Lahr, Bert. (1895–1967) & Gray, Dolores. (1924–2002)

Two on the Aisle Souvenir Program (1951/2) - Signed by Bert Lahr, Dolores Gray, Kathryn Lee, and Elliott Reid

Souvenir program, undated, possibly from the Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York, 1951–2. Contains signatures of four cast members, in ink ,over cast photos, with autograph inscriptions to Paul McMahon, by the two leads, Bert Lahr and Dolores Gray, as well as Kathryn Lee and Elliott Reed. This lively and humorous production, the last of the large-scale, star-studded Broadway musical revues, was a Broadway return for Comden & Green, following their successes in film at MGM, including Singin' in the Rain. The competition between Lahr and Gray during the production of Two on the Aisle was notorious, each struggling to upstage the other. The present program is richly illustrated with b/w photographs of various numbers of the review, small comedy bits as well as large ensembles, including parodies of Wagner, the TV series Captain Video, and the baby chorus line.

16 p. in a single gathering, unpaginated, bound with two metal staples. Glossy color lithograph cover, in tonal ranges of red and black on exterior; interior b/w, front inside cover with critical praise and back inside cover with b/w production photos. New York: Program Publishing Company. 9 × 12 inches (23 × 30.5 cm). Very slight chipping to upper right corner of front cover, perhaps from storage in album corners, and slight surface scratch to same area; else in fine condition.

Tony Award-winning American actor and comedian Bert Lahr is best remembered for his role as the Cowardly Lion and the farmworker Zeke in the classic 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, but well known during his life for his work in burlesque, vaudeville, and Broadway. (18357)


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