~
This month is the birthday of Broadway musical actor, Peter Palmer, who was born on September 20, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was best known for his portrayal of Li'l Abner, with Edie Adams who played Daisy Mae Scragg; Palmer played the role of Li'l Abner Yokum both on Broadway and in the film.
I used one of the satirical songs he sang in Li'l Abner, The Country's in the Very Best of Hands, during the, The Vote, event at the Gray Loft Gallery (link below) last weekend.
Palmer chose the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
to study voice. He was the first music major to letter in football at
the university. He was an impressive 6' 3" and well built . . .
. . . so he was
perfect in the role of the innocent, muscle-bound but gentle L'il
Abner of Dogpatch
which was often referred to by its inhabitants and outsiders as being
the most miserable and unnecessary place on earth.
While he was at UI, his team won the Big Ten championships in 1951 and 1953 and the Rose Bowl in 1952. Palmer sang the national anthem at every home game in 1953 before taking the field. He was deaf in one ear.
In a couple of months, it will be sixty four years ago when L'il Abner opened on November 15th, 1956, at the St. James Theater on Broadway in New York City; seems like only yesterday.
In 1963 Palmer appeared in Brigadoon and in 1974, he appeared on Broadway with Carol Channing in Lorelei, a revision of the 1949 production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Peter Palmer died in Tampa, Florida on September 21, 2021, the day after his 90th birthday. His son, Steven Palmer, said, “As a family we knew this was coming and that’s why we had such a wonderful celebration of his birthday this weekend,” Steven Palmer wrote. “He enjoyed being celebrated by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and friends and extended family. Gonna miss you, Pops.”
Act I
A Typical Day – Dogpatchers
If I Had My Druthers – Li'l Abner and Cronies
If I Had My Druthers (Reprise) – Daisy Mae
Jubilation T. Cornpone – Marryin' Sam and Dogpatchers
Rag Offen the Bush – Dogpatchers
Namely You – Daisy Mae and Li'l Abner
Unnecessary Town – Li'l Abner, Daisy Mae and Dogpatchers
What's Good for General Bullmoose – Secretaries
There's Room Enough For Us†
The Country's in the Very Best of Hands – Li'l Abner and Marryin' Sam
Sadie Hawkins Day (Ballet) – Dogpatchers
Act II
Oh Happy Day – Drs. Finsdale, Smithborn, Krogmeyer and Schleifitz
I'm Past My Prime – Daisy Mae and Marryin' Sam
Love in a Home – Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae
Progress Is the Root of All Evil – Bullmoose
Progress Is the Root of All Evil (Reprise) – Bullmoose
Put 'Em Back – Wives
Namely You (Reprise) – Daisy Mae
The Matrimonial Stomp – Marryin' Sam and Dogpatchers
Finale – Company
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Palmer appeared on numerous television episodes, including small parts on Dallas, M*A*S*H, Leave It To Beaver and Emergency!
In 1990 he had a small role in the Tim Burton film, Edward Scissorhands, which starred Johnny Depp; it is one of my very favorite movies.
Peter Palmer died in Tampa, Florida on September 21, 2021, the day after his 90th birthday. His son, Steven Palmer, said, “As a family we knew this was coming and that’s why we had such a wonderful celebration of his birthday this weekend,” Steven Palmer wrote. “He enjoyed being celebrated by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and friends and extended family. Gonna miss you, Pops.”
vinyl LP side 1
photos by Styrous®
A Typical Day – Dogpatchers
If I Had My Druthers – Li'l Abner and Cronies
If I Had My Druthers (Reprise) – Daisy Mae
Jubilation T. Cornpone – Marryin' Sam and Dogpatchers
Rag Offen the Bush – Dogpatchers
Namely You – Daisy Mae and Li'l Abner
Unnecessary Town – Li'l Abner, Daisy Mae and Dogpatchers
What's Good for General Bullmoose – Secretaries
There's Room Enough For Us†
The Country's in the Very Best of Hands – Li'l Abner and Marryin' Sam
Sadie Hawkins Day (Ballet) – Dogpatchers
Act II
Oh Happy Day – Drs. Finsdale, Smithborn, Krogmeyer and Schleifitz
I'm Past My Prime – Daisy Mae and Marryin' Sam
Love in a Home – Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae
Progress Is the Root of All Evil – Bullmoose
Progress Is the Root of All Evil (Reprise) – Bullmoose
Put 'Em Back – Wives
Namely You (Reprise) – Daisy Mae
The Matrimonial Stomp – Marryin' Sam and Dogpatchers
Finale – Company
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Side 1:
A1 - Orchestra* - Overture And A Typical Day
A2 - Ensemble* - A Typical Day
A3 - Peter Palmer (2), Marc Breaux, Ralph Linn, Jack Matthew, Robert McClure, George Reeder - If I Had My Druthers
A4 - Stubby Kaye, Ensemble* - Jubilation T. Cornpone
A5 - Ensemble* - Rag Offen The Bush
A6 - Edith Adams*, Peter Palmer (2) - Namely You
A7 - Edith Adams*, Peter Palmer (2), Ensemble* - Unnecessary Town
A2 - Ensemble* - A Typical Day
A3 - Peter Palmer (2), Marc Breaux, Ralph Linn, Jack Matthew, Robert McClure, George Reeder - If I Had My Druthers
A4 - Stubby Kaye, Ensemble* - Jubilation T. Cornpone
A5 - Ensemble* - Rag Offen The Bush
A6 - Edith Adams*, Peter Palmer (2) - Namely You
A7 - Edith Adams*, Peter Palmer (2), Ensemble* - Unnecessary Town
Side 2:
B1 - Peter Palmer (2), Stubby Kaye - The Country's In The Very Best Of Hands
B2 - Stanley Simmonds, George Reeder, Ralph Linn, Marc Breaux - Oh, Happy Day
B3 - Edith Adams*, Stubby Kaye - I'm Past My Prime
B4 - Peter Palmer (2), Edith Adams* - Love In A Home
B5 - Howard St. John - Progress Is The Root Of All Evil
B6 - Carmen Alvarez, Pat Creighton, Lillian D'Honau, Bonnie Evans (3), Hope Holiday, Deedee Wood - Put 'Em Back
B7 - Stubby Kaye, Ensemble* - The Matrimonial Stomp
Companies, etc.
Arranged By [Ballet Music Arranged By] – Genevieve Pitot
Artwork [Cover], Concept By [Based on the Characters Created By] – Al Capp
Featuring, Performer [With] – Charlotte Rae, Edith Adams*, Howard St. John, Peter Palmer (2), Stubby Kaye
Lyrics By – Johnny Mercer
Music By – Gene De Paul*
Music Director – Lehman Engel
Orchestrated By [Orchestrations] – Philip J. Lang
Performer [Cast] – Al Nesor, Bern Hoffman, Joe E. Marks, Julie Newmar, Stanley Simmonds, Ted Thurston, Tina Louise, William Lanteau
Performer [Singers] – Anthony Saverino, Don Braswell, George Ritner, Hope Holiday, Jack Matthew, James Hurst, Jane House, Jeanette Scovotti, Joan Cherof, Joyce Gladmond, Lanier Davis, Louise Pearl, Margaret Baxter, Oran Osburn, Pat Creighton, Robert McClure
Producer [Produced For Records By] – Goddard Lieberson
Written-By [Book By] – Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Credits:
Arranged By [Ballet Music Arranged By] – Genevieve Pitot
Artwork [Cover], Concept By [Based on the Characters Created By] – Al Capp
Featuring, Performer [With] – Charlotte Rae, Edith Adams*, Howard St. John, Peter Palmer (2), Stubby Kaye
Lyrics By – Johnny Mercer
Music By – Gene De Paul*
Music Director – Lehman Engel
Orchestrated By [Orchestrations] – Philip J. Lang
Performer [Cast] – Al Nesor, Bern Hoffman, Joe E. Marks, Julie Newmar, Stanley Simmonds, Ted Thurston, Tina Louise, William Lanteau
Performer [Singers] – Anthony Saverino, Don Braswell, George Ritner, Hope Holiday, Jack Matthew, James Hurst, Jane House, Jeanette Scovotti, Joan Cherof, Joyce Gladmond, Lanier Davis, Louise Pearl, Margaret Baxter, Oran Osburn, Pat Creighton, Robert McClure
Producer [Produced For Records By] – Goddard Lieberson
Written-By [Book By] – Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
Notes:
Based on the characters created by Al Capp
Although original versions were on Columbia Masterworks labels, this version is on Columbia label style that ran 1965-70, though without "NONBREAKABE", this label version would date from 1967-70. LP is housed in original Columbia Masterworks sleeve.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Pressing Plant ID (Small “ᴘ” stamped in run-outs): P
Matrix / Runout (Side A label matrix): (x"Lp" 39344)
Matrix / Runout (Side B label matrix): (x"Lp" 39345)
Matrix / Runout (Side A stamped): XXLP-39344-2BE A o
Matrix / Runout (Side B stamped): XXLP-39345-1BF P A2 o
Norman Panama, Melvin Frank & Michael Kidd, Johnny Mercer, Gene De Paul* – Li'l Abner - An Original Musical Comedy
Norman Panama - Li'l Abner - An Original Musical Comedy album cover
Label: Columbia Masterworks – OL 5150
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1956
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Musical
Norman Panama - Li'l Abner - An Original Musical Comedy album cover
Label: Columbia Masterworks – OL 5150
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1956
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Musical
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Broadway World ~ L'il Abner Star Peter Palmer Dies at Age 90
Deadline ~ Peter Palmer Dies: Li’l Abner Star Was 90
Hollywood Reporter ~ Peter Palmer, Star of ‘Li’l Abner’ Dies at 90
Military.com ~ How the Army Made Li’l Abner Actor Peter Palmer a Star
YouTube links:
No comments:
Post a Comment
PLEASE NOTE: comments are moderated BEFORE they are posted so DO NOT appear immediately.
Thank you.