Local History: Scatman Crothers Strolled To Fame While Living In Akron Hotel

You’ve probably never heard of Benjamin Sherman Crothers, so you’re unlikely to know he was born in Terre Haute, Ind. If you’re of a certain age, however, you might know his stage name: Scatman Crothers. Did you know that his alias was born in Akron?The bald, raspy-voiced entertainer, whose career peaked 40 years ago with recurring roles in television series such as the NBC sitcom Chico and the Man (1974-1978), voice-over work on Saturday cartoons including CBS’ Harlem Globetrotters (1970-71) and ABC’s Hong Kong Phooey (1974), as well as memorable parts in Hollywood movies such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The Shootist (1976) and The Shining (1980), gained fame as a nightclub entertainer in Northeast Ohio.Crothers was 27 when he visited Akron in 1937 for a limited engagement during the Great Depression.