BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA Previewed This Day In 1954!

ANNIVERSARY TODAY:

February 23, 1954 - By The Beautiful Sea, Shirley's third of five musicals on Broadway, previewed at Boston’s Shubert Theatre until March 13.

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Here's an excerpt from a newspaper article written by Marjory Adams ("Word Portrait of Shirley Booth, Star of 'By the Beautiful Sea'):

First-night audiences failed to see the loveliest and most lush of all the gorgeous early 20th century gowns that Shirley Booth wears in "By the Beautiful Sea," the new musical at the Shubert. It's a blush pink in color, made by Irene Sharaff, of course, who is responsible for all the gay costumes of the show, and has rose petals sewn on bodice and skirt. The skirt flares and billows charmingly when Miss Booth dances in it. But there was zipper trouble - the zipper was caught in the voluminous petticoat - and Miss Booth ordered her maid crisply, "All right, back to the white dress."

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Shirley saved a letter from a physician who saw the show in Philadelphia prior to its Broadway opening. I reprinted part of it in my biography. Here's the portion that does not appear in my book:

I saw your show "By the Beautiful Sea" Saturday night and enjoyed it immensely. I am sure it will be a big hit on Broadway especially with oldsters like myself and my wife. 

My criticism is with your song in the "Lottie Gibson Specialty" called "I Don't Want A Baby Brother." As an obstetrician of long standing in the community I felt a peculiar sense of hostility at the conflagration of the little infant and thought it was in poor taste contrasted with the nostalgic gaiety and levity of the rest of your show. It does not seem to be in character...." 

More information about this production (including many photos from an audience member's perspective) is in my latest book pictured above (For Bill, His Pinup Girl: The Shirley Booth & Bill Baker Story), as well as my first book (Love is the Reason for it All: The Shirley Booth Story, published by BearManor Media in 2008).

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THANKS FOR VISITING!

JOIN ME AGAIN TOMORROW!

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For Bill, His Pinup Girl: The Shirley Booth & Bill Baker Story
by Jim Manago
Foreword by Leslie Sodaro
Published December 1, 2010
Further details at: http://shirleybooth.blogspot.com

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Now available on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076ZCBM2

Love is the Reason for it All: The Shirley Booth Story
by Jim Manago
Radio Research by Donna Manago
Foreword by Ted Key
BearManor Media, May 2008
http://bearmanormedia.bizland.com