Diana Barrymore "PAJAMA TOPS" Leopold Badia 1955 Washington D.C. Playbill

Description

This is a rare March 28th, 1955 playbill from a performance of the MAWBY GREEN and ED FEILBERT comedy "PAJAMA TOPS" at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre in Washington, D.C. (The production would not open on Broadway for another eight years, eventually opening May 31st, 1963 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and running for 52 performances.) ..... The French farce starred DIANA BARRYMORE and featured KURT RICHARDS, BROOK BYRON, ROBERT WILCOX, RITA EBENHART, LEOPOLD BADIA and AL HENDERSON ..... Biographical Note: Actress DIANA BARRYMORE (1921-1960) was the daughter of renowned actor John Barrymore and his second wife, poet Blanche Oelrichs (and aunt of Drew Barrymore). While in her teens, Diana Barrymore decided to study acting and enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Paris. Because of the prominence of the Barrymore name in the world of theatre, her move onto the stage began with much publicity including a 1939 cover of the prestigious "LIFE" Magazine. At age nineteen, Diana Barrymore made her Broadway debut in "Romantic Mr. Dickens" and the following year made her first appearance in motion pictures with a small role in a Warner Bros. production. In 1942, she signed a contract with Universal Studios who capitalized on her Barrymore name with a major promotion campaign billing her as "1942's Most Sensational New Screen Personality." However, alcohol and drug problems soon emerged and negative publicity from major media sources dampened her prospects with widely read magazines such as "Colliers" writing about her conduct in an October 1942 article titled "
The Barrymore Brat
." After less than three years in Hollywood, and five significant film roles, Diana Barrymore's personal problems ended her film career. Her father died in 1942 from cirrhosis of the liver after years of alcohol abuse with the two of them barely knowing each other. Diana Barrymore's life became a series of alcohol and drug related disasters marked by bouts of severe depression that resulted in several suicide attempts and extended sanitarium stays. She squandered her movie earnings and her inheritance from her father's estate and when her mother died in 1950 she was left virtually nothing from a once vast family fortune. After three bad marriages to addicted and sometimes abusive men, in 1955 Barrymore had herself hospitalized for nearly a full year of treatment. In 1957, she published her autobiography titled "
Too Much, Too Soon
" which Warner Bros. made into a film the following year. However, she soon gave in to her addictions and died from a mixture of alcohol and sleeping pills in 1960 at the age of thirty-eight ..... CREDITS: Book by MAWBY GREEN and ED FEILBERT based on the celebrated French comedy, "Moumou" by JEAN de LETRAZ; Sets and Costumes designed by LOUIS KENNEL; Directed by LEONARD ALTOBELL; Produced by REX CARLTON ..... DETAILS: The twelve page playbill measures 6 7/8" X 9 1/4" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes and bios of each of the leading actors but with the exception of the front cover, no cast photos ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a vertical fold and light staining, this playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... SHIPPING DISCOUNTS: Check my "Other Items" for additional rare Broadway playbills and other theatre related memorabilia. Shipping discounts are available for multiple purchases when all items are combined into a single payment. Please wait for a revised invoice before sending payment ..... THANKS !!!
Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!