PHOTO FLASH! Shirley MacLaine in THE PAJAMA GAME!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 3:33pm

A true rarity. These were taken when Shirley was just in the chorus; before she cut her hair like Haney which led to her promotion as understudy.

Carol Haney leading the "Once a Year Day" ballet from THE PAJAMA GAME:

Shirley is on the far left:


Shirley is up front at the bottom:



HAROLD PRINCE: Shirley MacLaine was in the chorus and became Carol Haney's understudy. She wasn't the original understudy, but she wanted to be. After the show opened, she cut her hair to look like Carol Haney, and one night when we were looking at Shirley, we suddenly realized everybody was confusing her with Carol. You saw the resemblance immediately. That's where we got the idea of assigning her as Carol's understudy. And that's what got her started. Carol hurt her ankle: Shirley went on -- and there were offers of two movies from her first performance.


Carol Haney:


Shirley MacLaine:

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/29/08 at 4:01pm

Wow thanks, Brody.

They look a lot alike. Especially in that first picture, Haney looks just like MacLaine.