Dark Monday • High Hopes

Doris Day, Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker, and Eddie Foy, Jr. sing "High Hopes" from the movie 'Lucky Me'. The song, with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, is an ode to unemployed actor/singers wanting to get a break on Broadway. The movie, billed as the 'Ultra-New Look in Musicals', the first one filmed in Cinemascope! It is a classic story of talented yet unemployed actors looking to be discovered. They meet up with a talented Broadway composer, looking for someone fresh and new for his latest work. Intrigue, love, fights, jealousy, and musical numbers ensue. I hope you love "High Hopes" as much as I did when I came across it recently on The Movie Channel.

Doris, Silvers, and Walker were all some of the top names in musical comedy at the time. And Foy, the son of vaudeville great Eddie Foy, was the star on both stage and screen, making this a powerful cast. It was directed by Jack Donohue, who had recently directed several episodes of 'The Frank Sinatra Show' television series. He went on to work on many variety television shows, working with stars like Red Skelton, George Gobel, Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Don Knotts, Lucille Ball, Paul Lynde and Dinah Shore. He went on to helm episodes of 'The Brady Bunch', 'Here's Lucy', 'The Odd Couple', and 'Chico and the Man'.

Dark Monday • Nancy Walker Sings Sondheim

In 1973, an event was put on quite unlike most. The line-up of talent was incredible for 'Sonheim Evening: A Musical Tribute', a one-time performance featuring the stars of stage and screen, coming together to celebrate the work of an incredible artist. They all wanted to take part in this event, held at the Schubert Theater in New York City on March 11. Among the many performing was the ginger firecracker Nancy Walker. Walker had begun her career on Broadway, and made the transition to the Hollywood musical in shows like 'Best Foot Forward', 'Broadway Rhythm' and 'On The Town'. Soon Walker began playing character parts, and showed a deft hand with comedy. For many, she is best remembered as the consummate New York mother on 'Rhoda' or the maid name Mildred on 'McMillan And Wife'.  Still others might recall her playing the waitress Rosie when hawking Bounty paper towels, "the quicker-picker-upper." But on that night in 1973, Walker commanded the stage as she sang "I'm Still Here" from the show 'Follies'. Listen to this clip from the live recording.

You can purchase the CD from the show on Amazon.