Just In: Howard Keel Has Passed- Page 3

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 12:48am

Thank goodness for the preservation of his amazing perfs. in the films of "Annie Get Your Gun," "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Seven Brides." What a voice!!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 12:58am

**tear** One of the people who made me fall in love with theatre is dead... I think a small part of me is at the very least crying for all time... What a masterful and magnificent actor...

I remember the first time my mother made me sit down and watch 7 Brides for 7 Brothers... I didn't want to AT ALL!! An old movie with people I don't know in it... NO THANKS!! And last year when I left for school I stole it. :) Now I have the DVD because my mother won't share with me... or I won't share with her... either way :)

PS. One of my theatre buddies from high school told me the other day that he didn't know who Rex Harrison was... I nearly reached through the ethernet cord to strangle him... Not all of us are unaware of Broadway's magnificent history... not just Broadway but American theatre in general... how horribly fantastic was Vaudville and Minstrel acts? ah... our history is fantastic!!

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 1:03am

Who's Howard Keel?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 1:10am

He was Fred in the KISS ME KATE movie, he was in SHOW BOAT, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 1:10am

This is sad. He was much older than I realized. I've only seen him in Seven Brides and his appearances on Dallas...I looked and looked for a copy of Kiss Me Kate a while back as I enjoy the show, but, alas, no one in my area carried it...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 1:10am

Go discover him bronxbound... it'll do you some good... I guarantee you he's got something at Blockbuster

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 1:47am

An icon has passed, but his stage work will live on in memory, and his films will be treasured forever. Thank you for your gift, and may many more come to receive it.

"Where is the life that late I led . . ."

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 1:53am

Aw, that was kind of sad!

[americasinging]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 4:18am

I feel sick. Long story short, if it weren't for him and
"Seven Brides..." I wouldn't have the absolute love, devotion and passion about performing and musical theater that I have right now! I was just looking for "Kiss Me Kate" TODAY at the video store and they didn't have it so I rented "HAIR" again. I hope people take notice and if they don't know who he was they should educate themselves.

[ken8631]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 8:23am

Wasn't he also in I Do! I Do!?

I could have sworn I saw him in that at the Pantages theatre in LA in the late 70s.....

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 9:39am

That's probably right Ken. A few years ago I sent a note to Howard Keel asking him for an autograph. He included one of his concert programs in his reply and the bio in the program shows that he appeared in "I Do, I Do" in the 70's.

The program says his first theatre experience came after his agent took him to meet Oscar Hammerstein II. Hammerstein was so impressed with the young man that he gave him a part in the Broadway production of "Carousel" as an understudy. This was his first non-concert theatrical experience. He eventually was elevated to the leading role of Billy Bigelow, replacing John Raitt in the role. Shortly after that he replaced Alfred Drake in the role of Curly in the long-running "Oklahoma". (He took this role to London where he was a smash hit).

Late in his theatrical career he appeared in "Man of La Mancha", "Camelot", "Kismet", "No Strings", "Gigi", "Showboat", "Plaza Suite", "Carousel", "The Most Happy Fella", "The Fantastics", "I Do, I Do", "Mr. Roberts", and "Paint Your Wagon". He and Jane Powell also recreated their film roles in the summer stock production of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", as well as appearing together in "South Pacific".

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:01am

"I would love for a member here to compose the Broadwayworld.com entrace exam. A comprehensive exam that would show our younger (and older) members how much rich history American musical theater has."

Mr. T, what a wonderful idea! Rob D, if you've a minute, what d'ya think?

Milla

[Jess1483]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:07am

Okay, the entrance exam idea is entertaining, but I'd just like to say that don't you think this board is a wonderful place to get educated? Shouldn't this be a place where people can ask about legendary performers and get informed by the people who know? I've learned so much in the 3 months or so I've been on the board. Maybe what we need to do is have a "legend of the day/week" and then those people who don't know these performers could learn. Instead of excluding people, we'd be educating them! I, for one, would thoroughly enjoy reading them. Just an idea...

[seymour krelborn]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:11am

He was an immense talent and will be missed greatly.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:13am

*raises hand*

I've learned a ton here, including things that are probably considered part of the "core curriculum." But maybe because I've had message board experience, I knew better than to try to contribute to every single thread with the exact same pool of knowledge.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:18am

As a young gay man growing up in the midwest - Howard Keel helped to solidify my feelings about men. He was the epitome of Masculinity - rugged looks, barrelchested, gorgeous bass/baritone voice and killer eyes (not to mention how he looked in tights - hubba hubba!)...there have rarely been performers to equal his leading man status in the Broadway and Musical Film genres...he will be greatly missed.

[Blanche]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 10:35am

I always loved Howard Keel. I think my favorite role of his was Bill Hickok in Calamity Jane.
Such a powerful voice and commanding presence.
Another one of the greats, gone.
Updated On: 11/8/04 at 10:35 AM

[ShineOn]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 11:26am

I LOVE NANETTE FABRAY!

And who DOESN'T know who Alfred Drake is??? What ROCK are they living under???

LMF... SBFSB was one of my mother's all-time favorites, so I, too, grew up with it constantly on my screen. Hell, by the time I was 4 years old I could recite the entire movie.

I am actually disgusted that someone who is supposedly a fan of musical theatre actually had the gaul to ask who Howard Keel was. This is truly a sad day all around.

RIP, Mr. Keel.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 11:37am

He was my favorite, as some of you know (see picture). One of the first weekly quizzes on this site was one I wrote and sent to Rob on the great Howard Keel. Oh, that voice!