[1] At 14 years old, Harrington dropped out of school, ran away from home, and joined a traveling carnival.
During that time, he acted in movies, started a singing career, and helped found the Negro Actors' Guild of America.
[2] Harrington was one of the featured comics in Lew Leslie's Broadway production of Blackbirds of 1939, which starred Lena Horne and Tim Moore.
[4] The genesis of Harrington's stage name, "Hamtree," is unknown, although it could have come from his large feet.
[1] Early in his career, Harrington romanced a chorus girl named Edna Murray.