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I
started the Vinyl LP series because I have a collection of over 20,000 vinyl record albums I am
selling; each blog entry is about an album from my collection. Inquire
for information here.
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Lucille Ball died on this date, April 26, 1989, which was a pretty rough year; the
Loma Prieta earthquake would shake us back to reality later in October.
Wildcat is the only
Broadway musical Ball stared in. The show opened on December 16, 1960, at the
Alvin Theatre. The cast also included
Paula Stewart and
Swen Swenson, with
Valerie Harper among the chorus members. It ran for 171 performances.
Ball played the role of Wildcat "Wildy" Jackson who dreams of striking
oil but has neither money nor knowledge to accomplish her goal. She is assisted by Joe Dynamite, played by
Keith Andes.
Hey, Look Me Over was a major
Top 40 hit and has been performed by
Louis Armstrong,
Judy Garland,
Rosemary Clooney,
Bing Crosby,
Peggy Lee,
Johnny Mathis,
Bobby Short,
Gene Krupa,
Mel Tormé,
Jerry Vale,
Julie Wilson and
Lucie Arnaz. However, no one ever saying it with as much gusto as did Ball.
Lucille Ball and Paula Stewart
Singing, Hey, Look Me Over, from Wildcat
on the television program
The Ed Sullivan Show, 1961
One of my favorite songs from the musical is
You've Come Home sung by
Keith Andes. Andes had an amazingly beautiful
baritone voice.
photographer unknown
Another of my favorite songs is the happily rollicking tune,
What Takes My Fancy, sung by Ball and Don Tomkins.
photographer unknown
Then there's the delightful little song,
El Sombrero, sung by Ball, Al Lanti and
Swen Swenson. What a fun song!
Songs
- Act I
- I Hear
- Hey, Look Me Over
- Wildcat(*)
- You've Come Home
- That's What I Want for Janie(*)
- What Takes My Fancy
- You're a Liar
- One Day We Dance
- Give a Little Whistle and I'll Be There
- Tall Hope
(*) Song cut sometime after opening night. |
- Act II
- Tippy Tippy Toes
- El Sombrero
- Corduroy Road
- You've Come Home (Reprise)
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Cast:
- Wildcat Jackson—Lucille Ball
- Jane Jackson--Paula Stewart
- Sheriff Sam Gore-- Howard Fischer
- Barney—Ken Ayers
- Luke—Anthony Saverino
- Countess Emily O'Brien—Edith King
- Joe Dynamite--Keith Andes
- Hank--Clifford David
- Miguel—HF Green
- Sookie—Don Tomkins
- Matt--Charles Braswell
- Corky—Bill Linton
- Oney--Swen Swenson
- Sandy—Ray Mason
- Tattoo—Bill Walker
- Cisco—Al Lanti
- Postman—Bill Richards
- Inez—Marsha Wagner
- Blonde—Wendy Nickerson
Recording Engineer: Ernie Oelrich
Associated Performer: Wildcat Orchestra
Conductor: John Morris
Lyricist:
Carolyn Leigh
Net links:
Lucille Ball website
YouTube links:
