John O'Hara, 1905 - 1970 Writer John O'Hara was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1905. Many of his novels and short stories were set in fictionally named Pennsylvania towns with the main themes centering on class conflict and status. O'Hara began writing for the New Yorker in 1928; and during his life, sold 225 stories to the magazine. His first collection, "The Doctor's Son and Other Stories" (1935) was followed by twelve more, one of which "Pal Joey" (1940), was made into a Broadway musical by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Some of his published novels include "Appointment in Samarra" (1934), "Butterfield 8" (1935; filmed 1960), "A Rage to Live" (1949), "Ten North Frederick" (1955),… which won the National Book Award, "From the Terrace" (1958; filmed 1960), "The Lockwood Concern" (1965) and "The Good Samaritan and Other Stories" (published posthumously in 1974).