Broadway Christmas Wishes (mega update)

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:04am

Bill Gaxton wishes you a Merry Christmas

Updated On: 12/25/08 at 03:04 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:05am

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 4:51am

Gaxton, William [né Arturo Antonio Gaxiola] (1893–1963), comic actor and singer. The distinguished‐looking comedian, whose pushy, frenetic style somewhat belied his appearance, was born in San Francisco and educated at military school and the University of California. He entered vaudeville at the age of fifteen and was soon doing a popular single turn. Gaxton made his Broadway musical debut in the Music Box Revue (1922), then rose to leading man status as Martin in A Connecticut Yankee (1927) and as Peter Forbes in Fifty Million Frenchmen (1930). He scored his biggest hit when he first teamed with Victor Moore to play President Wintergreen in Of Thee I Sing (1931). His manly, brash style proved a superb counterpart to Moore's wispy timidity, so they were paired again in a sequel, Let 'Em Eat Cake (1933), and in Anything Goes (1934), Leave It to Me! (193, Louisiana Purchase (1940), Hollywood Pinafore (1945), and Nellie Bly (1946).

Updated On: 12/25/08 at 04:51 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 4:59am

With The Merm in the original production of "Anything Goes."

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 5:48am

Great drawings--are they from Life Magazine? And the photo with Merman is great, too.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL from Gypsy9

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 7:37am

No, the cards were part of a giant collection of papers from Doctor and Mrs. Sewart, an elderly couple beloved in the Broadway community in the 30s and 40s. Sewart made his money from a few key patents and he and his wife made dozens of repeat visits to shows, always in the front row, always beaming, especially shows featuring Berle Wallace, a beautiful young woman they mentored who went on to become the girlfriend and life companion of Earl Carrol. Carrol and Wallace died in a plane crash in 1948.

The Sunshines (they were so called by the choruses of shows) papers were sold on ebay. I lost, darn it, but subsequently, I have acquired a few items. The Earl Carrol and George White programs were amazing - hundreds of autographs. The casts would make sure EVERYONE in the show signed a souvenir program and then send it out front to the Sunshines.

I have attached one page as an example.

Updated On: 12/25/08 at 07:37 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 7:41am

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 7:57am

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 7:57am

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 7:59am

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 8:09am

THESE....ARE...FANTASTIC!!!! Thank you so much for posting them!!!

It's astonishing how so much stuff like this is dispersed on Ebay. I'm sorry you didn't win more, too!

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 9:34am

I love these! Any from Victor Moore? They always seemed to be paired together.

These are fascinating ... and oh so very jolly!

EDIT: Sorry, that last one IS from Victor Moore!

Updated On: 12/25/08 at 09:34 AM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 12:43pm

Victor was much older gentleman and mainly seemed to send out cards like this....

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:15pm

Kathrine Hepburn while appearing on Broadway

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:16pm

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:18pm

Dixie Dunbar, child star of "Life Begins at 8:40" and "Yokel Boy" (with Milton Berle.)

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:19pm

Mary Martin "For the boys in uniform"

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:21pm

Noel Coward had fabulous Christmas parties. See how many famous names you can count...

I can recognize nine.

Updated On: 12/25/08 at 03:21 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/25/08 at 3:24pm

Clifton Webb had great Christmas parties, too. Can you imagine being a guest at this one?

George Abbott, George S Kaufman, Laurence Olivier, Lunt & Fontaine, Bob Hope, Noel Coward.... DAMN!

Updated On: 12/25/08 at 03:24 PM