Read Online Paul Lynde - A Biography by Cathy Rudolph - Free Book Online
Authors: Cathy Rudolph
Ads: Link
were in a skit together called “Crazy Man,” which Ronny also helped write. Ronny solely wrote the lyrics and music for “Lucky Pierre.” Pierre was played by Robert Clary, who later became well known from his role as Corporal LeBeau, the French prisoner, in Hogan’s Heroes. According to Robert, the whole cast got along well. Previews were fair, but opening night was the complete opposite. Alice Ghostley stopped the show with Boston Beguine in the first act, Robert stopped the show with I’m In Love With Miss Logan, and in the second act, Eartha Kitt did the same, with Monotonous. They stopped the show every single time seven days a week. They were a big hit!
When the opening show was over, Alice, Eartha, and Paul were among the ones who received great recognition for their performances. Paul was thrilled when New York critic Walter Kerr singled him out as, “The funniest bit of the evening.” Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times wrote that he had a hard time picking the best talent of the seventeen performers. He mentioned six of them by name, and among them was Paul Lynde, The New York Daily Mirror along with many other critics raved. Paul was ecstatic at seeing his name so many times in print, and they were praising his unique style and humor.
During a performance, Robert Clary recalled Paul’s sharp, unscripted wit: a lady heckled from the balcony during all the skits and kept saying, “I don’t get it.” So Ronny Graham complained to the stage manager who then called the police. When they arrived, they escorted her out as Paul yelled out, “Now you’re going to get it!”
As the weeks went on, Paul watched after each performance, his fellow actors being greeted with bouquets of flowers and proud hugs from their families. He thought how surprised his parents would be if they could see him now. The show went to a theater in Chicago, and one evening after it finished, Paul was heading backstage, and as he looked up, there was Marilyn. His high school girlfriend had come to see him perform. He was happy to see her. She congratulated him and they talked for a bit. When it was time for her to head home, she wished Paul success. The actor packed up his crutch and bandages, then exited the theater.
Paul was now making some money and bought two basset hounds. He named them Orville and Wilbur, after the Wright Brothers, who he admired. His niece, Nancy, remembers those dogs as being such characters. The loveable long eared pups were spoiled by Paul and the three became a family. Paul did not want his dogs cramped up in a small apartment, so he went looking for a larger place. He liked living in Greenwich Village and found one he liked in the same area. He knew Robert Clary was living in a hotel so he let him have his former place. The rent was higher in this apartment so Paul began to cook at home to save the cost of eating out. He found he had a knack for cooking and invented his own recipes. He eventually invested in a cook book and found he loved being in the kitchen. He felt so confident as a chef, he began entertaining with small dinner parties. His friends were impressed and raved about the meals. Jimmy Russell, the captain of the dance team for New Faces, had dinner with Paul often. This seemed to be his first serious relationship with a man. Paul had kept his personal life as private as possible, but most of the cast knew they had been spending a lot of time together. Eventually things got complicated between Jimmy and Paul so they went their separate ways.
Robert had not been close friends with Paul during New Faces, but was always grateful he had let him have his old apartment. As years went by, they crossed some roads together and their friendship grew. Robert bumped into Paul again in the 1970s, and Paul was very open to him about his lifestyle. Robert was in awe of his honesty.
New Faces of 1952 became one of the most successful revues ever. It ran for an astounding 365 performances. When the show
When the opening show was over, Alice, Eartha, and Paul were among the ones who received great recognition for their performances. Paul was thrilled when New York critic Walter Kerr singled him out as, “The funniest bit of the evening.” Brooks Atkinson of the New York Times wrote that he had a hard time picking the best talent of the seventeen performers. He mentioned six of them by name, and among them was Paul Lynde, The New York Daily Mirror along with many other critics raved. Paul was ecstatic at seeing his name so many times in print, and they were praising his unique style and humor.
During a performance, Robert Clary recalled Paul’s sharp, unscripted wit: a lady heckled from the balcony during all the skits and kept saying, “I don’t get it.” So Ronny Graham complained to the stage manager who then called the police. When they arrived, they escorted her out as Paul yelled out, “Now you’re going to get it!”
As the weeks went on, Paul watched after each performance, his fellow actors being greeted with bouquets of flowers and proud hugs from their families. He thought how surprised his parents would be if they could see him now. The show went to a theater in Chicago, and one evening after it finished, Paul was heading backstage, and as he looked up, there was Marilyn. His high school girlfriend had come to see him perform. He was happy to see her. She congratulated him and they talked for a bit. When it was time for her to head home, she wished Paul success. The actor packed up his crutch and bandages, then exited the theater.
Paul was now making some money and bought two basset hounds. He named them Orville and Wilbur, after the Wright Brothers, who he admired. His niece, Nancy, remembers those dogs as being such characters. The loveable long eared pups were spoiled by Paul and the three became a family. Paul did not want his dogs cramped up in a small apartment, so he went looking for a larger place. He liked living in Greenwich Village and found one he liked in the same area. He knew Robert Clary was living in a hotel so he let him have his former place. The rent was higher in this apartment so Paul began to cook at home to save the cost of eating out. He found he had a knack for cooking and invented his own recipes. He eventually invested in a cook book and found he loved being in the kitchen. He felt so confident as a chef, he began entertaining with small dinner parties. His friends were impressed and raved about the meals. Jimmy Russell, the captain of the dance team for New Faces, had dinner with Paul often. This seemed to be his first serious relationship with a man. Paul had kept his personal life as private as possible, but most of the cast knew they had been spending a lot of time together. Eventually things got complicated between Jimmy and Paul so they went their separate ways.
Robert had not been close friends with Paul during New Faces, but was always grateful he had let him have his old apartment. As years went by, they crossed some roads together and their friendship grew. Robert bumped into Paul again in the 1970s, and Paul was very open to him about his lifestyle. Robert was in awe of his honesty.
New Faces of 1952 became one of the most successful revues ever. It ran for an astounding 365 performances. When the show
Similar Books
