"invading hollywood personalities"

(l to r) Top row Anne Baxter (Square Root of Wonderful) Robert Preston (The Music Man); Agnes Moorehead (The Rivalry); Karl Malden (The Egghead); Shelley Winters (The Saturday Night Kid)

Bottom: Joan Blondell (Copper and Brass); Dorothy McGuire (Winesburg, Ohio); Lena Horne, Ricardo Montalban (Jamaica); Pat O’Brien (Miss Lonelyhearts); and Teresa Wright (Dark at the Top of the Stairs)

There has always been a revolving door of performers from Broadway to Hollywood and back. In 1957, there was a large contingent of actors known primarily for their film work coming to Broadway, and some made hits, a few made legends, and quite a few starred in flops. Robert Preston was one of those who created a legend in the role of Harold Hill in The Music Man, by far his biggest hit both on stage and screen. Lena Horne and Ricardo Montalban also made their biggest Broadway hit in Jamaica, a musical written by Hirschfeld friends Harold Arlen and “Yip” Harburg. Teresa Wright continued her string of stage and screen successes as well, having appeared in the original production of Our Town and Life with Father on Broadway, and the Little Foxes, The Pride of the Yankees, and The Best Years of Our Lives in Hollywood. The rest of these performers had a nice visit to Broadway, but they didn’t stay long. For performers like Karl Malden and Pat O’Brien, despite many stage appearances before this season, The Egghead and Miss Lonelyhearts, each which ran just over two weeks, were their final Broadway appearances. Shelley Winters and Agnes Moorehead’s shows did not even make it to Broadway.   Joan Blondell's comedy, Copper and Brass, did get a Hirschfeld poster for its one month on Broadway.