Here's to May, Smirnoff, and Saying No!

 Hoops

(the precursors of kites, Frisbees and Jarts)!

They used to be a thing

back in Merry Old, I guess.

Lerner and Loewe's Camelot  swirled onto Broadway

in 1961

with Julie, Richard and Robert.

Julie was nominated for a Tony, 

but it was Richard who walked away with one.

 And not to forget Roddy McDowell as Mordred,

whose days look to be numbered, above. 

 Love this vodka ad,

back in the days when Moss Hart

catered your cast party

and even invited the dog.

Robert's debut on Broadway brought him a Theatre World Award

 

 Joan Roberts (who played Laurey)

and Celeste Holm (Ado Annie)

in the original Oklahoma,

relaxing back stage,

maybe with a Smirnoff or 2.

Below, Celeste with Joseph Buloff and Ralph Riggs.

 Celeste was 26 when she played Ado Annie;

after her success, she'd go on to star in Bloomer Girl,

and then Hollywood reached out an arm! 

 In the movie version,

Gloria Grahame was the Ado Annie dame,

below with Shirley Jones.

Gloria's film career was losing steam when she 

accepted the role,

and audiences had a hard time believing 

that this very successful noir actress
(The Bad And The Beautiful, The Big Heat, A Lonely Place)

could be fresh faced and wholesome.

 She didn't win any points behind the camera either,

alienating her co-stars,

while suffering from a paralyzed upper lip

(the result of plastic surgery).

 Had to include the above shot

from The Greatest Show On Earth, 1952,

and an Edith Head costume for glorious Gloria.

Ms. Grahame (the owner of 4 husbands)

did her own stunts in that movie

as Angel, The Elephant Girl.