Emerson Treacy


Emerson Treacy was an American film, Broadway, and radio actor.

Early years

Treacy graduated from St. Joseph College in Philadelphia. When his father died in an automobile accident, Treacy became the executive responsible for the sporting goods factory that his family owned in Philadelphia. Prior to that development, he had planned to study law.

Career

Treacy acted in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He and Gay Seabrook, "two of the best known portrayers of youthful roles in the country", performed in the play Tommy. Other plays in which he appeared included The Master Builder,a Take My Advice, Pigs, and Skidding. On Broadway he portrayed Purdy in Searching for the son.
Treacy's professional acting debut occurred in a Provincetown Players production of Inheritors. He later worked for two years in a company headed by Jasper Deeter.
Treacy portrayed the flustered father of Spanky McFarland in the Our Gang short films Bedtime Worries and Wild Poses.
Treacy played in dozens of other feature films, including small roles in Adam's Rib and The Wrong Man, as well as television programs such as The Lone Ranger, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Perry Mason.
During World War II, Treacy wrote for the United States Office of War Information. He also worked for the American Red Cross as press agent for its chairman, Basil O'Connor, and as director of entertainment in the Southwest Pacific.
In 1949, Treacy sued Eddie Cantor and RKO Pictures for $150,000, alleging that "If You Knew Susie" contained portions of a play he submitted to the studio in 1938.

Personal life and death

Treacy married actress Ann McKay on June 12, 1928, in Loyola College chapel. They had a son, Robert Emerson Treacy.
Treacy died at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital after undergoing surgery on January 10, 1967. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.

Selected filmography

Once a Gentleman - JuniorGirls Demand Excitement - Bobby Cruikshank Once a Hero Sky Raiders - Jimmy DevineThe Mouthpiece - Robert Wilson Okay America! - Jerry RobbinsBedtime Worries - Himself, Spanky's fatherNeighbors' Wives - Jeff LeeWild Poses - Himself, Spanky's fatherTwo Alone - Milt PollardThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head - French Student Pacifist Eight Bells - SparksParty Wire - Martin Honeymoon Limited - Bridegroom