patten became linked to Cecelia McMahon, who became her lifelong companion.[6]
Dorothy retired at the age of 65. She continued to keep her apartment in New York and she built a cottage in Westhampton on Long Island. It was here on April 11, 1975 that some friends found Dorothy. She had died in her sleep with her dogs at her side waiting for their master to awake. At Dorothy's death, she left her fortune to various charities. She left her Chattem stock to Hamico Foundation. In 1982, "The Love of Chattanooga" Award was established in her honor. The fountain in front of the Chattanooga Bicentennial Library is co-named in her honor as well.
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