The lion's share of information about Hart's personal life comes from a 7 page document that he wrote about himself. It is interesting because it describes a man who has tried many different things, and in summary, appears to be the stereotypical 'artist'. There are many inconsistencies and contradictions in this text. I have resisted explaining them away and present them here pretty much as written, with few edits. He wrote this document in the 3rd person.
Born August 26th, 1924 in New York City, at 116 St. between 1st Avenue and Pleasant Ave. Hart was born under the name Anthony D'Adamo, father being Nicole D'Adamo, Mother's name was Lucia.
The reason why Anthony created the name HART, he believed that everyone in their Heart should love one another, love beauty, love animals, all creatures, trees, flowers, water, mountains - everything good.
At the age of 12, Anthony's father wanted Anthony to learn his trade as a custom tailor, and after school hours to take the 3rd Ave EL, down to 42nd St., then walk to 45th St & Fifth Avenue to his firm. Anthony's father was considered one of the greatest custom tailors in all of New York. One of Nicole's customers was Nelson Rockafella, making 10 - 12 suits a year plus top coats - overcoats plus private customers sent by Sak's Fifth Avenue, DePinna's, Nat Lewis, Phil Harris, Abercrombie & Fitch. Because Anthony refused many times, his father would have him lay across the bed and would lash Anthony at least ten times across his back with a shaving strap. Then Anthony began to really hate his father.
He loved art, yet was very aggresive in his school work. Hart attended Primary School 32 and Senior High 45, Anthony made all posters for any given holiday in various media from pencil to oil paints.
At the age of 13, in 1937, he started his own little business making washing water (Clorox) called Crystilene or Javella. Finding an old baby cariiage and boiling 5 gallons of bleach for $4.00 plus a bag of color, 10 cents, he would make 80 gallons, putting them into the carriage going to tenement buildings from floor to floor carrying three gallons in each hand.
At the same time, Anthony was an alter boy at our Lady of Mt. Carmel at 187th St. Croton Ave. in Bronx. He loved color and the stained glass at the church was too overwhelming for Anthony. In the back of the church was a small field where you could play ball. Well, Anthony threw a hard ball at one of the church windows and took home some of the glass and gluing them together, which came apart a little later. There must be a way. He loved it. He went on to Corona, Queens, seeking no help. Then he went down to Canal Str., NYC where they sold machinery, wire, brass parts, glass cutters etc.
While walking along Mott Street in China town, in a store window was a stained glass lamp shade on a base. The shade was mainly dark blue glass, all in square pieces. Inside the store were six sewing machines, girls sewing ladies' blouses as a business. They all happened to be Chinese. Down the far back was a Chinese man with a pipe in his mouth, sitting at this small table, with a soldering gun and in his other hand a piece of glass, making a lamp. He taught me almost everything to make a lamp. Well, Anthony never went back home. He stayed down in the cellar for a week. He was told to go home, yet the man gave Anthomy some supplies and a place back in Corona that a great Nephew of a Tiffany worker sold supplies from his home. Using large pots, gasoline cans, salad bowls - anything round or cone shape Anthony would use. Making lamps for his mother, relatives, friends.
The war came and Anthony went to war in 1942 coming home in June 1945. Anthony went to work on his lamps and paintings (oil).