Who are Broadway's forgotten stars?

Carol Channing rocketed to fame in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, yet who remembers her co-star Yvonne Adair? Similarly, Russell Nype was a mellow-voiced comedian-singer who performed opposite Ethel Merman in CALL ME MADAM & Elaine Stritch in GOLDILOCKS, yet who remembers him today? If it weren't for the film THE BANDWAGON, such a fate might have been Nannette Fabrays, who appeared in numerous musicals without quite "clicking".

Further back are Jimmy Savo, once one of Broadway's most popular comedians and Lynn Murray, a big-boned teenage gal with a roof-raising voice who introduced JOHNNY ONE NOTE.

What other Broadway stars made their mark in a hit or two then never had much follow-through?

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What is the name of that little girl who opened that musical based on a John Waters film which starrred Devine and Tab Hunter? What was her name? Malissa? Maelissa? Whitaker?

You know I actually have a scratch n sniff card which was given out at the first run of that film. "Smell-o-Vision" is how they advertised it. I wonder why?

Did I confuse my John Waters' movies? Oh well, I guess when you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.

Bulldog

or the star of ANNIE?
or the star of HELLO DOLLY?
or what about FUNNY GIRL?

Didn't Glynis Johns (sp?) do a lot of Broadway in her younger days? I've only seen her movies; but what Broadway shows has she done? **tee-hee** I liked her in Mary Poppins and she was so adorable in "While You Were Sleeping."

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Wanda Richert? Ah, there's a tale. I've got insider scoop.

Vera-Ellen. Now that's a tragedy. First of all, she was a fabulous dancer in all styles...flawless technique. But she was also a victim of anorexia later in her career. When you compare the Vera-Ellen of "On The Town" to the Vera-Ellen of "White Christmas", the contrast is startling. So very thin -- so thin, in fact, that all her costumes were high necked so the emaciation of her chest area wouldn't show. After that, I think she pretty much disappeared from view...and died of cancer in the 80s (I think).

Speaking of another dancer with flawless technique, I must throw out Mitzi Gaynor. Because she chose to focus on movie musicals AFTER the heyday of movie musicals, I don't think she's ever gotten the recognition she could have had. Had she made better choices, or had a different focus, she would also have been one of our great triple threats ala Chita Rivera. Just my opinion.

And this is just about the GAYEST post I've ever written.

Updated On: 9/4/03 at 08:30 AM

Don't tease me rlbgbc! What is the inside dirt on Wanda Richert?

Alfred Lunt
Lynn Fontanne (As in Lunt-Fontanne Theatre)
Laurette Taylor
Katherine Cornell
Dolores Gray (Tony)
Shirley Booth (3 Tonys, an Oscar and at least one Emmy)
Gertrude Lawrence
Sam Levene
The list goes on. All we really need to do is check the Broadway Hall of Fame

My cousin's 16 year old daughter asked me this summer "Who was Katherine Hepburn?" I asked her to leave.

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Ah, Bambi Lynn -- a forgotten talent. For those of you not in the know, she was the original "Louise" in CAROUSEL. You can also see her as "Dream Laurey" in the film version of OKLAHOMA!

Helen Gallagher teaches at HB Studios in NYC.

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To go with a relatively recent AWOL, whatever happened to Scott Waara, Tony winner for the last revival of MOST HAPPY FELLA. Always thought he was terrific and cute as a button.

I also wish more people knew of Susan Johnson. What a voice, what a presence, what a broad!

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RobbieJ:

I'm convinced that somewhere out there, some queen has an audio tape of Susan Johnson's mid-to-late-1960s GYPSY. (Can you IMAGINE what she was like? Oh. My. God.)

And I think it is the height of selfishness that he has witheld it from us!!!!!

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QueenS: Appearantly, Shirley Booth (like Mary Martin & Beatrice Lillie etc.) was one of those stars whose magic only really came out on-stage. And I don't think HAZEL is on anymore, even on cable (but I could be wrong).

Maybe next year, BroadwayCares could ask Helen Gallagher to be at the celebrity table. I think they'd be surprised at what a big reception she'd get!

I'd love to know what happened to Scott Waara as well!

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