This Day on Broadway

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Thursday, August 17, 2006

8/17 In Musical Theater History

On this day in 1971 Ann-Margret drops out of the upcoming musical Sugar based on the Billy Wilder film Some Like it Hot. Ann-Margret has had serious disagreements with producer David Merrick over the production. Elaine Joyce will take over the lead role when the musical reaches Broadway the next... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

8/16 In Musical Theater History

All legitimate theaters in Chicago, San Francisco and Boston close this day as the 1919 Equity strike spreads across the country. Movie producer Louie B. Mayer worries that the strike might spread to Hollywood in a private conversation with Ziegfeld in LA today. The 1927 edition of the Ziegfeld... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

8/15 In Musical Theater History

On this day in 1909 the Pittsburgh Dispatch uses the term “The White Way” to describe Broadway for the first time. Theater historians disagree on what the term means but it’s generally assumed to be used to describe the light from theater marquees. By the 1920’s the term will be widely used as a... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 14, 2006

8/14 In Musical Theater History

Tonight at Wallack’s Theater in 1888 musical comedy star De Wolf Hopper reads Ernest L. Thayer’s poem Casey at the Bat for the first time in public. The reading is so popular that Hopper incorporates it into his act and will be associated with it for 40 years. By Hopper’s own admission, he will read... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

8/13 In Musical Theater History

The 1919 Actors Equity Strike continues today as Eddie Cantor refuses to perform and the Ziegfeld Follies closes down. Today’s birthdays are R. H. Burnside (1873-1952) producer of the Hippodrome shows and Irving Berlin’s first musical, and funny man Bert Lahr (1895-1967). In 1939, Lahr not only... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

8/12 In Musical Theater History

Today, at his New Jersey lab in 1877, Thomas Edison invents the phonograph, an event which will help popularize the Broadway musical in the next century. Follies actress Anna Held passes away this day in 1918 at 44 from multiple myeloma, a form of cancer of the immune system. Because of his fear of... Sign in to see full entry.

8/11 In Musical Theater History

On this day in 1967 off Broadway the long running Fantasticks gets a new cast member, F. Murray Abraham. He will play the part of El Gallo until 1972 and will go on to a long career in films that will include winning a Best Actor Oscar for the film version of Amadeus in 1984. Born on this date is... Sign in to see full entry.

8/10 In Musical Theater History

Actress and frequent game show panelist Kitty Carlisle marries playwright Moss Hart this day in 1946. Hart has numerous cuts on his face from shaving and is still nervous when he trips his new bride as photos are being taken. The marriage will last until Hart’s death in 1961. Opening on this date on... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

8/9 In Musical Theater History

On this night in 1915, Weber and Fields make their first Broadway appearance together in eight years at the Palace Theater. Neil Simon will use elements of this event in his 1977 play The Sunshine Boys. Also making his Broadway debut the same night is escape artist Harry Houdini. The Equity strike... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

8/8 In Musical Theater History

During a performance of the new Gershwin musical Show Girl, occurring this night in 1929, star Ruby Keeler freezes in mid-song while she is trying to sing Gershwin’s Liza. It so happens that her husband, Singer Al Jolson, is in the audience tonight, and he starts singing the song from his seat.... Sign in to see full entry.

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