When Shelley Winters appeared at the Historic Elitch Theatre in 1973, her biography in the program actually started by saying: “she has been described as volatile (and) outspoken.”
Then, when she returned in 1983, her review in the Denver Post was not kind… “A tedious play needs all the help it can get. But ’84 Charing Cross Road,’ which opens the season at Elitch Theatre, is stomped on by Shelley Winters’ performance…. She stumbled over words and looked pleadingly toward a prompter in the wings.”
The stories of Winters’ time at Historic Elitch Theatre are endless. Denver residents who attended the theatre back in the day will recount their experience seeing Shelley Winters…and the reviews are never favorable. She is probably the most-recalled actress ever to appear at the theatre. (So, that counts for something!)
Despite all the drama (or poorly-executed drama) we’ll forever appreciate her two appearances at the Historic Elitch Theatre — in 1973’s The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, and in 1983’s 84 Charing Cross Road. (And, we’ll remember her for her award-worthy performances: winning Academy Awards for The Diary of Anne Frank and A Patch of Blue, and receiving Academy Award nominations for A Place in the Sun and The Poseidon Adventure.)
Shelley Winters’ Ghost Story
Shelley gave us one of our best ghost stories! While rehearsing for her show, she was standing on stage and she stopped mid-sentence, pointed to the balcony, and shouted… “Get that woman out of my eyeline! She’s distracting me!” As she looked around at the rest of the cast, she continued: “That woman, in the balcony! She’s distracting me!”
Reluctantly, everyone on stage gave her confused looks (who would want to challenge Shelley Winters) and she was told that there was no one in the balcony! Shelley apparently saw a woman standing in the balcony watching her. (Stories vary, but some suggest that Shelley even described her as wearing a long Victorian dress and a hat — certainly a familiar look for Mary Elitch.)
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1973
- 1983
Elitch Theatre Productions/Roles:
- The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
- 84 Charing Cross Road
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- She won Academy Awards for The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and A Patch of Blue (1965), and received nominations for A Place in the Sun (1951) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972).
- The Poseidon Adventure
- A Place in the Sun
- A Patch of Blue
- In a recurring role in the 1990s, Winters played the title character’s grandmother on the sitcom Roseanne.
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- Behave Yourself! is a 1951 film starring Farley Granger and Shelley Winters.
Wikipedia Link:
