Neighbor News
~Debbie Reynolds -{&}- Carrie Fisher...
A North Fork of Long Island Freelance Writer's Take ~ "I'm Singin' {With Some} Pain!" "May The Force Be With Them Both!" ~
By Danny McCarthy
Singin’ in the Rain was an MGM {Metro-Goldwyn Mayer} 1952 American musical-romantic comedy film directed AND starring Gene Kelly. Other outstanding co-stars included Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds.
Hollywood was depicted in that film - “yes, indeed, folks: A CLASSIC film!” The three leading stars were performers involved with changes from the silent film era to the talkies.
The Broadway run of Irene at the Minskoff Theatre was March 13, 1973 - Sep 07, 1974 and Debbie Reynolds of course was Irene. And if you don’t know this: Miss Reynolds’ daughter Carrie Fisher made her Broadway debut in Irene as the character of a Debutante.
Proudly: My grandmother, mom, and my mom’s sister, got to attend a matinee performance of Irene.
As part of my professionals’ collection, I maintain copies of the letters I mail to entertainers – as well as copies of those letters left at the stage door for the particular performer{s} I like to pay-it-forward by spotlighting outstanding citizens that ARE professionals who “make our day” in my collection by obtaining an autograph.
Recently going through my file cabinet, I came across a typed January 12, 1982 letter to Miss Debbie Reynolds c/o the Palace Theatre on West 47th Street and Broadway:
“Dear Miss Reynolds:
It is with great pleasure that I reach you during your current run in WOTY.{Woman Of The Year}…
{You see folks, Miss Reynolds replaced Raquel Welch who had the same lead role at the Palace Theatre that Miss Reynolds assumed (TV anchorwoman Tess Harding) – Lauren Bacall originated that role of Tess Harding in the musical Woman Of The Year and garnered a (1981) Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award for that musical!}
… My best wishes are sent to you in hopes of finding you well.... I don’t want to overstay my welcome, so please let me thank you for sending a signed glossy to me during IRENE. When the show went on tour it was nice to hear from you during the Arie Crown engagement.
… Enclosed is an envelope for reply for your career update in my theater collection; please send a playbill and please sign it for me.
… Thank you for your interest.
… Hope to hear from you soon!
… With love from a fan named Dan.”
MISS REYNOLDS COLLAPSED AT A MATINEE OF WOMAN OF THE YEAR.
I’d like to share that my production stage manager friend Steve Zweigbaum kindly arranged to reply back to me in 1980 during Censored Scenes Of Hong Kong with a cast-signed PLAYBILL. Aha! - Collectors’ item! - Among some of the other cast members from that 1980 Lyric Theatre production who signed the program included: Stephen Collins, Chris Sarandon AND Carrie Fisher!
Here is the findagrave.com website link carrying the entry of DEBBIE REYNOLDS:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174613427/debbie-reynolds
Here is the findagrave.com website link carrying the entry of CARRIE FISHER:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174497164/carrie-fisher
BOTH DEBBIE REYNOLDS AND HER DAUGHTER CARRIE FISHER ARE SO DEFINITELY BEING SALUTED IN OWN OUR WAY. MAY THE FORCE OF GRIEVING BE WITH US AND THAT WE CAN CARRY-ON IN OUR OWN WAY THINKING OF THEM!!
