Hey gang,
I just finished a terrific book, entitled "Harold: The Boy Who Became Mark Twain, " an autobiography by the very distinguished actor, Hal Holbrook. We all know Mr. Holbrook from his memorable performances in such notable films as "All the President's Men," "Natural Enemies," and "Magnum Force" (one of my all-time favorites).
In the book, Mr. Holbrook relates his experiences of growing up in Ohio, attending Dennison University and his US Army service during World War II. In addition, Mr. Holbrook recounts his many travels across the United States as a struggling actor, literally, from Goffstown, N.H. to Socorro, N.M., and from McMinnville, Oregon to Pascagoula, Miss., during which he first devised his wonderful portrayal of the legendary American humorist/author, Mark Twain (a/k/a Samuel Clemens).
Mr. Holbrook writes about his early experiences on a 1950s soap opera, called "The Brighter Day." However, he first became really noticed (by the great Ed Sullivan) during his appearances at a NYC nightclub called "Upstairs at the Duplex" during the late 1950s. Two of his college friends appeared with him onstage there: pianist Bruce Morton and a young and vivacious actress/singer named Lovelady Powell.
Mr. Holbrook relates that when he appeared onstage in his Mark Twain grey wig, moustache, and trademark white suit, the nightclub goers actually thought that he was Col. Harlan Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame! "Are we going to served chicken along with drinks?" they asked him.
Of course, that actress/singer, Lovelady Powell, would later become famous as the coolly beautiful Portia Fizsimmons, art dealer extraordinaire, on "Dark Shadows." (I believe that there had been speculation that Portia Fitzsimmons was Buzz Hackett's beckoner in a continuation of Angelique's infamous "Dream Curse" on this very web site several years ago, but I digress.)
In a Nov. 5, 1955 review of the performers of the "Upstairs at the Duplex," in "The New Yorker," the critic wrote: "Things pickup when a tall, slim and handsome brunette with the
disturbing (emphasis added) name of Lovey Powell strides brislkly into view and delivers a group of superior songs in husky tones."
"Miss Powell is really no great shakes as a singer, but she is a talented actress, and I am certain they you will have no fault with her delivery of "Ten Cents a Dance," and "Stay Well," and several other attractive things."
Wow, I never knew that Ms. Powell was such a renowned nightclub entertainer, in addition to being an accomplished stage actress. It's too bad that she never got to sing some appropriately sultry torch song (like, for instance, "I Want to Dance With You"?) at The Blue Whale on "Dark Shadows"!
Then again, I regret that we never got to hear the late, great Louis Edmond deliver his, undoubtedly, soulful interprertation of "Try to Remember" or the wonderfully whimsical "Plant a Radish," both from the long-running, off-Broadway smash, "The Fantasticks," on "Dark Shadows" either. C'est la vie.
Bob