Raymond Wallace Bolger, born to Irish American parents on January 10, 1904, hailed from South Boston. He got his start on the vaudeville stage, hoofing it with a fellow tapper in an act called "Sanford & Bolger." His Broadway debut came in "The Passing Show Of 1926" (they really knew how to name 'em back then, didn't they?).
Hollywood called (Ray answered!) and by 1939, he'd done The Great Ziegfeld, The Wizard of Oz, Rosalie, and Sweethearts.
Ray performing as himself in The Great Ziegfeld (1936).
Below, a reunion of that Oz gang, including Margaret Hamilton and Jack Haley.
Initially, Buddy Ebsen (another great hoofer) was chosen to play the Scarecrow in that movie, and Ray was to portray the Tin Man. How the roles got shuffled (and how Buddy got the axe) is probably a great story, but I don't know it!!! Suffice it to say that Ray was very happy when his part got changed.
Ray's Broadway endeavors included Where's Charley? (above) with Allyn Ann McLerie, On Your Toes, Life Begins At 8:40, By Jupiter, and All American. He also had his own television show from 1953-55, and did many television appearances thru the 70s and early 80s (The Love Boat! Fantasy Island! Battlestar Galactica??).
His final appearance was on Diff'rent Strokes in 1984.
Ray passed away in 1987 at the age of 83.
Happy "celestial" birthday as well to Mary Rodgers, born January 11, 1931, a native New Yorker...and daughter of Richard Rodgers (a hard act to follow!). Though she never gained the fame of her musical dad, she did have some success with composing and writing children's books.
Once Upon A Mattress was Mary's big hit, and it opened Off-Broadway in 1959. Her writing partner on this project was Marshall Barer, and it featured a young Carol Burnett, Joseph Bova, Jane White, and Jack Gilford. A move to Broadway happened just a year later, and then 3 televised versions, tours, and general (HUZZAH!) success. The Mad Show followed in 1966, but Marshall left the partnership in a huff, leaving Mary to collaborate with a number of other lyricists, including Stephen Sondheim. Stephen helped with "The Boy From...", writing under the pseudonym of Esteban Ria Nido (Ole!).
Other shows Mary wrote for included Davy Jones' Locker, From A To Z, Hot Spot, Working, and Phyllis Newman's one-woman show, The Madwoman Of Central Park West.
Later in life, Mary turned to writing children's books, and had great success with Freaky Friday, the novel (1972) and the screenplay for the movie (1976). She also contributed songs to Marlo Thomas' album, Free To Be...You And Me.
The triptych above shows the Rodgers Dynasty: Pappa Richard, Mary, and Son Adam (Guettel). She was the one to suggest to Adam that he think about setting a certain novella to music, Light In The Piazza. And the story goes that she'd made the same suggestion to her dad many years before. Good thing one of them took that suggestion to heart!
One of Jerry Herman's 3 flops, The Grand Tour opened on January 11, 1979, and closed just 61 performances later. Compared to his other 2 bagels, The Grand Tour had the fewest performances, 5 less than Mack & Mabel. This, despite a star like Joel Grey, a book by Michael Stewart (Hello Dolly, I Love My Wife, Bye Bye Birdie, 42nd Street...the list is long and beefy) and music and lyrics by the "grand" JH!
But even with all that star power, competition was tough. Running currently that season were Sweeney Todd, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, annnnd They're Playing Our Song. So maybe 1979 wasn't the easiest year to introduce 2 guys and a gal driving out of Paris to escape the Nazis? But...but...meat pies! And prostitutes? And Robert effing Klein?
Above co-star Ron Holgate (driving the car) and, below, Florence Lacey ("Marianne", the object of desire).
Well, at least it rated its own Hirschfeld!
Ron Holgate at the cast recording. Ron started out his singing career in opera, but Broadway called (Ron answered!). He began in the chorus of Milk & Honey (another Herman creation), and went on to starring roles in Forum, 1776 (Tony winner there!), 42nd Street, Lend Me A Tenor, Guys And Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun...etc., etc., etc. !
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