ziegfeld theatres

This is the last picture palace (if you can call it that)  that opened in New York in 1969 where we saw "Company" today

Ziggy himself

One of his greatest stars  Fanny Brice

There are a few glass cases with memorabilia from the heady days of Ziegfeld's productions

  Marilyn Miller

  Her tootsiepods

  Billie Burke, Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers  and W. C. Fields amongst others.

 The Midnight Frolics...a roof garden spectacular

  This one is a dedication to the last Ziegfeld girl, Doris Eaton Travis, who died in 2010 at 106

   One of Doris's tootsiepods

  I want these tootsiepods

And here is the tribute to the lost masterpiece of The Ziegfeld Theatre (1927) designed both inside and out  by Joseph Urban.

This glorious deco building stood a few metres away from the cinema on 54th and 6th. The original productions of "Showboat" and "Kismet" played here

Night fantasy

                                                

The only two shots of the interior I could find.

This is an Urban backdrop designed for a "Follies"

Sadly the edifice was razed in 1968 (at 40 years of age!!!) 

This is a piece of the facade that now stands in front of a private home in Manhattan.

Our tribute to Edward Hopper

Despite the fact that the cinema pales in comparsion with its namesake it was great to be in a big house as yet still safe from the plex complex.

a very fine reception

The lovely Jeff Calhoun (above), Tony-nominated director of NEWSIES, married his equally gorgeous partner of 15 years Michael Alicia (below) at City Hall last December but they finally held a reception for friends and family today at a smart cocktail bar on W48th. I was able to sneak in between shows with my make-up on. TT politely pretended not to notice.

There weren't too many show folk in the crowd but we did spy Broadway leading lady Dee Hoty and met Martin Moran who played the morse code chappie in the musical of TITANIC. We were especially thrilled to meet Andrea Martin who was in EXIT THE KING with G. Rush on Broadway.

TT told me to look up then took this picture. I have no idea why. He is a creative artist.

Jeff and Michael spoke emotionally of their love for each other and their parents and friends, then Michael surprised Jeff with an a cappella song he had composed himself which was absolutely beautiful.

Nick Adams and I have a running gag at PRISCILLA when we need inspiration before a performance. If we don't actually have friends in the audience we say "Tommy Tune is out front so we have to be good." So far Tommy Tune has been out front for approximately 493 performances. I was delighted when Mr. Tune arrived at the reception as we were leaving. I told him the story and he said "Oh, Carol Channing taught me that trick, too. It works, doesn't it?"

He's just directed a musical out of town about the glory days of Studio 54 and is currently searching for a New York venue. He's been away from the Great White Way far too long.

I sent this pic to Nick Adams's phone with the message: "Tommy's in".

before the day's excitement

(tt) We decided to saunter into town before the thartar yesterday and Sheldon fell in love with Columbus Ave. These long time deco letters are due to be unscrewed. The business is going

Let's get fursical

A turret on the Museum of Natural History

This'll do

 Nancy's wines. Leasssst ssssaid

A very rare sight on a city block here

History on Sardi's 4th Floor

There is a screen in the room that hosted the Sardi' presentation. It celebrates iconic stars of the Broadway stage and here are some doozies

Bankhead

Verdon

Channing

Mostel

George M. Cohan

Lena

Bernadette

Miss Holliday

The Merms

La Lovett

Iz a puzzle mint

Move yer bloomin'....

The Music Box Theatre

(tt)  This is the home for "One Man Two Guvnors".
It was opened in 1921 by the  great composer Irving Berlin, who by then was vastly rich.
Here is the outside

And here is the wonderfully comfy foyer where we waited pre show. You have no idea how hard it was to take photos around the crowds bobbing in and out of the loos to look as though it was there just for us.

One Man Thousands of Belly Laughs

(tt)   I don't think Sheldon had a chance to be nervous about the Sardis presentation  once "One Man, Two Guvnors", the smash hit from the National, got going. Led by the very engaging James Corden, the brilliant cast had us all in foot pounding hysterics. It is a grand two hours of silly. I was in a production of the Goldoni farce on which it is based about 10 years ago and so some of the commedia routines came back to me...the dinner scene and the trunk scene.  But it was a brand new take and so so great.

James Corden and brilliant supporting player Tom Edden are nominated for Tony Awards.

Oliver Chris mines a motherlode of boarding school jokes.

 The faux Beatles group, The Craze, provided some wonderful interludes and pre show atmos.