Bea Lillie taking "fifty bows" was part of the "Talking To You" number in HIGH SPIRITS.
At the end of the "official" ending of song, Lillie took bow AFTER bow--each one in the style of a different Broadway Diva--Ethel Barrymore, Tallulah Bankhead, Gertrude Lawrence, etc.
That sure is one UNIQUE moment in musical theater history and is probably why the only reason HIGH SPIRITS is still remembered today.
By the way, the 1964 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical was a VERY TOUGH pick: Carol Channing in HELLO, DOLLY!; Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL and Beatrice Lillie in HIGH SPIRITS. Award went to Channing.
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."