On this day in 1955 the legendary flop musical Ankles Aweigh opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater, inspiring Walter Kerr to write in the New York Herald Tribune, “Some of us have been campaigning lately for a return to the old fashioned, slam-bang, gags-and-girls musical comedy. Some of us ought to be shot.” Born on this day in 1819 composer Franz von SuppéBorn on this day in 1882 conductor Leopold StokowskiBorn on this day in 1899 conductor Zdenek ChalabalaBorn on this day in 1910 soprano Sylvia FisherHappy 83rd birthday soprano Nadezda KniplovaHappy 81st birthday tenor George ShirleyHappy 69th birthday tenor Robin LeggateHappy 67th birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano
Tired business, man
On this day in 1955 the legendary flop musical Ankles Aweigh opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater.
WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
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