An Oscar, two Emmys, and THREE Tonys! Shirley Booth achieved the Triple Crown of Acting!
In 1950, Booth opened on Broadway in Comeback Little Sheba, a role for which she would win a Tony. Two years later she reprised the role in the film version and she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, plus she won the Golden Globe.
From 1961 to 1966, she played the title role in the sitcom Hazel, for which she won two Primetime Emmy Awards.
In 1968 Booth came to the Historic Elitch Theatre in The Desk Set.
Booth’s bio from the 1968 program of The Desk Set:
Shirley Booth is perhaps best known to all America for her long-time role (which won her an Emmy) as Hazel, TV’s irrepressible maid. Prior to that her voice was familiar to radio listeners for years from her fine characterization of Miss Duffy on Duffy’s Tavern. Her performance in the film, Come Back, Little Sheba, won the Critics’ Award, an Oscar, Golden Globe Award, and an award at the Cannes Film Festival, and for her stage appearance in the play, she received a Tony. Other films she has made include About Mrs. Leslie, Hot Spell and The Matchmaker. On stage she has been seen in Hell’s Bells, Three Men On a Horse, Philadelphia Story, Hollywood Pinafore, Tomorrow the World, Goodbye My Fancy, My Sister Eileen, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, By the Beautiful Sea, and Time of the Cuckoo-the latter three winning her Tony awards, and Time of the Cuckoo also meriting the Sarah Siddons award. She starred in the original production of Desk Set on Broadway in the role she recreates for Elitch audiences this week.
[Historic Elitch Theatre, The Desk Set, 1968.]
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1968
Elitch Theatre Productions/Roles:
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- 1949 – Goodbye, My Fancy (play): Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
- 1950 – Come Back, Little Sheba (play): Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
- 1951 – A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (musical): Tony Nominee
- 1952 – Come Back, Little Sheba (film): Academy Award for Best Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress
- 1953 – The Time of the Cuckoo (play): Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
- 1962 & 1963 – Hazel (TV): Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- This was an easy one: Ray Fulmer — Booth’s co-star in the theatre’s production of The Desk Set — also appeared with her in her TV show, Hazel! (However, in Hazel he played her younger and married employee, and in The Desk Set he played her love-interest.)
Wikipedia Link:
