PROMISES, PROMISES starring Desi Arnaz, Jr.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 9:50am

Hello from Milwaukee!

I just posted a bunch of new pictures on my website, "Memories of Melody Top." All of the images are from the collection of Mr. Guy S. Little, Jr., who was Melody Top’s producer and general manager from 1979 to 1985. Please click on the link in this message to see pictures of the following stars and shows:

Desi Arnaz, Jr. in PROMISES, PROMISES
Larry Kert as BARNUM
Arte Johnson in LITTLE ME
Gretchen Wyler as MAME
Peggy Cass in ANNIE
Robert Mandan in CHICAGO
And many, many more!

In a week or so, I will be posting two photographs of Christine Ebersole as EVITA.

I want to thank everyone who visited my website since its launch last November. The contacts I made through message boards have helped me grow the site beyond my wildest dreams! I sincerely appreciate all the help and advice from the online communities.
Memories of Melody Top

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 10:40am

Thank you so much for sharing all this but unfortunately, this site is impossible to navigate. You literally have to go thru every single production photograph just to HOPEFULLY locate the photos you're mentioning. You should at least have the cursor pop-up screen that shows the contents of a photo instead of having to open it. Many people don't have the patience to go thru EVERY single photograph just to locate a particular photo or the ones you just mentioned as newly posted, etc.

I expect it'll take another 30 minutes trying to locate the photographs of Christine Ebersole as EVITA once you post those.

[bryan2]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 10:42am

Funny to see chris groenendaal and lauren mitchell
I saw Lauren in oguinquit 25 years ago in Jesus Christ Superstar with Brent Barrett and again in Theyre playing our song...really liked her voice....she is producing now I guess.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 10:47am

Thanks for the message, BrodyFosse123. The updates to the site are on the page "From the Producer." All the other images have been on the site for several months. When I post the pictures of Christine Ebersole as EVITA, I will make sure to include a direct link to the images. And on the "Production Pictures" page, you are able to hover over each icon to get a text description of the picture.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:04am

Love it. What a treat. Thank you so much.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:21am

a very fun website! Thank you for sharing.

[nealb1]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:23am

What a great site! Thanks so much for the link.

Is there book or anything planned on the history of the theatre? What a treat that would be.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:29am

I would love to publish a book about the history of Melody Top Theatre! I have spent a small fortune creating the website, and I hope it leads to bigger and better projects.

In the next few months, I will post some fantastic photos -- in color -- of the stars who worked at Melody Top. I recently received two scrapbooks from an actor who appeared in over 30 production at Melody Top from 1967-1976. The pictures of Karen Morrow in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN are amazing. Look for them soon.

And I promise to do a better job at posting the pictures of Christine Ebersole as EVITA. Stay patient, BrodyFosse123. LOL!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:35am

That is a treasure trove you created.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:44am

Is Ann Arvia, pictured with Desi, the same one who was in MARY POPPINS?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:48am

Love Holland Taylor as Charlotte!
Thanks for this!

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 11:54am

Yes, Ann Arvia is currently in the Broadway production of MARY POPPINS. Ann played several leads during the 1983 season, and she was excellent in each and every one of them: Chairy in BARNUM, Fran in PROMISES, PROMISES, Fay Templeton in GEORGE M! and Grace in ANNIE.

[nealb1]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 1:32pm

Again, what a great site! So much info and such great memories. Wish I could have seen some of the shows there.

In looking at the pics, I've worked with a few of people who have appeared there throughout the years. Jo Anne W is a hoot, and a pleasure to work with.

I did enjoy Zale Kessler's story about the Italian restaurant and the guys picking up the checks every night. I've done a few shows with him, too, and he loves to talk......mainly about himself. Ha, ha...

Great site!

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 2:55pm

Wow! I logged a lot of traffic to my website this morning -- over 1,200 visitors since 9:00 a.m. CST. The site is running kind of slow, so please check back again later tonight or tomorrow morning. Sorry for the problems -- I didn't know the updates were going to be this popular!

[twinbelters]

Posted: 7/29/10 at 6:01pm

Impressive, as always. The production of Chicago looks interesting. I especially was drawn to the young man in a patriotic speedo behind Roxie.... hrm.

[melodytopper]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 3:41pm

Great site!

Keep up the wonderful work.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 4:51pm

Wow, what a wonderful site! from RC in Austin, Texas

[beaemma]

Posted: 7/30/10 at 6:37pm

A great, entertaining site--and the latest additions are wonderful! I saw most of the shows done at Melody Top over the years, and this website brings back marvelous memories. Love the photos and the stories. Jo Anne Worley, Karen Morrow, Betty White, Arte Johnson, Tommy Tune, Nanette Fabray, Howard Keel, and all the other stars who appeared there did such fine work. And there was such a terrific team of supporting players at Melody Top. I wonder if there are people like that around who could and would do this type of summer stock today. Anyway, I look forward to seeing photos of that fabulous "newcomer," Christine Ebersole, in EVITA. I remember it as a superb performance, and I had seen the show on Broadway before I saw in in stock.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 7/31/10 at 7:56am

I now have the pictures of Christine Ebersole as EVITA. I will post them to the site soon. Watch for a new message!