LI'L ABNER starring Peter Palmer

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 9:04pm

Happy New Year from Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

I just wanted to let everyone know I posted a new page on my "Memories of Melody Top" website about the 1970 production of LI'L ABNER starring Milwaukee's native son, Peter Palmer. On the page you will find full biographies and head shots of both the cast and creative team, along with a gallery of color photographs from "behind the scenes" at one of the nation’s largest summer-stock tents.

The cast of LI’L ABNER was an amazing one, with dozens of Broadway, movie, television and stock appearances listed in the biographies. I hope to be able to add similar pages about Melody Top productions of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, 1776, GUYS AND DOLLS, FINIAN’S RAINBOW and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED…

Please take a minute to visit the site. I have included a direct link in this message. Again, I want thank all the visitors who have given me support in creating this fascinating document of America’s rich history of live musical theatre.
Memories of Melody Top

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 9:04pm

I'm a big fan of Peter Palmers in general.

[justafan2]

Posted: 1/6/11 at 9:12pm

The production of Brigadoon, starring Peter P. was my first Broadway experience and I was hooked! What a wonderful memory! He was so good! I then, of course, had to watched Li'l Abner when I saw that he was starring in it.

Updated On: 1/6/11 at 09:12 PM

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/7/11 at 1:58pm

I believe a lot of kids got excited about musical theatre after seeing LI'L ABNER on stage or screen. A lot of parents took their kids to see the musical, which was adapted from a very popular comic strip. Isn't it funny that another musical from the comics, SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, is the big ticket on Broadway today?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/7/11 at 2:44pm

Yikes, his headshot is terrible. It's even worse than the LuPone headshot for Evita.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/7/11 at 5:36pm

Peter Palmer's head shot was probably very stylish for the late 1960s and early 1970s period. Styles have changes a lot over the last forty or fifty years. Most of us are fortunate enough not to have our photographs in print for eternity. LOL!

[beaemma]

Posted: 1/7/11 at 7:00pm

Thanks for this delightful addition to your entertaining site! The backstage photos indicate how good costuming and make-up were at that venue. What were the odds that someone who looked so much like Abner would also turn out to be so talented? And how great that audiences in Milwaukee got to see the Broadway star of this show. A lot of young people, including me, learned to love live theatre at Melody Top. It's great to remember this production and the gifted people who appeared in it.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/8/11 at 5:51pm

What I find most interesting about this production is the use of an "animal menagerie" as part of the set. beaemma, do you remember seeing any live animals on stage? Perhaps a lamb, a pig or a couple of chickens? Let me know!

[beaemma]

Posted: 1/9/11 at 7:14pm

Sorry--I don't recall the specific animals, although a cute little goat springs to mind. I suspect that any animal appearances were limited in duration. Reading about this production got me thinking about the other stars I saw repeat their Broadway performances at Melody Top. I saw John Raitt in CAROUSEL, Dorothy Collins in FOLLIES, Stubby Kaye in GUYS AND DOLLS, Molly Picon in MILK AND HONEY. Mimi Hines, who had success following Streisand on Broadway, did FUNNY GIRL. Dorothy Lamour and Forrest Tucker repeated their touring successes in HELLO DOLLY! and THE MUSIC MAN. Howard Keel redid his role from the film of KISS ME KATE. And all this in a tent on the outskirts of Milwaukee!

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/10/11 at 9:18am

Thanks, beaemma. I know Melody Top used a live horse on stage during a 1981 production of OKLAHOMA with Barry Williams, and I was wondering if they used animals previously. Guess I'll have to do some more research.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/10/11 at 12:25pm

"Peter Palmer's head shot was probably very stylish for the late 1960s and early 1970s period. Styles have changes a lot over the last forty or fifty years."

I know the quality has changed (from glossy to matte finish). But that headshot makes him look like Lurch. Even the picture above of him is better than the headshot.

Updated On: 1/10/11 at 12:25 PM

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 1/10/11 at 2:44pm

I wasn't talking about styles of photographic paper. I was talking about hair styles, clothing styles and the way people posed for pictures fifty years ago. Sorry if I confused anyone on this board. I was only trying to say something positive about Mr. Palmer, who I have learned is a friendly and intelligent person. People who worked with him, and I met several of them, said he is still a "great guy." A very big talent!