Classic Car Culture & History Making James Melton

James Melton was known as 'America's Favorite Tenor' from the 1920s through the 1950s. His fame as a singer, however, was eventually eclipsed by his passion for collecting classic, antique, and vintage cars.

This well-illustrated lecture by Mr. O’Leary will revisit the life of renown tenor and car collector James Melton and explore his automotive history following a recent discovery of documents, photographs and artifacts dating back to the 1940s. These documents had been missing for over 70 years, since the closure of the Melton Museum, one of Connecticut's major tourist attractions in 1953. Mr. O’Leary will take guests on a journey of discovery highlighting local stories and connecting Mr. Melton to national events with politicians and celebrities who loved cars and knew James Melton.

About our Speaker

Mr. O’Leary has an active research agenda, exploring topics related to the history of the automobile. His interests include renowned automobile restorer Gustav Reuter (Reuter’s Coach Work in the Bronx, NY), famed collector James Melton (Melton Museum and James Melton Autorama) and the saga of the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K 'Aktion P' (chassis # 408377) from WWII. As the archivist for Reuter’s Coach Works, he provides answers to questions for private individuals and provides research to companies such as RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Bloomberg Intelligence for investment-quality automobiles in the global automotive scene.

John O’Leary has taught a wide variety of courses in business, economics, strategy and international business at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for the University of Hartford, University of Denver, Goodwin University, and Post University. He has worked on a variety of projects in cities around the world including Prague, London, Singapore, Bangkok, and Dubai for companies such as Pratt & Whitney, OTIS Elevator, and Prague Studios.

Thanks to our Sponsors

LMMM’s Lecture Series is sponsored in part by The DiNardo-Aiello Family Fund and Designer/Artist/Author Gail Ingis.

A special thanks to Stepping Stones Museum for Children for hosting this event.

LMMM’s 2025 programs are made possible in part by LMMM’s Founding Patrons: The Estate of Mrs. Cynthia Clark Brown; LMMM’s Leadership Patrons: Dr. Michele & Attorney Miklos Koleszar; The Sealark Foundation; and LMMM’s 2025 Season Distinguished Benefactors: The City of Norwalk, The Maurice Goodman Foundation, Inc. and Lockwood-Mathews Foundation, Inc.

Photos: 1948: James Melton outside the Melton Museum (Norwalk, Conn.) standing between his 1907 Rolls Royce and 1914 Mercer Raceabout. Note the Connecticut vanity license plates 'XMAS' and 'JIML'. Courtesy John J. O'Leary IV | 1901 Frisbie (built in Cromwell, Conn.) inside the Melton Museum (Norwalk, Conn). Courtesy Margo Melton Nutt | James Melton by Charles E. Rubino - Radio Guide Dec 07, 1935 (Public Domain WikiCommons)

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