Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

 

Courtesy Decider.

To the folks who make every day a holiday for me. With love and thanks!

Notable Dec. 25 openings include:
Going Up, which opened at the no-longer-a-theatre Liberty in 1917. Louis Hirsch, Otto Harbach, and James Montgomery's musical involved an author (Frank Craven) who has to not only fly a plane for the first time, but win a race against a French ace (Joseph Lertora). It's all to win the hand of our writer's true love (Edith Day).

Courtesy YouTube.

East is West, which opened in 1918 at the now-demolished Astor. Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer's play was adapted into a 1922 film. IMDB: "Ming Toy (played on stage by Fay Bainter), the eldest of Hop Toy's many children, is rescued from the auction blocks by Billy Benson and sent to the United States in the care of Lo Sang Kee. There she continues her interest in western ways and attracts attention of a powerful Chinatown figure, Charley Yong."

Brothers, which opened in 1928 at the now-demolished 48th Street Theatre. Herbert Ashton, Jr.'s play is a slightly less tragic Blood Brothers. Concord Theatricals: "Separated at birth, orphaned twins Bob and Eddie grow up on either side of the tracks. Years later, Bob, now a successful but alcoholic attorney in his own right, kills the husband of his mistress after an altercation in Oily Joe's Saloon. Unbeknownst to Bob, his long-lost twin Eddie works in the saloon and because of their resemblance, Eddie is accused of the crime."

Accent on Youth, which opened in 1934 at what is now the Gerald Schoenfeld. Middle-aged playwright Steven Gaye (originally Nicholas Hannen, who was 53 at the time) falls for his 20-something secretary Linda (originally Constance Cummings, who was 24 at the time). Accent on Youth has been adapted into a movie three times: 1935's Accent on Youth, starring Herbert Marshall and Sylvia Sidney (20-year age difference); 1950's Mr. Music, starring Bing Crosby and Nancy Olson (25-year age difference); and 1959's But Not for Me, starring Clark Gable and Carroll Baker (30-year age difference). The play was written by Samson Raphaelson, best known for The Jazz Singer. Youth was last seen on Broadway in 2009, with David Hyde Pierce and Mary Catherine Garrison (14-year age difference).

Pal Joey, which opened in 1940 at the Ethel Barrymore before spending the autumn of 1941 at the Shubert and then the St. James, where it closed. Rodgers & Hart's musical came from John O'Hara's short stories and eventual book about a player. The heat death of the universe will come, and they'll still be trying to make this show work.

Burlesque, which opened in 1946 at the Belasco. George Manker Watters and Arthur Hopkins' 1927 play had a hit revival, which lasted until Jan. 10, 1948. It's the story of a comic (Bert Lahr) and a dancer (Jean Parker, in a role originated by Barbara Stanwyck) whose marriage survives despite his drinking and adultery, her sharp tongue, and their fleeting fame. Burlesque has also been adapted into a movie three times to date: 1929's The Dance of Life, 1937's Swing High, Swing Low, and 1948's When My Baby Smiles at Me. The 1946 production of Burlesque also included Jeri Archer, best known for playing Belle Poitrine in the book Little Me.

Courtesy Blogger.