Richard Pike Bissell was an American author of short stories and novels. His third book, and second novel, 7½ Cents, was adapted into the Broadway musical The Pajama Game. This won him the 1955 Tony Award for Best Musical. He wrote a book about the experience called Say, Darling, which chronicled the ins and outs of a Broadway musical production and featured characters based on those he worked with; this book was also turned into a musical, also called Say, Darling, in 1958.
Richard Bissell, early 1950s
Portrait of Bissell at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the 1953 novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell.
The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his choreography debut. The story deals with labor troubles and romance in a pajama factory.
Original Broadway windowcard illustrated by Peter Arno