[Porter, Cole. (1891–1964)] Lahr, Bert. (1895–1967) & Lillie, Beatrice. (1894–1989) & Goodman, Benny. (1909–1986) & Dolin, Anton. (1904–1983) & Markova, Alicia. (1910–2004)
Seven Lively Arts - Collection of Signed Photographs, Clippings, and Programs
A very interesting collection of signed photographs, programs, and press clippings related to the Cole Porter musical "Seven Lively Arts." The items are taken from a scrapbook compiled by Bill Utely, who was a singer in the production, and include signed photographs of performers Bert Lahr, Beatrice Lillie, Jere McMahon, Paula Bane, Benny Goodman, Alicia Markova, Bill Tabbert, Billie Worth, and Dolores Gray, choreographer Anton Dolin, page boys Barry Laffin, Sonny Cavell, and Marty Miller, and many other singers, dancers, and others involved in the production. The collection includes a total of 26 signed photographs, 5 unsigned photographs of Utely, original programs from both the Philadelphia tryout and Broadway performances of the show, and 36 large loose scrapbook pages with numerous newspaper and magazine clippings, many with images, related to the show. Photographs all in fine to very fine condition, most 8 x 10 inches, with the exceptions of the signed pictures from Bert Lahr (5 x 7), Jere McMahon (3 x 3.75), Paula Bane (3.5 x 5.5), Barry Laffin (5 x 8), Ann Flynn (5 x 7), and an unidentified "Bob" (5 x 7). Scrapbook pages have heavy toning and edge wear, but overall in good condition, 11 x 14 inches."Seven Lively Arts," a musical revue with songs by Cole Porter and book by George S. Kaufman and Ben Hecht, produced by Billy Rose, opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on December 7, 1944. Tryouts had taken place the previous month at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. The title of the show references a 1924 book by Gilbert Seldes which defends the "American Popular Arts" of comics, films, musical comedy, vaudeville, radio, popular music, and dance; the show uses a loose plot to bring together a series of sketches and musical numbers. The biggest stars were English actress Beatrice Lillie, clarinetist Benny Goodman, and the beloved "Cowardly Lion," Bert Lahr. The New York Times wrote of its opening: "Billy Rose has piled a little bit of everything but the kitchen sink--and if that could dance or were pretty, it probably would be there, too. "Seven Lively Arts" no longer is what it started out to be, a gentle satire on show business and the allied trades, but it has become a gigantic, sprawling spectacle. It is big and rambling, and sometimes it is top-heavy, but there is no getting away from the fact that as a Broadway show it is right in the groove." (15251)
Signed Photograph Archive Program, unsigned Song Theater