Judy Holliday & Vivian Blaine
By GreatMartin
@GreatMartin (23670)
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
October 7, 2018 3:12pm CST
I am not one who usually participates in ’10 best lists’ as I always have at least 10 I want to be in the #1 spot whether it be best authors, best movies, best singers, etc., but there are 2 exceptions the first being best musical play and hands down it is “A Chorus Line” unless you make the list ‘Best Broadway play’ and then ACL has to contend with “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe” and at least 6 others! The other exception would be to list the funniest performers/performances you have ever seen on Broadway and the best in a musical would be Vivian Blaine as Adelaide in “Guys & Dolls” while the best in a play would be Judy Holliday as Billie Dawn in “Born Yesterday”!
I couldn’t find a video of them on stage doing their roles but came close with Blaine doing “Adelaide’s Lament” at the Tonys. In a rare instance both recreated their roles in the movies so at least we have that to watch and get an idea of what they originally created on stage!
Vivian Blaine from “Guys and Dolls”
Also known as “A Person Can Develop A Cough” Vivian Blaine stopped the show cold every performance with “Adelaide’s Lament”. When “Guys & Dolls” was made into a movie she was the only performer from the original Broadway cast to repeat their role.
Aside from “Guys and Dolls” Blaine had a contract with 20th Century-Fox and made movies playing supporting roles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-UHDhOJI48
About Vivian Blaine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Blaine
Judy Holliday lit up Broadway and Hollywood with her performances. Aside from her talent as an actress, comedienne and singer she had a very high IQ and it was sort of ironic she was mostly cast as the ‘dumb blonde’, playing them as if she was one in real life.
Sadly she died too young at the age of 43 having breast cancer. I saw her in her 5 performances on Broadway and her performances remain in my mind to this day.
Born Yesterday trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upJ5pZdyZlM
I’m Going Back from “Bells Are Ringing”
About Judy Holliday
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Holliday
Any you would like to add?
8 people like this
7 responses
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
@amadeo Alfredo you are right --it was Janet Blair opposite Rosalind Russell in the first movie version and in 1954 it was made with Jack Lemon, Betsy Blair and Janet Leigh--then came "Wonderful Town"
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
7 Oct 18
@JohnRoberts did you liked it .Was it Janet Blair or I am thinking of Janet ???????Tony Curtis ex wife?Leigh ?
1 person likes this

@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Oct 18
I saw them in the movies of course. Wow, you saw Judy Holliday on stage.
3 people like this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
Yes I lived in NYC and saw her in all her Broadway shows which after Born Yesterday were mainly musicals!
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
7 Oct 18
good strong convincing case for each of them
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
I still remember the great feelings they gave the audience and now 60+ years later I remember, vividly, the performances they gave--also it is good seeing the movie versions!
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
Watching them on stage was unforgettable--just watching the movie versions takes me back to seeing them 60+ years ago!
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Oct 18
I just knew that I had seen Vivian Blaine in a movie. Then it hit me one of my favorite musicals State Fair. I just love her singing in this musical.
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
That was her big one! :O)
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
That's what happens when you are 82! :O)
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
@Courage7 You don't start real learning until you are 70!!
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19626)
• United States
8 Oct 18
@GreatMartin You are amazing fellow Martin.
You have 20 yrs on me.
1 person likes this

@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Oct 18
I don't think there are many that are their equal!








