George W. M. Nutt (Commodore Nutt)
April 1 1848 – May 25 1881
George Washington Morrison Nutt (April 1, 1848-May 25, 1881), better known by his stage name “Commodore Nutt,” was an entertainer who worked for P.T. Barnum, and toured with Charles S. Stratton (“General Tom Thumb”), M. Lavinia Warren, and Minnie Warren, and others. He, too, was a little person with proportional dwarfism that caused him to be both small and “miniature.”
Nutt was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of a major in the military named Rodnia Nutt and his wife Maria Dodge. George himself likely started in show business around 1854, thanks to the popularity of little people as performers. Nutt first became acquainted with P.T. Barnum while Nutt was touring New England with a different manager who did little to see to George's education. In December 1861 at age 13, Nutt signed a contract and became one of the performer's at Barnum's American Museum, along with others such as Anna Swan, M. Lavinia Warren, and Charles S. Stratton. Nutt was also joined by his brother, Rodnia, Jr., who was also a little person.
Barnum put Nutt’s surname to good use in the publicity of his new star, making clever references to the word nut in various advertisements. Following the pattern Barnum set with others of his male performers Nutt was given a military title, Commodore, and costumed accordingly. Barnum also had a special show carriage created, carved in the shape of a walnut. The carriage is now owned by the Barnum Museum. As a young performer, Nutt did extremely well, and was often paired on stage with Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb), whom Barnum had engaged and worked with since 1842.
Nutt served as the best man at Stratton’s wedding in 1863, in spite of having been smitten by Stratton’s intended, M. Lavinia Warren. Following the wedding, Nutt joined Stratton, Warren, and Warren's younger sister Minnie on a tour, forming the Tom Thumb Company. Nutt quit the company in 1872, and moved onto Harry Deakin's Lilliputian Comic Opera Company. Later on in life, Nutt attempted a few variety shows of his own, but none quite took off the way they had earlier in life. He was known to drink in excess, which undoubtedly affected his career.
In 1879, Nutt married Lillian Elston. Elston was not a little person, and the two remained married until Nutt’s death in 1881. Nutt spent his last few years in New York City, where he attempted to open a saloon without a liquor license. He was in charge of amusements at Rockaway Pier. Nutt died of Bright's disease on May 25, 1881.
Nutt was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of a major in the military named Rodnia Nutt and his wife Maria Dodge. George himself likely started in show business around 1854, thanks to the popularity of little people as performers. Nutt first became acquainted with P.T. Barnum while Nutt was touring New England with a different manager who did little to see to George's education. In December 1861 at age 13, Nutt signed a contract and became one of the performer's at Barnum's American Museum, along with others such as Anna Swan, M. Lavinia Warren, and Charles S. Stratton. Nutt was also joined by his brother, Rodnia, Jr., who was also a little person.
Barnum put Nutt’s surname to good use in the publicity of his new star, making clever references to the word nut in various advertisements. Following the pattern Barnum set with others of his male performers Nutt was given a military title, Commodore, and costumed accordingly. Barnum also had a special show carriage created, carved in the shape of a walnut. The carriage is now owned by the Barnum Museum. As a young performer, Nutt did extremely well, and was often paired on stage with Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb), whom Barnum had engaged and worked with since 1842.
Nutt served as the best man at Stratton’s wedding in 1863, in spite of having been smitten by Stratton’s intended, M. Lavinia Warren. Following the wedding, Nutt joined Stratton, Warren, and Warren's younger sister Minnie on a tour, forming the Tom Thumb Company. Nutt quit the company in 1872, and moved onto Harry Deakin's Lilliputian Comic Opera Company. Later on in life, Nutt attempted a few variety shows of his own, but none quite took off the way they had earlier in life. He was known to drink in excess, which undoubtedly affected his career.
In 1879, Nutt married Lillian Elston. Elston was not a little person, and the two remained married until Nutt’s death in 1881. Nutt spent his last few years in New York City, where he attempted to open a saloon without a liquor license. He was in charge of amusements at Rockaway Pier. Nutt died of Bright's disease on May 25, 1881.
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