Retrospective of MICHAEL BUTLER

BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF

Michael Butler, famed producer of the musical “Hair,” passed away peacefully on November 7, 2022, in Los Angeles, CA. He was born on November 26, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, to Paul Butler and Marjorie von Stresenreuter Butler. He grew up on a farm called

Natoma, which would later become part of Oak Brook.

As the grandson and son of the founders of Oak Brook Polo Club, he and his sister Jorie Butler Kent managed the club for several years in the ’60s and ‘70s. Butler invited His Majesty King Charles III (then HRH. Prince Charles) to Oak Brook in 1986 at which time His Majesty served as captain of the British team. Butler was a champion-caliber polo player who traveled the world to compete in matches. His interest in athletics led him to active participation in many sports beyond polo, including tennis and yachting.

With his many connections and interest in community and world affairs, Butler was involved in local and national politics. He served as an advisor to President Kennedy in the Middle East and was appointed by

Robert F. Kennedy to manage Governor Otto Kerner’s campaign for re-election as Governor of Illinois. He served in several other leadership positions in Illinois government and civic-minded organizations, and national positions related to the game of polo.

In 1967, on business in New York, he happened to see an off-Broadway version of a new play, “Hair”, produced by Joe Papp and liked its anti-war direction. Butler and Papp joined forces to bring it to Broadway, and after a series of changes in direction of the musical to make it more upbeat, Butler took over production and the show opened on Broadway in April 1968. It was called the “American Tribal-Love Rock Musical”.

It ran on Broadway for more than four years and 1750 performances and was nominated for the Tony Award for best musical. He also established a dozen road companies that performed the show throughout North America and overseas while it also played on Broadway. By the 1970s, the show had played in more than 25 countries, in 14 languages, and had been seen by over 25 million people and was made into a film.

It is estimated that over a billion people have seen some version of the musical. It is acknowledged that beyond the stage, “Hair” impacted film, music, as well as politics.

Butler’s involvement throughout the years also included work on the Lenny Bruce--inspired “Lenny,” on Broadway and the “You Are What You Eat” film.

How people who knew Michael Butler, regarded him.

Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Kogan knew Butler for years. He wrote an “Appreciation” of Butler in the

November 29th issue of the Tribune which included these remarks: “His son Adam, who had once been a professional polo player and manager of polo clubs, was in the early 1990s selling insurance. He previously told me, ‘I don’t feel Dad let me down. Maybe he didn’t discuss financial details as fully as I might have liked ... but I love and respect my dad. He always treated me like a human being. He was very open with me. In a family with this sort of stature, it would be easy to lose intimacy. We never did. He’s a great man to me’.”

Kogan also remembered restaurateur Arnie Morton remarking about Michael and tennis in 1996: “He’s a pretty good player…We just started playing together about two years ago. We pretty much break even, though I’m a lot older than he is…He’s a sweet guy. He’s just a plain, sweet, nice guy. There’s nothing about him that would give you any hint about how rich he was or the life he lived.”

Kogan further wrote “Into the 1990s and beyond (Butler) spent much of his time as what he called a ‘rainmaker,’ setting up deals among his worldwide network of friends…He was constantly reading scripts and talking deals.”

“And always there was ‘Hair.’ He had produced a flashy revival at The Vic theater in 1988 and told me at the time, ‘I am as happy and free as I’ve ever been. I have learned a lot about myself and other people in the last few years. What do I want? I want one of these days to spend some time in the Himalayas. I’ve never been there. I think I might like it.’

Butler is survived by his son Adam Butler, Adam’s wife Michelle, and his grandson Liam. He is also survived by his sister Jorie Butler Kent, her daughter Reute Butler as well as his half-sister Wendy Dunaway, and her two daughters Missy West and Jorie Waterman. ■

References: Obituary from the Oak Brook Polo Club, and Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune columnist.