Cleon Throckmorton

Cleon Francis "Throck" Throckmorton (October 8, 1897 – October 23, 1965) was an American painter, theatrical designer, producer, and architect. During the early 1920s, Throckmorton resided in Washington, D.C., where he created sets for stage productions by Howard University, a historically black college.

While associated with Howard University, he operated the Krazy Kat speakeasy in Washington, D.C., a gathering place for artists and intellectuals. After noticing Throckmorton's set design work for Ridgely Torrence's Simon the Cyrenian at Howard University, producer George Cram Cook recruited Throckmorton to create the sets for the Provincetown Players' upcoming production of playwright Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones.

Following the success of The Emperor Jones, Throckmorton became one of the most prolific set designers of the Jazz Age. His set designs were featured in over six hundred productions. During the heyday of his career, it was said that the only person whose name appeared on more playbills than Throckmorton's was the fire commissioner. He was posthumously inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2002.