Monday, November 02, 2009

RBBB 1969 PEARL BAILEY


RBBB 99 PEARL BAILEY, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Peal Bailey (anyone under 50 remember her?) mugging with Lou Jacobs.

Posted by Buckles at 11/02/2009 05:29:00 AM

8 comments:

Darryl said...

Married to drummer Louis Belson

02 November, 2009 18:37
Frank Ferrante said...

The only black entertainer to play "Dolly Levy" in a road show edition of "Hello Dolly" ~frank

02 November, 2009 23:23
Lynne Bell said...

I would like to post photos of elephant wardrobes previously owned by J. Sam Houston, independent showman. I would like to know values of these items. I also have photos of his railroad cars and a photos of Singh the elephant trainer of Dailey Bros. Could Buckles please send me his email address. Robert Momyer told me to contact you.

02 November, 2009 23:37
Buckles said...

bucklesw@tampabay.rr.com

03 November, 2009 05:59
Mike Naughton said...

Wm. "Boom Boom" Browning, noted circus band leader/drummer would mention Louis Belson, often.

I recall "Boom Boom" also worked as a sales representative for a drum manufacturer (?) and was an endless source of metallic drum cover material which acts used to cover their props.

Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway headed the all-black cast version of "Hello Dolly" on Broadway, very late in that show's presence on the Great White Way.

Perhaps Jack Ryan, who's career began as a publicist on Broadway prior to his circus days, would have some insight on the volatile David Merrick's production of "Hello, Dolly".

03 November, 2009 06:33
Jack Ryan said...

Mr. Merrick, known by one and all as "The Abominable Showman," kept "Hello, Dolly!" running for years, casting numerous actresses of a certain age. My then-bosses Lee Solters and Harvey Sabinson were the show's press agents throughout its run.

After Ms. Channing left, such ladies as Betty Grable, Martha Raye, Phyllis Diller and Ginger Rogers stepped into the role.

In 1967, Pearl Bailey came into the Broadway production, heading an all-black cast which included Cab Calloway.

The final Broadway Dolly was Ethel Merman (for whom the show was originally written but she turned it down.) This was also Ms. Merman's final Broadway appearance.

Mary Martin played the role in London and, on American tours, Eve Arden, Dorothy Lamour and Yvonne DeCarlo were among the many Dollys.

A much-too-young for the role Barbra Streisand headlined the movie version, supported by Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford and Tommy Tune. Gene Kelly directed.

03 November, 2009 10:26
Anonymous said...

Boom Boom, I believe went with Slingerland Drums after the 1964 season with CBCB. I know that when the show was in the Chicago area in 1964, that they approached him with an offer that he couldn't turn down. I often wondered how the various schools reacted when he lit up his cigar and put it on a drum case.
Bob Kitto

03 November, 2009 19:10
Chic Silber said...

Boom Boom (who I believe was a

drummer with the Merle Evans band)

continued to be the band leader

and musical director for Shrine

and spot dates for many years

I had the opportunity to put a

circus showcase together for the

opening of a convention center

in Toledo that also commemorated

their sesquicentennial year and

I brought him out of retirement

to work the date that featured

Dolly Jacobs and Delilah Wallenda

along with a terrific group of

other performers and we all had

a great time doing it

03 November, 2009 22:08

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