"Mame"

Lucille Ball and Kirby Furlong take in a New York City burlesque show in "Mame" (Warner Bros., 1974). They're at the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St. The decor we see is the result of S. Charles Lee's late 30s remodel of the theatre. 

 

The chorus line on the runway at the Follies. These shots are in the middle of the "Open a New Window" number near the beginning of the show as Lucy exposes the young Patrick to a variety of new experiences.

The film also features Bea Arthur, Robert Preston, Bruce Davison, Jane Connell, George Chiang and Joyce Van Patten. Gene Saks directed the film, based on the Broadway musical by Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee and Jerry Herman. That show was based on the book "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis. The film's cinematography was by Philip Lathrop.

See the Los Angeles Theatres page about the Follies Theatre for more information and many photos. It had opened in 1904 as the Belasco. Demolition was in 1974.   

 

 

 

We're at a tryout of a new show at a theatre in New Haven. It's a show about an astronomer. Bea Arthur, the star of this show, is onstage for the number "The Man in the Moon (is a Lady)." She's given Lucy a job as the moon girl as she's lost everything in the stock market crash. The theatre they used is the Wilshire Ebell, 4400 Wilshire Blvd. Thanks to Kevin Miller for spotting the Ebell in the film. Usually we don't see their proscenium painted red and gold. 

 

A shot to the rear of the main floor. 

 

Up in the balcony. At this point the number is going well. 

 

 

 

A nice view as lights come up behind the scrim. 

 

Something's amiss. The stage manager consults his prompt book. 

Bea killing time and asking where Lucy is. She's still in her dressing room fiddling with makeup.  

 

Yelling to the electrician: "Tell her to get her ass on that moon!"

 

 

 

The moon rises, but not elegantly. 

 

 

 

Problems on the moon. 

 

A nice look at the house curtain as it comes in. 

 

The moon girl getting fired. Bea says: "I have an astronomical discovery for you. The man in the moon is a bitch."

 

 

Patrick hitched to New Haven to see the show and tells Mame that her bit was the best part.  

 

 

They walk offstage right after the "My Best Girl" number.

See the page about the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos. The bottom of the page also has a rundown of the many films that have used the theatre.

On IMDb: "Mame"

The March 26, 1974 "Mame" premiere at the Cinerama Dome. Thanks to Kevin Miller for sharing the photo on the Mid Century Modern Facebook page. Theodora Van Runkle, the film's costume designer, designed the Easter bonnet to sit atop the dome.