Dear AllofMyLife:
Thank you so much for that information. And yes, I am on the footage! There's more footage around, unfortunately none of Vivienne Segal or Leila Ernst.
By the way, there is a clip of Vivienne Segal singig Bewitched on the Ed Sullivan Show. Have you see it? Talk about adult, sophisticated, charming--and ruthless.
And by the way, I thought you'd get a laugh out of this. I've told it before, but here it goes again. Seal and Abbott were always at odds. He never wanted her to touch Kelly. This infuriated Segal who used to yell at Abbott, "what am I supposed to be, his grandmother?"
During our out ot own previews Segal, a consummate professional, wanted to stick it to Abbot but good. Out of town premieres in those days were a hassle. One night they decided to throw in a scene after Joey's and Linda's last encouter at the pet shop. Vera was supposed to walk on and pick up a man sitting at the bench. At this performance Segal asked one of the chorus girls--a brunette--to wear a blond wig with her back to the audience. As Segal sauntered by she took girl's hand, looked into her eyes lovingly and walked off.
Well, the audience did not know what to do. Half of them laughed, others sat in shock. One thing I do know. I could hear Lorenz Hart's loud laugh coming from the back of the auditorium. Abbott stormed on yelling "what are you doing" and Segal said something like "I'm giving Vera some diversity."
The curtain falls.
Every movement has a meaning--but what the hell does it mean!