Do You Know What Opened Fifty Years Ago On Broadway, Tonight, Darlings????????????????

                                               Can you believe it, girls?   It must have been something.

                                                Exactly a half century ago tonight, at the St. James Theatre, a moment came with a red velvet staircase.  Atop the staircase appeared Carol Channing, in an equally red dress. There was a pause, then the orchestra struck up the opening notes, as Miss Channing began sauntering down the stairs and into Musical Theater Legend, performing the title song of "Hello, Dolly!"

                                                  Even more remarkable, though I recall this as a child--my God, I was 9 years old!!!!!!!--Carol's was not the first rendition I heard. That was Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong's single recording, who did as much as anyone to make that song, and this show, a hit!

                                                    I did not see "Hello, Dolly!" until it was revived twice in the 1970s. The first time was with Pearl Bailey, which was a hoot!  The second, in 1978, was with Carol, who was definitive and featured Lee Roy Reams as Cornelius Hackl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    To think of whom the original cast had--David Burns, Eileen Brennan, Charles Nelson Reilly and, as Ermengarde, Alice Playten!!!!!!!!!  You can hear sniveling on "Put On Your Sunday Clothes!"

                                                      Sadly, all have passed on, save Carol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Guess I know  what every Theater Queen worth the title will be playing at home, tonight!

                                                        Happy 50th Birthday, "Hello, Dolly!" You haven't gone, and never will, go away, again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         Believe me, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!