Eighty Is Not Enough: One Actor's Journey Through American Entertainment by Dick van Patten

Author:Dick van Patten [Patten, Dick van]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1607477009
Amazon: B002T45V54
Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc.
Published: 2009-10-15T07:00:00+00:00

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COMMAND PERFORMANCE

In the years immediately following the Second World War, the biggest radio show in America was the U.S. Steel Hour. The show, debuting on September 9, 1945, was also known as the Theater Guild of the Air and played for over ten million listeners a week. It was initially a forum for bringing theater productions to a radio audience, and soon expanded to include Hollywood films.

I was fortunate to have a role in one of the first broadcasts in 1947, which was a rendition of the play, Kiss and Tell with Elizabeth Taylor. Performances for the Theater Guild of the Air were held at the Belasco Theater in front of thousands of people with the actors dressed in formal attire. Seats were placed on the stage, and typically there were two microphones. When your lines came, you got up and walked to the mike just as the other person was sitting down.

I had a wonderful friendship and working relationship with Doris Quinlin, an Associate Producer on Mama, who was also casting director for Theater Guild of the Air. As a result, each time a big production was set to play she contacted me if there was an appropriate role. In addition to Liz Taylor, I did shows with Gloria Swanson, Van Johnson, Orson Welles and many more.

But the biggest thrill came in 1951, when the U.S. Steel Hour presented a radio version of the hit film Father of the Bride starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. As often happened, the radio production utilized the same actors that appeared in the film. But Doris was looking out for me. Although I wasn’t in the movie, she called and asked me to play the part of Elizabeth Taylor’s younger brother. More important, it was going to be a “command performance” in Washington for President Harry Truman. Needless to say, I was thrilled.

I still recall the train ride from New York’s Grand Central Station with Spencer Tracy, Liz Taylor and the rest of the cast. We stayed that night at the Willard Hotel across from the White House, and the next day we went to Constitution Hall for the performance.

Constitution Hall, located on 1776 D Street, was the equivalent of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today. Home to the National Symphony Orchestra, it was built by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1929, and nearly all performances for the President took place there.

I don’t know exactly how it came about, but apparently President Truman enjoyed the movie, Father of the Bride. Perhaps it was because his own daughter, Margaret, a young actress and singer, was approaching the marrying age. Years later, I met Margaret at the Saratoga Playhouse when I was closing in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, and she was opening in The Happy Time. I stayed there an extra day, watched and very much enjoyed her performance.

On June 25, 1951, I joined the stellar cast for our command performance before the President. Constitution Hall was a big place with nearly four thousand seats, and it was thrilling to see the President in the theater.

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