The Carol Channing Theater

[DAME]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 7:57pm

There needs to be one.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:01pm

DAME said: "There needs to be one."

I agree nene, but shall we build a new one or simply re-name an existing one? Please advise. Gracias.

 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:01pm

Can the entrance look like this:

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:03pm

Charley Kringas Inc said: "Can the entrance look like this:Absolutely NOT! What is wrong with you?!?!?!?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:04pm

And there will be no EXIT signs. Just signs that say So Long, Dearie.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:05pm

Jordan Catalano said: "And there will be no EXIT signs. Just signs that say So Long, Dearie."

Oh Jordan I love that idea, I could just kiss you!!! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:13pm

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:49pm

I believe there already is a Carol Channing Theater in California-- not that we can't have one in New York.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:56pm

The Channing! Sounds great! Think they’d rename the St. James?

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 8:56pm

Which theatre would be re-named, though? She played DOLLY at the St. James (Jujamcyn) and the Lunt (Nederlander), and both of those are rather sacred/historic names. Gents Prefer Blondes was at the now-closed Ziegfeld.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 9:00pm

A question for DollyPop (or anyone) –– what was Four On A Garden? Was it any good? According to IBDB, it was a David Merrick production, directed/adapted by Abe Burrows, starring Channing, Sid Caesar, George S. Irving, and a young Tommy Lee Jones. It ran for about 3 months at the Broadhurst in 1970/71.

Updated On: 1/19/19 at 09:00 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 9:15pm

SomethingPeculiar said: "A question for DollyPop (or anyone) –– what wasFour On A Garden? Was it any good? According to IBDB, it was a David Merrick production, directed/adapted by Abe Burrows, starring Channing, Sid Caesar, George S. Irving, and a young Tommy Lee Jones. It ran for about 3 months at the Broadhurst in 1970/71."

I believe the show was comprised of four French one act plays by Barillet and Gredy which were adapted by Abe Burrows, who also directed the show. Burrows had great success with "Cactus Flower", adapted from Barillet and Gredy's "Fleur de Cactus".

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 9:59pm

every so often there is a thread here that reminds me that smoking crack is not good.

[natashalost]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 11:28pm

I would rather rename a theatre after Hal Prince. He deserves it more than anyone. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/19/19 at 11:34pm

By the time I saw FOUR ON A GARDEN it was down to THREE ON A GARDEN because one of the playlets had been cut. I don't recall any of it.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 1/20/19 at 11:32am

natashalost said: "I would rather rename a theatre after Hal Prince. He deserves it more than anyone."

Agree re: Prince. Angela Lansbury, too: she has done a greater variety of roles (in plays and musicals) on Broadway over the years, whereas Channing was primarily known for one role, and did more performances of it on the road than on Broadway.

But, theatre-naming is totally subjective. Dozens of people deserve it (Merrick, Champion, Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Tennessee Williams, etc) but very few will ever get that recognition.

[1971FolliesFan]

Posted: 1/20/19 at 12:24pm

Well there's still some theatres that haven't been renamed, so why not? The St James for Ms Channing, the Winter Garden for Dame Lansbury, and the Majestic for Mr Prince. 

What about Jerry Herman? 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 1/20/19 at 2:16pm

Yep, the theater at Lowell High School where she went to school is named for her. It's in the Sunset District, the southwest section of SF. Though when Carol attended it was located near the Haight-Ashbury district so technically she never performed as a student on the actual current stage. As an aside, Lowell is considered the top public high school in the city. Incredibly tough to get into, and I've known lots of parents praying and pleading to get their kids enrolled. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 12:15am

Was very saddened by Channing's death; that said, it is inconceivable to me that a Broadway theatre would ever be named after her, when you consider the more prolific (in terms of number of distinct shows) legends who have not had a theatre named after them.  Just think.  Off the top of my head: 

-- Angela Lansbury, Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Zero Mostel, Gwen Verdon (and eventually at least Nathan Lane).

-- Julie Harris, Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, James Earl Jones

-- Tennessee Williams (!!), Arthur Miller

-- Harold Prince, Bob Fosse, maybe even Gower Champion

-- Cole Porter, Jerry Herman, Jule Styne, Andrew Lloyd Webber

 

I just don't see how Channing would deserve recognition more than any of the above, with a couple arguable.   Two hit shows just not enough.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 12:16am

1971FolliesFan said: "Well there's still some theatres that haven't been renamed, so why not? The St James for Ms Channing, the Winter Garden for Dame Lansbury, and the Majestic for Mr Prince.

What about Jerry Herman?"

 

This ^ Sounds great but just not happening!

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 12:20am

SomethingPeculiar said: "A question for DollyPop (or anyone) –– what wasFour On A Garden? Was it any good? According to IBDB, it was a David Merrick production, directed/adapted by Abe Burrows, starring Channing, Sid Caesar, George S. Irving, and a young Tommy Lee Jones. It ran for about 3 months at the Broadhurst in 1970/71."

I saw it and can tell you that it was terrible.  Down to three by opening night, as Dollypop indicated, it had two intermissions and was about 90 minutes.  One laugh as I recall --and I posted this somewhere else -- was when Channing pronounced the word Alaska a number of times as Elezzzzzzzzzka.  

Just goes to prove that great talents have off-years.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 12:30am

Jarethan said: "Was very saddened by Channing's death; that said, it is inconceivable tome that a Broadway theatre would ever be named after her, when you consider the more prolific (in terms of number of distinct shows)legends who have not had a theatre named after them. Just think. Off the top of my head:

-- Angela Lansbury, Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Zero Mostel, Gwen Verdon (and eventually at least Nathan Lane).

-- Julie Harris, Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, James Earl Jones

-- Tennessee Williams (!!), Arthur Miller

-- Harold Prince, Bob Fosse, maybe even Gower Champion

-- Cole Porter, Jerry Herman, Jule Styne, Andrew Lloyd Webber



I just don't see how Channing would deserve recognition more than any of the above, with a couple arguable. Two hit shows just not enough."

 

Agree far more deserving then the Plymouth & Royale being renamed ~ Schoenfeld & Jacobs.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 1:21am

Robbie2 said: "Jarethan said: "Was very saddened by Channing's death; that said, it is inconceivable tome that a Broadway theatre would ever be named after her, when you consider the more prolific (in terms of number of distinct shows)legends who have not had a theatre named after them. Just think. Off the top of my head:

-- Angela Lansbury, Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Zero Mostel, Gwen Verdon (and eventually at least Nathan Lane).

-- Julie Harris, Jason Robards, Colleen Dewhurst, James Earl Jones

-- Tennessee Williams (!!), Arthur Miller

-- Harold Prince, Bob Fosse, maybe even Gower Champion

-- Cole Porter, Jerry Herman, Jule Styne, Andrew Lloyd Webber



I just don't see how Channing would deserve recognition more than any of the above, with a couple arguable. Two hit shows just not enough."



Agree far more deserving then the Plymouth & Royale being renamed ~ Schoenfeld & Jacobs."

I agree with you 100%.  I thought it was absurd...totally self-serving...sounds like something Drumpf would do.

 

Personally, I find it hard to believe we have an Al Hirschfield Theatre, a John Golden Theatre (no one knows who he is today), a Nederlander Theatre, a Minskoff Theatre, when we don't have theaters named after the names I mentioned above, as well as others that I  forgot, e.g., Irving Berlin, David Merrick.  At least the Uris group finally named their theatre after George Gershwin.  (Re Hirschfield, I loved his sketches, but did he really contribute more to the theatre than ANY of the people listed above)?  And who is Broadhurst?

Further, while I have grown up loving the Majestic, the St. James, the Music Box (especially the one), the Palace, the Winter Garden, the Ambassador, et al, once they changed the names from Royale and Plymouth to those of businessmen, I have always felt there should be a few more changes.  Do we really not have a Tennessee Williams Theatre when we have a Neil Simon theatre (most of whose plays have aged faster than ice cream melts)?

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 2:14am

What a silly idea.

Call me old fashioned but love names like The Winter Garden.

'What's playing at The Channing' tonight? '    Nope.

[1971FolliesFan]

Posted: 1/21/19 at 8:35am

Well how about a Carol Channing award then?