Freddy Wittop; Designer of Costumes for Stage Musicals

Freddy Wittop, Tony Award-winning costume designer in a string of David Merrick hits who also created outfits for Paris stars such as Josephine Baker, has died.

Wittop died Feb. 2 at JFK Medical Center in this Palm Beach County community. He was 89.

Best known for his work on “Hello, Dolly!”--for which he won a Tony in 1964--Wittop created the memorable sequined crimson gown for Carol Channing, the show’s star. She wore the dress while singing the musical’s show-stopping title song.

Wittop had a long association with “Dolly!” producer Merrick and designed the clothes for such Merrick shows as “Carnival!” (1961) with Anna Maria Alberghetti; “Subways Are for Sleeping” (1961); “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” with Anthony Newley (1965); “I Do! I Do!” with Mary Martin and Robert Preston (1966); and “The Happy Time” with Robert Goulet (1968).

Among his other musicals were “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” (1965) and “George M!” (1968).

Born in the Netherlands in 1911, Wittop moved with his family to Belgium, where he apprenticed with the resident designer at the Brussels Opera. Moving to Paris in 1931, Wittop designed for the Folies Bergeres and other music halls, creating hundreds of costumes for chorus girls as well as such stars as Baker and Mistinguette.

Wittop also studied Spanish dance and in the 1930s began a professional dancing career in Paris that led to an international tour with the dancer Argentinita. He also toured with Pilar Gomez, Jose Greco and Tina Ramirez.

After he retired from the theater, Wittop served as an adjunct professor in the school of drama at the University of Georgia.