Joseph P. Bickerton Jr.

Joseph Ponsford Bickerton Jr. (July 15, 1878 – August 20, 1936) was an attorney and theatrical producer.

Early years and education Joseph P. Bickerton Jr. was the son of Joseph Ponsford Bickerton, a salesman, and Emma P. Jaques. Joseph Junior studied at Princeton University, but had to leave for financial reasons during his freshman year. He became a lawyer after working in law offices without having attended law school.

Bickerton managed the career of actor Charley Grapewin, on tour with a play called Above the Limit. The play closed, leaving Bickerton with a full set of scenery on his hands. He thereupon sat down and wrote a play to fit the scenery, entitled The House on the Bluff, which was profitable.

Attorney and producer L. to. R.: Joseph P. Bickerton Jr. (theatre producer), Elmer Rice (playwright) and Carl Laemmle Jr. sign a contract for the film version of Counsellor at Law

Among Bickerton's clients were Florenz Ziegfeld, David Belasco, Elmer Rice, George Abbott, Philip Dunning, Sidney Kingsley and Ed Wynn. Bickerton was the producer of the musical Adele and Rice's play Counsellor at Law. Bickerton also produced The Vortex, Noël Coward's debut on Broadway.