Return to Honest Ed's

Finally I was given a day off from PRISCILLA so I seized my chance to visit the fabled Honest Ed's

to see its wonders with my own eyes. Imagine my excitement to discover I was amongst my OWN PEOPLE! Performers who blew into town over the years with some moth-eaten bus and truck company, bled the town dry of its wine, women and song and then beat a hasty retreat back to Summer Stock.

Scott Merrill was the original Mack the Knife opposite Lotte Lenya in the long running Off-Broadway production of THE THREEENNY OPERA. He reprised the role in Toronto opposite Gypsy Rose Lee. 

Barbara Bostock as Gladys in the National Company of THE PAJAMA GAME. She went on to a successful career as a television actress.

Stritch frightened the locals as Annie Oakley.

One of my all time favourites, the magnificent Mimi Hines replaced Streisand in FUNNY GIRL on Broadway but played Toronto in THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE with Shelley Berman.

Scarlett O'Hara's sister can tap! Evelyn Keyes in the National Company of NO NO NANETTE.

George Chakiris looking too pretty for words. This may have been when he was touring as Bobby in COMPANY.

Paula Laurence (ahem-I believe my spelling is correct!) had the distinction of being fired from the Broadway cast of  SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS for upstaging Ethel Merman.

The great Dorothy Loudon, who played Toronto in LUV.

Canada's own Ross Petty was SWEENEY TODD in the National Company opposite June Havoc.

The eternal understudy and replacement, Iva Withers is still feisty in her 90s. She covered Tammy Grimes in THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and HIGH SPIRITS (she later played Elvira in Dallas with Agnes Moorehead as Mme. Arcati), replaced Vivian Blaine in GUYS & DOLLS and Janet Blair in SOUTH PACIFIC and played Laurie in OKLAHOMA! and Julie Jordan in CAROUSEL on Broadway...wait for it...on the same DAY!!!! 

Rae Allen rose from the chorus of THE PAJAMA GAME to become one of America's most respected actresses and acting teachers. She created the role of Gloria Thorpe in DAMN YANKEES ("Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo.")

This was my favourite find in the whole store. Ed Mirvish produced a musical version of HARVEY in 1968 starring Donald O'Connor and Patricia Routledge. SAY HELLO TO HARVEY was a massive flop but this painting, a part of the set, lives on.

Thank you, Honest Ed!

P.S. For more star-spotting, TT has updated the previous blog entry called TORONTO'S STYLE STORE with more pics from today's excursion.