This is a rare promotional pinback from the one-night
Broadway Tribute "GEORGE ABBOTT ... A CELEBRATION", held at the Sam S.
Shubert Theatre in New York City on May 2nd, 1976 ..... After completing
his studies at Harvard University, GEORGE ABBOTT (1887-1995) made his
first appearance as an actor on Broadway in "The Misleading Lady" in
1913. While acting in several plays in New York City, he began to write,
with this first successful play being 1925's "The Fall Guy". He moved
on to work in Hollywood as a writer and director, while continuing with
his theatre work. During his amazing career, he was associated with 119
Broadway productions as a performer, author, director or producer. His
most notable directorial efforts were "Jumbo", "On Your Toes", "The Boys
from Syracuse", "Pal Joey" (all Rodgers and Hart shows), "On the Town"
(with Comden and Green, Leonard Bernstein), "High Button Shoes",
"Where's Charley?", "Call Me Madam", "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn",
"Wonderful Town", "The Pajama Game" (in which Bob Fosse got his break as
a choreographer), "Damn Yankees", "Fiorello!", "A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum" (Stephen Sondheim's first musical as both
composer and lyricist), "Flora the Red Menace" (Kander and Ebb's first
musical together, and Liza Minnelli's Broadway debut at age 19). In
addition to his other activities, Abbott acquired a reputation as an
astute (and ruthless) show doctor: when a show was having
difficulties in tryouts or previews, he would be called in to supervise
changes. In 1965 the 54th St. Theatre (previously the Adelphi Theatre)
was named the George Abbott Theatre in his honor. The theatre was
demolished in 1970. Abbott died of a stroke in Miami Beach, Florida at
the age of 107. He remains one of the most admired men in the history of
Broadway ...... The special tribute to George Abbott included
performances and appearances by (in alphabetical order) RICHARD ADLER,
CHRISTINE ANDREAS, DESI ARNAZ, ELIZABETH ASHLEY, ALEXANDRA BORRIE, DAVID
JAMES CARROLL, TIM CASSIDY, BETTY COMDEN, DONALD CORREIA, HOWARD
DaSILVA, FRED EBB, ED EVANKO, JOEY FAYE, ARLENE FRANCIS, MARTIN GABEL,
JACK GILFORD, BEN GRAUER, ADOLPH GREEN, JUNE HAVOC, WILL HOLT, DEL
HORSTMAN, GEORGE S. IRVING, ANNE JACKSON, JOHN KANDER, MARIA KARNILOVA,
GARSON KANIN, SAM LEVENE, SHIRLEY MacLAINE, LIZA MINNELLI, SONO OSATO,
MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN, JULIAN PATRICK, EDDIE PHILLIPS, BARRY PRESTON,
HAROLD PRINCE, JEROME ROBBINS, DONALD SADDLER, ALAN SANDERSON, STANLEY
SIMMONDS, ROY SMITH, TIM SMITH, JEAN STAPLETON, MAUREEN STAPLETON, JULE
STYNE, DAVID THOME, ELI WALLACH and WALTER WILLISON ..... CREDITS:
Conceived and Produced by ANNA SOSENKO for the FRIENDS OF THE THEATRE
AND MUSIC COLLECTION of the MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; Staged by
DONALD SADDLER; Musical Direction by COLIN ROMOFF ..... DETAILS: The large pinback measures 3" inches in diameter ..... CONDITION: This rare pinback is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.