Kenley Players (Again)

In February, I mentioned that I'd been thinking about doing a book about the Kenley Players. For the past six months, I've been doing extensive research on the topic. I spent 5 hours today thumbing through newspapers from 1962 (actual newspapers, not microfilmed copies, which I've long since come to despise, despite a degree in library science) and I have to admit I am amazed at what John Kenley did as a theatrical producer: a dozen shows in as many weeks, summer after summer for nearly 30 years. Wow! Anyway, I've compiled a more updated list of actual Kenley Players productions, including entire seasons that I knew nothing about (1957, 1982-1986, 1995).

An Obscure Obituary

What this says about me, I don't know, but one of the first pages I check every morning before heading off to work is the obituary section at the New York Times. One reason for this ritual is that I need to know when an Oscar nominee has passed away. (Of course, "need" is probably too strong a word.) Some time ago, I compusively compiled a list of all Oscar nominees, living and dead, which I keep updated in Microsoft Excel. If someone dies, I stop listing them in bold. The most recent update, if you haven't heard, is Jack Warden. (Despite the fact that I clearly had him identified as living, I'd thought he'd long since passed away.)

I also check for names of people who have an association with Paul Lynde, and this small confession leads me to the entire point of my post. I doubt I'll ever come across a more obscure connection to Paul Lynde in the Times obits, but here it is: theater critic Henry Hewes passed away this week. In the 1960 Variety poll of New York first-stringers, the Saturday Review critic cast the sole vote for Paul Lynde for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Either Straight Play or Musical)." Paul was then appearing as Harry MacAfee in "Bye Bye Birdie." Unfortunately for Paul, Robert Morse earned 4 nods and the award.

More Obituaries

A few Paul Lynde-related obituaries to note:

• Red Buttons, the star of the eponymously titled situation comedy on NBC in early 1955 that featured an up-and-coming young comedic actor named Paul Lynde, has passed away. Of course, Buttons is far more famous as an Academy Award winner and member of the original Poisiden Adventure ensemble.
• June Allyson passed away last Saturday. In the early '70s, she nixed an opportunity to star as Paul's wife on Paul's own eponymously titled sitcom. She eventually worked with Paul on an occasional episode of Hollywood Squares.
• Kasey Rogers, the second Louise Tate on Bewitched, has also passed away. She is preceeded in death by the first and second Darrin Stephens and the first and second Gladys Kravitz. [Update: The first Louise Tate is also with God.]

Jan Murray

Comedian Jan Murray has passed away at 89. In addition to his countless appearances on Hollywood Squares, Murray worked with Paul Lynde on a couple of Jerry Lewis's TV shows. He did Paul one better by also appearing in a Jerry Lewis film, although it was Which Way to the Front, not one of Jerry's better ones.

Bye Bye Birdie

Thanks to the good people at CAPA Columbus, Paul Lynde fans in the central Ohio area can see one of his movies on the big screen this month. I had the pleasure of watching Bye Bye Birdie twice in actual movie theaters while promoting the book. (I gave a couple of talks before shows in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.) It's nothing great, but Paul sure is fun to watch!