I didn't know Esther well. She was a friend of friends. After she passed away, there was a box filled with snapshots she'd taken. Many were recognizable theatre celebs of long ago. Other photos were of her and others. Some photos had inscriptions on the reverse, which I've noted. Others had nothing. This box was destined for the trash bin. I saved it.


06 September 2009

Louella Parsons Tour

?, ?, Louella Parsons, ?, ?, Sabu and ? and what are they all doing on stage & what stage is it?

In the fall of 1940, shortly after her marriage, Binnie joined Hollywood columnist Louella Parsons in a tour of vaudeville theaters across the country. Binnie had one show-stopping number. Dressed in a tightly fitted blouse and baggy white pantaloons, she stepped into the spotlight and gave a soulful rendition of "Why Am I Always A Bridesmaid and Never a Blushing Bride?"

This year Lolly's tour, promoted by Music Corporation of America, is abroad with a new cast, including Sabu, Binnie Barnes, Brenda Joyce, Ilona Massey.

(Time Magazine 11/11/40)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Louella Parsons made a public appearance tour in the fall of 1940. She took a troupe of actors with her (they played Loew's State in NYC, and probably played Boston, too), including Ilona Massey (I'm guessing to the left of Sabu - our left) and Binnie Barnes, who is standing between Ilona and Louella, I think. Brenda Joyce was on the tour (far left of the shot?) and Robert Stack, as well. I don't think that's Stack on the far right of the picture, though.

Anonymous said...
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normadesmond said...

Thanks to anonymous, we now know quite a lot about this snapshot! I'll get the front office to do some further investigating.