Spotlight on Lee Falk - The Theatre Years: Difference between revisions

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! Week of!! Title!! by!! Starring!! Cast
! Week of!! Title!! by!! Starring!! Cast
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| June 29 || Bell, Book and Candle ||  John van Druten|| Alexis Smith & Viktor Jory || David Orrick, Maud Scheerer, Allan Tower
| June 29 || Bell, Book and Candle ||  John van Druten || Alexis Smith & Viktor Jory || David Orrick, Maud Scheerer, Allan Tower
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| July 6 || Carousel <small>(1)</small> ||  Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II || Patricia Northrup || Barbara Cook, Tom Rieder, Paul Brown, Lucille Benson, Lewis Ford, Hal Currier, Lois Van Pelt, Ann Barry, Scott Merrill, Kenneth Leroy, Sydney G Stevens, Edwin Thurston, William jJffrey, Mona Tritsch, James Goodwin, Jim Smith, Alice Dakin, Constance Langmann and Kay Morrissey
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| July 13 || John Loves Mary || Norman Krasna || Farley Granger || Hollis Irving, Philip Abbott, David Van Celet, Allan Tower, Ethel Britton, Wayne Carson, Lawrence Goulding, Lillian Udvardy, Hal Currier
| July 13 || John Loves Mary || Norman Krasna || Farley Granger || Hollis Irving, Philip Abbott, David Van Celet, Allan Tower, Ethel Britton, Wayne Carson, Lawrence Goulding, Lillian Udvardy, Hal Currier
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*1 Based on "Lilium" by Ferenc Molnar, adapted by Benjamin F Glazer
=====Playbills=====
=====Playbills=====
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Revision as of 10:23, 17 March 2017

Brattle Hall

Lee Falk had a passion for the theatre, and he wrote several plays including two musicals. During his lifetime he ran five theaters, produced about 300 plays and directed about 100 of them.

These summer theatres were resident equity company, supplemented by guest stars from theatre and film (and later television). The season started late in May and each play normally ran for one week. The actors received a "normal" payment to perform but the guest stars often had in their contracts a percentage of profit of the play. A common contract could be 10% of the gross with $750 per week guarantee. Since most of the plays made very little profit most of the guest stars worked for a fraction of what they would normally earn.

The Cambridge Summer Theatre (1940–1947)

at Brattle Hall (about 495 seats)

According to Phil Davis Louise Falk, acted in one of the summer stock companies at Connecticut in 1939. I assume that Lee Falk met John Huntington during the season. Anyhow, after reading Lee's play "Festival at Salzburg", John Huntington urged Lee Falk to join in producing summer stock at Brattle Hall (location: 40 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts) in the 1940 season.

The 1940 season

Miriam Battista, John Huntington and Lee Falk as managing trio.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 8 Tonight or Never Lily Hatvany Helen Ford & Stephen Courtleigh
July 15 The Good Fairy Ferenc Molnár Walter Slezak and Miriam Battista
July 22 The Spider Lowell Brentano and Fulton Oursler James Rennie
July 29 Co-respondent Unknown Mildred Harris and Harold Goldman James Rennie
August 5 Petticoat Fever Mark Reed Guy Robertson
August 12 White Cargo Leon Gordon Miriam Battista
August 19 The Barker Kenyon Nicholson Ann Corio
August 26 Your Loving Son Abby Merchant Ezra Stone & Jessie Royce Landis
September 2 White Cargo (1) Leon Gordon Ann Corio
  • 1. Addiss & Rorke.
Playbills

The 1941 season

Co-sponsored by John Huntington and Lee Falk, and with Louise (acting name: Louise Kanasireff) as an actress in the resident company.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 7 The Lady Has a Heart Ladislaus Bus-Fekete Elissa Landi
July 14 A Slight Case of Murder Damon Runyon & Howard Lindsay Lionel Stander
July 21 The Philadelphia Story Philip Barry Diana Barrymore
July 28 Smart Women Myron C. Fagin Anna Sten
(matinees Wedensday and Saturday)
Philip Huston, Jaqueline Susan, John Lorenz, Georgine Clevland
August 4 The Command to Love Rudolph Lothar and Fritz Gottwald Ramon Navarro
(matinee Wedensday)
Robert E. Perry, William Mendrek, Debbie Dare, Louise Kanasireff
August 11 Rain John Colton & Clemence Randolph Leonore Ulric
(Matinee Wedensday)
August 18 Pursuit of Happiness Alan Child and Isabelle Loudon Francis Lederer
August 25 Sorrow for Angles George Batson Ruth Chatterton & Barry Thomson Helen Gillette, Robert Wilcox, William Mendrek, Ruth Hermansen, Robert E. Perry
September 1 Mr. and Mrs. North Owen Davis (from Frances and Richard Lockridge's stories) Nancy Carroll Robert E. Perry, William Mendred, Wilson Lehr, Robert Wilcox, Louise Kanasireff, Marjorie Peggs, Daniel Ocko, Helen Gillette
September 8 The Man Who Came to Dinner Moss Hart and George S.Kaufman Adrienne Ames & Edw. Massey Ruth Hermansen, Marjorie Peggs, Robert E. Perry, William Mendrek, Helen Gillette, Daniel Ocko, Frederic Lynwood, Winifred Wellington
September 15 No time for Comedy S.N.Behrman Francis Lederer
(& Katherine Cornell ?)
Crace Coppin, Jean Goodale, Robert E. Perry, Robert Wilcox
September 22 The Male Animal James Thurber & Elliott Nugent Conrad Nagel Edmond Ryan, Irving Locke, Betty Kelley, ...
  • Note: Canceled - "Personal Appearance" with Ann Corio week of July 14
  • Unsure if there was a week of September 22.

The 1942 season

The 1942 season was announced to last 18 weeks and as co-sponsored by John Huntington and Lee Falk. Due to Lee Falk's WWII obligations this was changed to the co-sponsorship of Louise Falk and John Huntington. The same policy as last year with well-known guest stars from Broadway, Hollywood and the radio, supported by a resident company of professional players. The attractions changed weekly, with Wedensday and Saturday as matinee days. Robert E. Perry both acted and directed this season.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
May 11 George Washington Slept Here Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman Cora Witherspoon Mary Barthelmess, Jack Sheehan, Allan Tower, Louise Kanasireff, Jolyon Baker, Robert Perry
May 18 Personal Island (1) Pauline Williams Fay Wray William Mendrek, Chester Gillis, Charles Bell, Mary Barthelemess, Allan Tower, Robert E Perry, Fay Wray, Nancy Duncan
May 27 (?) Jason Samuel Raphaelson Conrad Nagel William Mendrek, Louise Kanasireff, John Taylor, Dennis Gurney, Nancy Duncan
June 1 It's a Wise Child Laurence E. Johnson Ann Corio Charles Bell, Robert E Perry, Louise Kanasireff, Mary Barthelemess, William Mendrek, Allan Tower, Edmon Ryan
June 22 Theatre Somerset Maugham & Guy Bolton Elissa Landi
June 29 Skylark Samson Raphaelson Madge Evans Robert E. Perry, Wm. Mendrek, Allen Tower, Chas. Bell, Louise Kanasireff, Nancy Duncan, Mary Barthelmess
July 6 Reflected Glory Georg Kelly Gloria Swanson Myrtle Tannchill, Mary Barthelmess, ..
July 13 The Dark Tower Alexander Woolcott & George S. Kaufman Gloria Stuart Robert Perry, Philip Huston, Nancy Duncan, Mary Barthelmess, ..
July 20 Little Women Louisa May Alcott Sylvia Sidney Robert E. Perry, Mary Barthelmess, Louise Kanasireff, William Mendrek, Nancy Duncan, Allan Tower, Charles Bell, Edith Ward, William Jeffreys
July 27 Suspect Reginald Denham & Edward Percy Flora Robson Robert E. Perry, Philip Huston (?), Louise Kanasireff, Allan Tower, William Hendrek, Nancy Duncan, Mary Barthelmess, Charles Bell.
August 10 Othello (2) William Shakespeare Paul Robeson Uta Hagen, José Ferrer, Margaret Webster, ..
August 17 Out of the Frying Pan Francis Swann Sally O'Neil Gaylord Mason, Charles Bell, Mary Barthelmess, Nancy Duncan, Robert Perry, ..
August 24 Ten Nights in a Barroom William W. Pratt ? Mary Barthelmess, Robert Perry, ..
  • 1. Presented by John Huntington in association with Brock Pemberton.
  • 2. By Theatre Guild.
Playbills and Advertisements

The 1943 season

Presented by Louise Falk and John Huntington, with Louise Falk (acting name:Louise Kanasireff / Louise Valery) as an actress in the resident company. The Cambridge Summer Theatre and Providence Playhouse (operated by Charles Howard & Wendell Corey) joined hands this season, and the various productions were put up one week at the Cambridge Summer Theatre and one week at the Providence Playhouse.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 7 The Damask Cheek John Van Druten Elissa Landi Jeanne Cagney, Ann Dere, Allan Tower, William Mendrek, Louise Kanasireff
June 14 Without Love Phillip Barry Constance Bennet Louise Valery,
June 21 Strictly Dishonorable Preston Sturgis Una Merkel Jeanne Cagney, Ann Dere, Allan Tower, William Mendrek, Louise Kanasireff
June 28 Old Acquaintance John Van Druten Leatrice Joy Gilbert
July 5 Personal Appearance Lawrence Riley Dorothy MacKaill Jeanne Cagney, Bob Perry, Dorothy Lambert, Louise Valery, Richard Hart
July 12 Front Page Ben Hecht And Charles MacArthur William Harrigan Jeanne Cagney, William Mendrek, Richard Hart, Louise Valery, Allan Tower, Lester Lonergan, William Weyse.
July 24 Biography S. N. Behrman Ilka Chase John Ireland, Louise Valery, ...
July 26 Ladies in Retirement Edward Percy and Reginald Denham Erin O'Brien-Moore
August 2 The Willow Tree J. Harry Benrimo & Harrison Rhodes Anna May Wong James Lee, Allan Tower, Ernest Woodward, Richard Hart, William Weyse, William Jeffrey, Ofelia Cornejo, John Gerstad, Elaine Goodell, Louise Valery
August 9 Emperor Jones Eugene O'Neill Rex Ingram William Mendrek, Lawanune Kennard, Larry Lauria
August 16 The Only Girl (1) Henry Blossom Patti Pickens & Bob Simmons
August 23 Brief Moment S. N. Behrman Glenda Farrell
August 30 Little Darling Erich Hatch Jeanne Cagney
  • 1. Their 50th production in four years.
Playbills

The 1944 season

Presented by Louise Falk and John Huntington, with Louise Falk (acting name: Louise Valery) as an actress in the resident company.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 5 Tonight or Never Lili Hatvany Ethel Barrymoore Colt Richard Hart, Lee Nugent, Allan Tower, Kathryn Cameron, Robert E. Perry, William Jeffrey, Dorothy Lambert, Roderich Winchell
June 12 Another Love Story Sidney Kingsley Madge Evans Louise Valery, Richard Hart, Robert E. Perry, Lee Nugent, Allen Tower, Wm. Jeffery, Shurland Quinn, Edmond Ryan
June 19 A Goose for a Gander Harold J Kennedy Gloria Swanson & Ralph Forbes Ralph Forbes, Lynn Carter, Louise Valery, Harold J Kennedy, Lee Nugent, Allan Tower, Miranda Swanson, David Tyrell
June 26 Anna Christie Eugene O'Neill Claire Luce Richard Hart, ....
July 3 Guest in the House Hagar Wilde & Dale Eunson Julie Haydon Robert E. Perry, Louise Valery, Richard Hart, Marjorie Peggs, Kathryn Cameron
July 10 Dark Eyes Elena Miramova and Eugenie Leontovich Lenore Ulric Louise Valery, Richard Hard, Robert E. Perry, William Jeffrey, Allan Tower, Roy Allen and other members of the professional resident company at Brattle Hall
July 17 Oh Boy Guy Bolton & P. G. Wodehouse Patti Pickens Robert Perry, Lee Nugent, ..
? The Little Foxes Lillian Hellman Mabel Acker
July 31 Here's To Us Shirland Quin Jean Muir Ada Roston, Muriel Pierce, Jean Muir, Richard Hart, Louise Valery, Roderich Winchell, Ruth Homond, Shirland Quin
August 7 Too Many Husbands W.Somerset Maugham Nancy Carroll Lee Nugent, Norma Cohan, Kathryn Cameron, Allan Tower, Robert E. Perry, Richard Hart, Lillian Staford, William Jeffrey, Marjorie Peggs
August 14 Dark of the Moon Howard Richardson & William Berney Carol Stone Richard Hart, Roderich Winchell, Frances Goforth, Carl Windel, Ruth Homond, Richard Van Arsdale, Ronald Graham, Boardman O'Conner, Kathryn Cameron, Lee Nugent, Philip Wheaton, Constance Cooper, Myrtle Shaw, Norman Keohane, William Weyse, Allan Tower, Dorothy Lambert, John Gerstad, William Jeffrey, Robert Pryor, Robert E. Perry, Louise Valery, Lynne Arlen
August 22 Marriage is for Single People Stanley Richards Jeanne Cagney Mathilda Calman, Kathryn Cameron, Roderich Winchell, Lynne Arlen, Louise Valery, Allan Tower, Dorothy Lambert, Richard Hart, Ronald Graham, James Lawlor, Myrtle Shaw
August 29 Come Be My Love Edward Caulfield & Pauline Jamerson Walter Hampden Dorothy Sands, Kay MacDonald, Constance Root, Jean Adair, Ruth Homond, Charles Bowlby, Joe Latham, Ann Mason, Ada Roston, Edwinf Cushman
September 4 ?
September 11 Winterkill Jerry Emerson Margaret Hayes Dorothy Lambert, Richard Hart, John Gerstad, William Jeffrey, Louise Valery, Allan Tower, Roderich Winchell
Playbills

The 1945 season

Presented by (Lee Falk and) John Huntington. Director for the summer stock theatre was Neil McFoe Skinner.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 11 Blithe Spirit Noel Coward Elissa Landi Kay Strozzi, Roderich Winchell, Marjorie Peggs
June 18 Her Cardboard Lover Jacques Deval Diana Barrymore
June 25 The Passionate Congressman Lee Harrison Falk Neil Hamilton Kurt Richards, Gertrude Flynn, Nick Harris, Edmon Ryan, George MacQuarrie, Bruce Adams, Ruth Homond, John McKee, Louise Valery, Frank McNellis, William Becker, Philip Wheaton, Roderich Winchell, Eliot Duvey, William Otis, Donald Josephs, Carter Jefferson.
July 2 My Sister Eileen Joseph A Fields & Jerome Chodorov Libby Holman Bruce Adams, Leila Ernst, Nick Harris, Norma Kellar, Ray Hinkley, Richard Kilbride, William Becker, Conner Jameson, Constance Moorehead, Eliot Duvey, Edythe Ward, Robert Foster, Kurt Richards, Robert Paine, Peggy Stuart, Winifred Wellington, Roderich Winchell, Philip Wheaton, Philip Bresnahan, Richard Van Arsdale, Paul Clark, Anton Hjelmar, Ruth Homond
July 9 Winterset Maxwell Anderson Vera Zorina canceled ?
July 10 to 21 Alice In Wonderland Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus (adapted from Lewis Carroll) Margareth Speaks & Emile Renan Edythe Ward, Jerry Ross, Marian Seldes, Joanne Palmer, Robert Foster, Elisabeth Bradlee, Peggy Stuart, Kai Strozzi, Dorothy Lambert, Ray Hinkley, Bruce Adams, Philip Wheaton, Gertrude Woodard, Eliot Duvey, Kurt Richards, Ruth Homond, Roderich Winchell, Constance Moorehead, Norma Kellar, Hibbard James
July 23 The Spider Fulton Oursler and Lowell Brentano Victor Jory Orson Bean, ..
Three's a Family Phoebe Ephron and Henry Ephron
Over 21 Ruth Gordon Lillian Harvey & Edmon Ryan
Playbills

The 1946 season

Returning in 1946 Lee Falk and John Huntington found that they could manage to operate one more summer theatre, if they could produce a play a week at the new Boston Summer Theatre and then move it to Cambridge the next week. One more thing was that television was beginning to compete with theatre and movies. One way to attract audiences was to bring in complete travelling shows from New York. These shows could easily be booked to play two theatres in two weeks.

Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 10 The Hasty Heart (1) John Patrick Lilian Harvey Eliot Duvey, William Mendrek, Robert Crawley, Roderich Winchell, William L. Brown, Allan Tower, William Jeffries, Paul Anderson.
June 17 Ten Little Indians Agatha Christie Michael Whalen
June 24 Springtime for Henry Benn W. Levy Edward Everett Horton
July 1 Night Must Fall (1) Emlyn Williams Dame May Whitty Ruth Homond, William Mendrek, Marian Seldes, Marion Grant, Constance Moorehead, Allan Tower, Walter Starkey
July 8 Sailor, Beware! Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Robinson Ann Corio
July 15 Angle Street Samuel Raphaelson Francia Lederer and Bramwell Fletcher Helen Shields, Ruth Homad, Marian Grant
July 22 Burlesque George Manker Watters and Arthur Hopkins Bert Lahr
July 29 Goodbye Again Allan Scott and George Haight Roger Pryor & Phyllis Brooks
August 5 They Knew What They Wanted Sidney Howard June Havoc Allan Tower, Robert Crawley, Robert Weil, Roderich Winchell, Estelle Ritchie, Margaret Magennis, James McGinness
August 12 The Best of Friends Andrew Rosenthal Libby Holman
August 19 The Time of Your Life William Saroyan James Dunn and Julie Hayden
August 26 Meet the Wife Lynn Starling Mary Boland
September 2 The Late George Apler John P. Marquand and George S. Kaufman Grant Mitchell
  • (1) staged by Lee Falk.

The 1947 season

The season of 1947 at the Cambridge Summer Theatre was the last on involving John Huntington and Lee Falk.


This article, or section of an article, is very short. You can help MandrakeWiki by expanding it.  


Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 30 The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Julie Haydon & Helen MacKellar
July 1
July 7
July 14
July 21 Pursuit of Happiness Freddie Bartholomew
July 28 Dracula Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston (from Bram Stoker's novel) Bela Lugosi Gertrude Flynn, Casey Walters, Allan Tower, William Mendrek, Robert Foster, Bernard Kates, Connie Moorehead
Playbills

The Boston Summer Theatre (1946–1958)

at New England Mutual Hall (about 914 seats)

Lee Falk had divorced in 1945 and when he returned in 1946 he fell in love with an actress of the summer stock, Constance J M Lilienthal. They were married in August 1946.

When returning in 1946 Lee started seriously directing and during this and the next seasons he directed a play every week. However, after the 1947 season he found that he could not operate his new summer theatre all by himself and the cartoonist Al Capp became his new silent partner in 1948.

The Boston Summer Theatre was doing well for many years until 1957 when Lee Falk started to lose money. Al Capp had dropped out in 1956 and John Huntington came back for the 1958 season. But sadly, they still lost money and Lee Falk decided to throw in the towel.

The 1946 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 24 Night Must Fall Emlyn Williams Dame May Whitty Ruth Homond, William Mendrek, Marian Seldes, Marion Grant, Constance Moorehead, Allan Tower, Walter Starkey
July 1 Sailor, Beware! Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Robinson Ann Corio
July 8 Angle Street Samuel Raphaelson Francia Lederer Bramwell Fletcher,
July 15 Burlesque (1) George Manker Watters and Arthur Hopkins Bert Lahr Eileen Heckart, Elliot Duvey, William Mendrek, Ruth Homond, Dorothy Lambert, Lois Harmon, Robert Weil, Allan Tower, Joe Battaglia, Peggy Corday, Marian Seldes, Mimi Key, Marilyn Parent, Peggy Corday, Irene Allarie, Fred Graves
July 22 Goodbye Again Allan Scott and George Haight Roger Pryor & Phyllis Brooks
July 29 They Knew What They Wanted Sidney Howard June Havoc Allan Tower, Robert Crawley, Robert Weil, Roderich Winchell, Estelle Ritchie, Margaret Magennis, James McGinness
August 5 The Best of Friends Andrew Rosenthal Libby Holman Eric Victor, Constance Brigham, Bertha Belmore, Donald Burr, Patricia Shay, Madeleine Clive, Brian Otis, Madelyn, Killeen, Eliva Sutherland, Crystal Ames, Alberta Pryme
August 12 The Time of Your Life William Saroyan James Dunn and Julie Hayden
August 19 Meet the Wife Lynn Starling Mary Boland
August 26 The Late George Apler John P. Marquand and George S. Kaufman Grant Mitchell
  • (1) staged by Lee Falk

The 1947 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
? The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Julie Haydon & Helen MacKellar
? Joan of Lorraine Maxwell Anderson Magde Evans
July 7 Heaven Help the Angels Ted Luce Paul & Grace Hartmann Bill White, Ted Luce, Jane Bishir, Larry Lawrence, Maud Patten
July 14 There's Always Juliet John van Druten Miriam Hopkins
July 21 Dracula Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston (from Bram Stoker's novel) Bela Lugosi Gertrude Flynn, Casey Walters, Allan Tower, William Mendrek, Robert Foster, William Becker, Connie Moorehead
August 11 Laughter from a Cloud (1) Lynn Riggs Ilka Chase Barry Mitchell, Susan Douglas, Cynthia Latham, Donald McDonald, Polly Rowles, Paul Clarke, Gen Byron, Ralph Longley, Peter Harris
August 18 A Slight Case of Murder Damon Runyan & Howard Lindsy James Dunn
  • (1) by special arrangement with Milton Baron and Jerome Mayer
Playbills

The 1948 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 21 Seven Keys to Baldpate George M. Cohan William Gaxton
June 28 John Loves Mary Norman Krasna Jackie Cooper Constance Moorehead, Harry Mccabe, Bernard Kates, Clyde Waddell, Winifred Wellington, Robert Crawley, Jack Woods, Elizabeth Ayer, David White
July 5 The Last of Mrs Cheney Frederick Lonsdale Kay Francis Constance Moorehead, ..
July 12 Othello William Shakespeare Wesley Addy Kurt Richards, Joseph Holland, William Cobb, Paul Lewis, Canada Lee, Ernest Graves, Roderick Winchell, Davis White, George Kyron, Claire Luce, Bernard Kates, Howard Price, Richard E. Davis, Lorraine Mac Martin, Constance Moorehead
July 19 The Marquise Noel Coward Lillian Gish
July 26 Design for Living Noël Coward Ilka Chase Derrick Lynn-Thomas, Robert Carroll, Allen Nourse, Jack Woods, Howard Price, Elizabeth Ayers, Winifred Wellington, Robert Loeb, Patricia Withington, Melvin Miller
August 2 The Little Foxes Lillian Hellman Ruth Chatterton
August 9 The Beaux' Strategem George Farquhar Brian Aherne Richard Temple, Maureen Stapleton, John Merivale, Carmen Mathews, Patricia Jenkins, Allen Nourse, Victor Beecroft, Jerome Collamore, Winifred Wellington, Mary Forbes, Paul Lewis, Howard Prioe, William Jeffery
August 16 Kind Lady Edward Chodorov Sylvia Sidney Thomas Palmer, Allen Nourse, Winifred Wellington, Peggy Fenn, Constance Moorehead, Christopher Marvin, Ruth Hallstrand, Fred Graves, Cecil Clovelly, Diane deBrett, Jane Sutherland, Jerome Collamore
August 23 Springtime for Henry Benn Levy Edward Everett Horton
Playbills

The 1949 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 4 Pretty Penny Harold Rome and Jerome Chodorov Lenore Lonergan, David Burns, Carl Reiner, George Keane, Marilyn Day, Ken Spaulding, Peter Gennaro, Jay Lloyd, Onna White, Diane Sinclair, Wayne Lamb, Barbara McCutcheon, Evelyn Taylor, Robert Morrow, Bill Skipper, Barbara Martin, Walter Scheff, George Spelvin, John Henson, Florence Henson and Barbara Weaver
July 11 Yes, My Darling Daughter Mark Reed Ann Harding Leslie Nielsen, ...
July 18 Let Us Be Gay Rachael Crothers Kay Francis
July 25 The Philadelphia Story Philip Barry Sarah Churchill Jeffrey Lyn, Leslie Nielsen, ...
August 1 The Barretts of Wimpole Street Rudolf Besier Susan Peters Allan Tower, ...
August 8 Amphitryon 38 Jean Giraudoux Elisabeth Bergner Leslie Nielsen, ...
August 14 Happy Birthday Anita Loos Joan Blondell Leslie Nielsen, ...
August 21 Present Laughter Noël Coward Edward Everett Horton Allan Tower, ....
August 28 Accent on Youth Samson Raphaelson Paul Lukas with Constance Moorehead Ruth Hermansen, Howard Wendell, Leslie Nielsen, Allan Tower, Elizabeth Ayers, John Perkins, Paul Clarke
September 5 The Philadelphia Story Philip Barry Sarah Churchill Jeffrey Lyn, Leslie Nielsen, ...
Playbills

The 1950 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 3 The Second Man S. N. Behrman Franchot Tone
July 10 Angel Street Patrick Hamilton Lareine Day Ernest Cossart, Ferdi Hoffman, Betty Underwood, Elfrida Derwent, John Perkins, Paul Clarke
July 17 The Gay Divorce Cole Porter Jack Whiting, Carole Stone and Lenore Lonergan
July 24 Apple of His Eye Millard Crosby Edward Arnold
July 31 On the Town Betty Comden and Adolph Green Nancy Walker
August 7 Over 21 Ruth Gordon Eve Arden & Brooks West
August 14 Dear Brutus (1) James M. Barrie Brian Aherne Helen Craig, Harry Sothern, Harry Ellerbe, Allan Tower, Constance Moorehead, ..
August 21 Blind Alley James Warwick Zachary Scott
August 28 My French Wife Charles Dean Edward Everett Horton
September 4 Finian's Rainbow Fred Saidy, E Y Harburg and Burton Lane

(1) directed by Lee Falk

Playbills

The 1951 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 2 Alice in Wonderland Frances Pole John Sacco
July 9 Here Today George Oppenheimer Eva Arden
July 16 Brigadoon Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe
July 23 Mirror, Mirror George Oppenheimer Kay Francis
July 30 A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Julie Haydon Norma Connolly, Joe Graham, Jerry O'Loughlin
August 6 Pal Joey John O'Hara Carol Bruce Bob Fosse, Jan Solomon,
August 13 Glad Tidings Edward Mabley Melvyn Douglas and Signe Hasso
August 20 Clutterbuck Benn Levy Arthur Treacher
August 27 Come Back, Little Sheba William Inge Joan Blondell
September 3 Susan and God Rachel Crothers Joan Bennett Mdinda Markey,
September 10 Here Today George Oppenheimer Eva Arden

The 1952 season

This article, or section of an article, is very short. You can help MandrakeWiki by expanding it.  


Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 23 Carmen Jones Oscar Hammerstein II and Georges Bizet (music) Muriel Rahn
July 7 Season with Ginger Roland Alexander Melvyn Douglas Leore Thatcher, Polly Rowles, Gena Rowlands, Rita Vaughan, Betty Lou Keim, James Broderick, Billy James, Allan Tower, Wayne Carson, Frank Milan
? One Touch of Venus S. J. Perelman & Ogden Nash Carol Bruce Robert Carroll, Stanley Prager, Bob Shaver, Eleanore Bagley
August 11 Private Lives Noel Coward Victor Jory & Alexis Smith
August 25 A Night at Madame Tussaud's Edwin Justus Mayer (+ script by Peter Lorre) Peter Lorre & Miriam Hopkins
September 8 The Happy Time Samuel Taylor Denise Darcel Gregg Juarez, Robert de Cost, Mary MacLeod, Al Thaler, Richard Trask, Allan Tower, Martha Barron, Gayle Chandler, Edward Finnegan, Gerry Hiken, Joe Graham
Playbills

The 1953 season

This article, or section of an article, is very short. You can help MandrakeWiki by expanding it.  


Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 29 Bell, Book and Candle John van Druten Alexis Smith & Viktor Jory David Orrick, Maud Scheerer, Allan Tower
July 6 Carousel (1) Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II Patricia Northrup Barbara Cook, Tom Rieder, Paul Brown, Lucille Benson, Lewis Ford, Hal Currier, Lois Van Pelt, Ann Barry, Scott Merrill, Kenneth Leroy, Sydney G Stevens, Edwin Thurston, William jJffrey, Mona Tritsch, James Goodwin, Jim Smith, Alice Dakin, Constance Langmann and Kay Morrissey
July 13 John Loves Mary Norman Krasna Farley Granger Hollis Irving, Philip Abbott, David Van Celet, Allan Tower, Ethel Britton, Wayne Carson, Lawrence Goulding, Lillian Udvardy, Hal Currier
July 20 One Thing After Another Sheldon Noble Jane Connell Elizabeth Berryhill, Gordon Connell, Carol Brumm, John Tomaschke, Louis Bennet, Robert Cowell, Betty Cole, William Rush, Mary Madigan
July 27 Annie Get Your Gun Irving Berlin, Herbert & Dorothy Fields Sara Dillon & Jack Dabdoub Donn Driver, Jerry Stiller, Nora Bristow, James Tarbutton, Lucille Benson, Hal Currier, Lisa Rapport, Jack Crawley, Rita Karlin, Doris Driver, Allen Waine, Leigh McCarthy, Gayle Chandler, Janice Rose, Elisabeth Ann Villard, Hal Currier, Freddie Knarr
August 10 Peg O' My Heart J. Hartley Manners Margaret O'Brien John Conwell, Ethel Britton, Ken McEwen, Constance Moorehead, Allan Tower, Lenn Phipps, Alberta Johnson, Wayne Carson
  • 1 Based on "Lilium" by Ferenc Molnar, adapted by Benjamin F Glazer
Playbills

The 1954 season

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Week of Title by Starring Cast
The Vegetable F. Scott Fitzgerald Wally Cox
The Woman with Red Hair Katharine Brush Barbara Britton
The Great Walz Moss Hart Patricia Bowman
The Member of the Wedding Carson McCullers Ethel Waters
The Rainmaker N-Richard-Nash Eva Marie Saint
July 5 Gigi Anita Loos Pat Benoit
July 12 The Lady's not for Burning Christopher Fry Uta Hagen, Herbert Berghof
July 19 The Hasty Heart John Patrick Farley Granger Frances Heflin, Wesley Lau, Dick Hamilton, Clarke Gordon, Wyatt Cooper, Earl Jones, Champ Reynolds, Allan Tower
July 26 Song of Norway Milton Lazarus & Robert Wright and George Forrest Lucille Manners
August 2 The Little Hut Andre Roussin Marie Wilson
August 9 Autumn Crocus Dodie Smith Margareth Truman
August 16 You Can't Take it With You George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart Charles Coburn
Playbills and illustration

The 1955 season

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Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 11 Cyprienne Dorothy Monet (based on Victorien Sardou) Uta Hagen And Herbert Berghof Rex O'Malley, Robert Culp, Leonard Phipps, Anne "Anna" Meara, Allan Tower, Margaret O'Neill
July 18 No Time for Comedy S. N. Behrman Sarah Churchill Robert Carroll, Frances Tannhill, Alexander Clark, John Moorehead, Conrad Bain, Butterfly McQueen
July 22 Wedding Breakfast Theodore Reeves Shelly Winters Martin Balsam, Anthony Franciosa, Virginia Vincent, ...
August 8 The Rainmaker (1) N. Richard Nash Eva Marie Saint Will Geer, Arthur Storch, Sidney Armus, Jack Mullaney, Mark Richamn, Truman Smith
  • (1) directed by Jeffrey Hayden
Playbills

The 1956 season

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Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 16 Beasop's Fables Beatrice Lillie Fred Keating, John Philip, Shannon Dean,
July 23 The Chalk Garden Enid Bagnold Lillian Gish & Dorothy Gish  O.Z. Whitehead, Neil Fitzgerald, Frances Ingalls, Charron Follett, Adele Thane, Muriel Pearce
July 30 Stars of the Ballet Theatre (1) Nora Kaya & John Kriza Lupe Serrano, Ruth Ann Koesun, Scott Douglas, Catherine Horn, Christine Mayer, Enrique Martinez
August 6 The Fifth Season Sylvia Regan Chico Marx
Lentil Rose Caylor Fay Bainter, Glenda Farrell & Joan Tetsel Tom Poston, Frances Fuller, Jenny Hecht
August 20 Paris Marin Brown Jane Morgan & Russel Nype John Scanlan, Muriel Pearce, Allan Tower, Burt Austin, Frances Brandt, Jackie Balwin, Jack Emrek
August 27 Oh, Men! Oh, Women Edward Chodorov Neil Hamilton Juleen Compton, Robert Gallagher, Ray MacDonnell, Jenny Egan, John Scanlan, Dodie Bauer, Burt Austin
September 10 Beasop's Fables Beatrice Lillie Fred Keating
  • (1) Lee Falk presents in association with Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith.
Playbills

The 1957 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 8 Volpone Ben Johson (adapted by Stefan Zweig) Ian Keith & Alfred Ryder Arthur Malet, Peggy Feury, Tom Bosley, David Bauer, Guy Sorel, Jane McArthur, Clifford David, Ray Bieri, Lance Cunard
July 15 Thieves' Carnival Jean Anouilh Melville Cooper, Lawewnce Spector, John Reese, Guy Sorel, David Bauer, Tom Bosley, Marjorie Gateson, Jane McArthur, Susan Strasberg, Monica Lovett, Lance Cunard, Dalila Mockapetris
Venus Observed Christopher Fry
July 29 Back to Methuselah (1) George Bernard Shaw Celeste Holm & James Daly Valerie Bettis, Michael Tolan, Felix Deebank, Arnold Moss
The Madwoman of Chaillot Jean Giraudoux Alvin Epstein,
August 12 The Potting Shed Graham Greene Frances Starr & Frank Conroy & Gene Lyons Robin Morgan, Tom Bosley, Maureen Hurley, Edward Finnegan, Lawrence Spector, Edmund Roney, Adele Thane, Joan Croydon
  • (1) By special arrangement with the Theatre Guild and Arnold Moss
Playbills

The 1958 season

Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 7 Visit to a Small Planet Gore Vidal Bert Lahr
July 14 Mid-Summer Vina Delmar James Mason Pamela Mason, Portland Mason, Betty Bartley, Jonathan Morris, Douglas Deane, Edward Finnegan, Adele Thane
July 21 Separate Tables Terence Rattigan Basil Rathbone & Geraldine Page Ann Shoemaker, Lucy Landau, Catherine Proctor, Barbara Lester, Edgar Kent, Audrey Ridgwell, Ralph Purdom and Ann Stanwel
July 28 Tonight at 8:30 Noel Coward Faye Emerson & Murray Matheson
August 4 Hole in the Head Arnold Schulman Hal Melvyn Hal March (?), Bill Tierney, Ronnie Gates, Teena Starr, Avril Gentile, Donna Person, Edward Finnegan
August 11 Dulcy George S. Kaufman & Marc Connelly Dody Goodman Gene Lyons, Perry Fiske, Lawrence Fletcher, Gloria Barret, Betty Rollin, Brooks Rogers, Leo Bloom, Justice Watson, Stanford McAuley, Howard Mann
August 18 Strange Partners Florence Lowe & Caroline Francke Melvyn Douglas
September 1 Third Best Sport Eleanor & Leo Bayer Celeste Holm Andrew Duggan, Milo Boulton, Sally Gracie, Ernest Austin, Jane Hoffman, James Karen, Russell Gaige, Tony Kraber, Irene Cowan, Joseph Boland
Playbills

The County Playhouse (1952–1953)

at Framingham Cinema (about 2500 seats)

Framingham Cinema [1] was part of "Shopper’s World", the world’s biggest shopping centre located in Framingham. Lee Falk and Al Capp rented the Cinema for the years 1952–1954 to put up "the second week" of the plays from the Boston Summer theatre. The Framingham Cinema cancelled the last year of their contract and the County Playhouse operated only for the seasons of 1952 and 1953. Marlon Brando, Billy Burke and Ezio Pinza were some of the guest stars playing at the playhouse.

View of the Framingham shopping mall and cinema

The 1952 season

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Week of Title by Starring Cast
June 23 ?
June 30 ?
July 7 ?
July 14 ?
July 21 Come On Up...Ring Twice Miles Mander, Fred Schiller and Thomas Dunphy Mae West George Gilbreath, Rosetta Crawford, Albert Bergh, Grant Gordon, Therese Quadri, Jerome Gardino, Saul Davis, Steve Parker, David Langdon, Howard Ledig, Rand Elliott, Alan Furlan, Willis Claire, Larry Lee, Wayne Carson, Jim Wyler, William Leonard, Joe Graham
July 28 ?
August 4 The Gramercy Ghost John Cecil Holm Veronica Lake
(June Dayton)
August 11 The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams Dana Andrews Walter Matthau, Mary Todd, June Walker
August 18 Jezebel's Husband Robert Nathan Claude Rains Ossie Davis, Vinie Burrows, Ben Gazzara, Carmen Matthews, Robert Emhardt, Ruth McDevitt, Judith Parrish, Claudia Morgan, Bill Leonard, Robert Kieth Jr.
August 25 ?
September 1 ?
September 8 The Happy Time Samuel Taylor Denise Darcel Gregg Juarez, Robert De Cost, Mary Macleod, Al Thaler, Richard Trask, Allan Tower, Martha Barron, Gayle Chandler, Edward Finnegan, Gerry Hiken, Joe Graham
  • Produced by Lee Falk in association with Al Capp.
Playbills

The 1953 season

The County Playhouse was granted a licence to "conduct plays and musicals at Shoppers' World, Cinema, week days, June 15 - September 5 inclusive, from 8:00 to 11:30 o'clock P.M., and on Wedensdays and Fridays, 2:00 to 5:30 P.M., also." (Town of Framingham, selectmen's records, regular meeting of the board of selectmen June 16, 1953)


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Week of Title by Starring Cast
June ? Bell, Book and Candle John van Druten Alexis Smith & Viktor Jory David Orrick, Maud Scheerer, Allan Tower
July 13 Carousel Oscar Hammerstein II Barbara Cook Patricia Northrup, Tom Rieder, Donald Blackey, Jane Morrissey, Scott Merrill, Lucille Benson, Mona Tritsch, Kenneth LeRoy, Ann Barry.
July 27 Arms and the Man (1) George Bernard Shaw Marlon Brando William Redfield, Anne Kimbell, Sam Gilman, Philip Rhodes, Janice Mars, Carlo Fiore, Nydia Westman
August 3 Peg O' My Heart J. Hartley Manners Margaret O'Brien
  • (1) arrangement with Morton Gottlieb and Albert Selden.
Playbills

The Marblehead Summer Theatre (1953?–1955)

In 1952 Lee Falk said[1] he had rented the North Shore Music Tent in Beverly, not far away from Marblehead. This might have been the start of the Marblehead Summer Theatre or some other project that wasn't realized. The North Shore Music Tent opened in 1954 as an open (open-air) summer-stock theater, but if Lee Falk was involved in the project is not known.

at Marblehead High School Auditorium

The 1954 season

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Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 19 Mister Roberts Thomas Heggen Wayne Morris and Greg Suarez
July 26 Songs of Norway Lucille Manners
August 2 Autumn Crocus Dodie Smith George Voskovec and Margaret Truman
August 9 The Vegetable Vally Cox
August 16
August 23 The Show-Off George Kelly Joe E. Brown (Ann Dere, Frances Helm,?)

The 1955 season

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Week of Title by Starring Cast
July 4 Mother was a Bachelor Irving W. Phillips Billie Burke Donald McClelland, Robert Baines, Edwin Cooper, Terry DuHaine, Virgina Gerry, Tommy Halloran
July 11
July 18 Picnic Gloria Vanderbilt
July 25 Member of the Wedding Carson McCullers Ethel Waters
August 1
August 8 The Winslow Boy (1) Terence Rattigan Basil Rathbone Colin Keith-Johnston, Sarah Burton, Pamela Simpson, ...
  • 1 Presented by Lee Falk, staged by Basil Rathbone, production director George Mully
Playbills

The Bahama Playhouse / British Colonial Playhouse (1950–1955 ?)

at British Colonial Hotel (about 40 seats)

Lee and his wife Connie used to spend parts of the winters in Nassau, Bahamas. During February and March a small theatre known as "Bahama Playhouse" operated at the British Colonial Hotel. Lawrence Langner, Martin Manulis and Charles Bowden had been operated the theatre for two years without any financial success. In 1952 they asked Lee Falk if he would like to manage the theatre and he accepted. Late 1954 the producer Frank Falk was plotting a new season and Shirley Boot said she in March 1955 was to play in "The Vinegar Tree" by Paul Osborn. But if the theatre still was operated by Lee Falk after 1954 season is uncertain.

The 1953 season

As the Bahama Playhouse.


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Week of Title by Starring Cast
February 2 "Private Lives" Noël Coward Judith Evelyn
February 16 "The Constant Wife" W. Somerset Maugham Judith Eveland Constance Moorehead, ..
February 23 "Bell, Book and Candle" John Van Druten Charles Heston & Lydia Clarke

The 1954 season

Before its eight-week season under the direction of Lee Falk, the British Colonial Playhouse had undergone extensive renovations. For this season Lee Falk mentioned one play on Elizabeth the First: "either Elizabeth and Essex or Young Elizabeth" and a few actors: " Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Maria Riva, Farley Granger and Wayne Morris".


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Week of Title by Starring Cast
February 1 "Pygmalion" George Bernard Shaw Leueen MacGrath & Murray Matheson
February 1 (?) "The Lady's Not for Burning" Christopher Fry Uta Hagen might be incorrect date !
"Gigi" Estelle Winwood & Frances Helm

The 1955 season

Lee Falk produced five musicals at the British Colonial Playhouse [2].

Other theatres

The Grist Mill Playhouse

Playbill

Lee Falk was the producer on "On The Town" by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with music by Leonard Bernstein at The Grist Mill Playhouse (Andover N.J.) week of July 17, 1950.

Credits:
Staged by Carl Shain, Choreography by Beverlee Bozeman, Assistant Director: Paul Lamers, Set Designed by William Moore, Music Arranged and Executed by Dean Fuller and David Craig.
Cast: Nancy Walker, Ruth Webb, James Jewell, Nita Naldi, John Sylvester, Chris Alexander, Robert Gallagher, Beverlee Bozeman, Faith Forte, Marilyn Gelber, Walter Neal, Portia Nelson, Steven Lee, Robert Calder, Robert De Voye, Eleanor Fairchild, Gordon Peters, Alice Thorsell, Betsy Stickney, Jean Timmerman, Zelene McDavit, Barbara Bronson, Robert Holly, Malcolm Stickney, Robert Hebbard, Lanny Gans.

Renata Theater

Lee Falk was the producer and director for the play "Winkelberg" by Ben Hecht at Renata Theater (NY) in 1958. It opened January 14 1958 and run for 58 preformances.

Credits:
Set Designer: Lester Polakov, Costume Designer: Don Jensen, Lighting Designer: Lester Polakov, Press Representative: Lewis Harmond & Sol Jacobsen, Stage Manager: Ernest Austin, Edward Roney and Bob Sugarman.
Cast: Arthur Anderson, Ernie Austin, Aza Bard, Sorell Booke, Norman Budd, Frances Chaney, Tom Clancy, Jayne Heller, Harry Holsten, Robert Earl Jones, Mike Kellin, Louise Kirtland, Sondra Lee, Michael Lewis, James Mitchell, Shirley Smith, Bob Sugarman, Helen Waters

Spa Summer Theatre

Lee Falk was the production supervisor of the musical comedy "On the Town" by Betty Comden and Adolph Green at Spa Summer Theatre (Saratoga) week of August 7, 1950.
Credits:
Music by Lonard Bernstein, Staged by Carl Shain, Choreography by Beverlee Bozeman, Assistant director, Paul Lammers, Settings designed by Donald Shirley, Musical arrangements by Dean Fuller, Production supervised by Lee Falk, At the pianos Dean Fuller and Arthur Medoff.
Cast: Robert Gallagher, John Sylvester, Chris Alexander, James Jewell, Gerry Lockerty, Gwyneth Dun, Kenneth Rosen, Portia Nelson, Beverlee Bozeman, Nancy Walker, Robert Calder, Robert de Voye, Ruth Webb, Eleanor Fairchild, Nita Naidi, Clyde Waddell, Vera Ferguson, James Feltner, Klaus Kolmar, David Roykouff, Mina Barstow, Katherine Jones, Dana Kraus, Faith Lavine, Judy Jones.

Lee Falk was the director for the play "Roman Candle" by Sidney Sheldon at Spa Summer Theatre (Saratoga) week of June 27, 1960.
Credits:
Production designed and lighted by Charles J Hammer Jr.
Cast: Bill Story, Ben Etheridge, Scott Brady, Ann Folger, Jane Bruce, Robert Steward, Conrad Bain, Joseph Holland, Walter Mathews, Susanne Storrs, John Huntington, Henry Whittemore, Casey Walters, Robert Van Dorn, Joel Taylor

Sources

  • Billboard magazines
  • Newspapers

References

  1. "Legit Line-Up." The Billboard (Ohio) 27 September 1952, p 2
  2. Zeta Beta Tau Quarterly () Issue 4 1956, p 7