Binnie Hale "NO, NO NANETTE" Joseph Coyne 1925 London "PLAY" Pictorial Magazine

Description

This is a rare issue of London's monthly "THE PLAY" Pictorial Magazine (Vol. XLVI, No. 279), featuring JOSEPH COYNE, BINNIE HALE and GEORGE GROSSMITH on the front cover. They were starring in the
Original West End production of the VINCENT YOUMANS, FRANK MANDEL, OTTO HARBACH and IRVING CAESAR musical comedy hit "NO, NO, NANETTE" at the Palace Theatre in London. (Following an ambitious tour which opened in Detroit in April 1923 and included a full year in Chicago, the production opened September 16th, 1925 at the Globe Theatre in New York City and ran for 321 performances before mounting tours throughout the country and abroad. The London production opened even before New York, beginning March 11th, 1925, and ran for 665 performances.) ..... "NO, NO, NANETTE" not only introduced the song "Tea For Two", one of the most popular show tunes of the twentieth century, but was responsible in large part for Baseball's legendary "Curse of the Bambino". Producer Harry Frazee (1881-1929) was a successful entertainment entrepreneur who in 1917 purchased the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He sold his star pitcher, slugger BABE RUTH to the New York Yankees in 1920 for the then unheard of price of 5,000 to finance his new Broadway musical, "No, No, Nanette". This initiated the so-called "Curse of the Bambino", the third longest drought in World Series titles (1918 - 2004) which finally came to an end with Boston's 2004 championship. Neophyte British producers JACK WALLER and HERBERT CLAYTON visited America in 1924 in search of novelties to launch their careers. Among the four musicals they were sold the rights to produce in London was "No, No, Nanette". Frazee was credited in the London programme, but not in later regional tour materials ..... The London production starred BINNIE HALE in the title role and included GEORGE GROSSMITH,
JOSEPH COYNE,
IRENE BROWNE, GRACIE LEIGH, MAIDIE ANDREWS, SEYMOUR BEARD, JOAN BARRY, FLORENCE BAYFIELD and VERA PEARCE ..... LONDON CREDITS: Book by FRANK MANDEL and OTTO HARBACH; Lyrics by OTTO HARBACH and IRVING CAESAR; Music by VINCENT YOUMANS; Sets designed by F. L. LYNDHURST; Choreographed by P. A. LEONARD; Staged by WILLIAM MOLLISON; Produced by HERBERT CLAYTON and JACK WALLER by arrangement with H. H. FRAZEE
..... DETAILS: The over-sized 44 page magazine measures 9" X 11 1/2" inches and includes the wonderful cover photo and a feature on the musical with 26 additional black and white and full color production photos. Also includes photos from the London production of the Edith Wharton play "THE AGE OF INNOCENCE", listings for the other current West End plays and musicals as well as wonderful vintage advertising including seven ads with references to
"NO, NO, NANETTE"
..... CONDITION: with the exception of rust marks at the staples and minor edge wear, this rare publication is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to any musical theatre collection. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.