When Arlene Francis stepped onto the Elitch Theatre stage in the summer of 1964, she was already one of the most recognizable women in American entertainment. For more than a decade, millions of viewers had welcomed her into their living rooms each week as a panelist on What’s My Line?. Her appearance in Kind Sir, the opening play of the 1964 season, was a major draw. According to Theodore Borrillo’s history of the theatre, tickets sold out within three days of the box office opening. She “conquered a Denver first night audience” and helped launch the theatre’s star policy for the season.
Francis was a returning favorite. She came back to Elitch in 1965 for Mrs. Dally Has a Lover and again in 1969 for the musical Pal Joey. Her three seasons span the theatre’s mid-century “star” era, and they show her range, from sophisticated comedy to drama to a Rodgers and Hart musical. For Denver audiences, her appearances were a chance to see a television celebrity in person on one of America’s most storied summer stock stages.
Beyond Elitch, Francis was a true pioneer for women in broadcasting. Born Arline Frances Kazanjian in Boston in 1907, she built a remarkable career across stage, film, radio, and television. She acted in 25 Broadway plays, hosted radio programs, and was one of the first women to host a daytime television program that wasn’t musical or dramatic. In 1962, she became the first woman to guest host Tonight, the first national late-night talk show hosted by a woman. She remained a beloved and elegant presence on American airwaves for more than four decades.
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1964
- 1965
- 1969
Productions/Roles:
- 1964: Kind Sir (season opener)
- 1965: Mrs. Dally Has a Lover
- 1969: Pal Joey
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- Panelist, What’s My Line? (1950–1975): She appeared from the show’s second episode through its CBS run until 1967, then in the daily syndicated version from 1968 to 1975. She is best known for this role. In the 1950s she was reportedly the highest-paid game show panelist on television.
- Broadway stage career: She appeared in 25 Broadway plays through 1975, along with many local theatre and off-Broadway productions.
- Film debut in Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932): She played opposite Bela Lugosi. Her later films include All My Sons (1948) with fellow HET alum Edward G. Robinson, One, Two, Three (1961), The Thrill of It All (1963), and Fedora (1978).
- Radio personality: She was the sole female host of the long-running radio game show What’s My Name? (1938–1949). She also hosted a midday chat show on WOR-AM from 1960 to 1984.
- Host of Blind Date (1943–1952): She hosted the program on radio and then on ABC and NBC television.
- Host and editor-in-chief of NBC’s Home (1954–1957): This hour-long daytime magazine program was aimed at women, and she appeared on the cover of Newsweek in 1954.
- First woman to host Tonight (1962): She guest hosted during the transition between Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, becoming the first woman to host a national late-night network talk show.
- Today show substitute host (1952–1961): She was a regular fill-in for Dave Garroway.
- Author: Her books include That Certain Something: The Magic of Charm (1960), the cookbook No Time for Cooking (1961), and her autobiography, Arlene Francis: A Memoir (1978).
- Peabody Awards Board of Jurors (1980–1982): She served as a member.
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- Francis was a regular on What’s My Line with HET alum, Steve Allen. Mystery guests on the show include HET alums, Edward G. Robinson and Ginger Rogers.
- What’s My Line? (TV, Mar 25, 1951): Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Fairbanks was mystery guest, and Francis was a regular panelist.
- What’s My Line? (TV, Sep 25, 1955): Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Fairbanks was mystery guest again, with Francis on the panel.
- What’s My Line? (TV, Oct 28, 1956): Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Fairbanks was a guest panelist alongside Francis.
- Her final appearance was on The Howard Stern Show with fellow HET alum, Kitty Carlisle in 1991.
Wikipedia Link:
