With the opening of the Elitch season, the Denver Post noted that, “as a smile of high courage and a toast to victory, Elitch’s opens its fifty-first theater season in war as in peace to give Denver playgoers welcome relaxation and a glorious summer of grand entertainment.” The plays selected for the season included Lillian Hellman’s Watch on the Rhine, a drama centered about the Germany of World War II. Most of the other plays were devoted to comedy, offering theater patrons some moments of laughter in a troubled world.
On Sunday, August 30, 1942, all officers and men in the uniform of the armed forces in or near Denver were guests of Elitch management at a free noon-to-curfew party at the Gardens. The invitation included soldiers, sailors, marines and members of the coast guard.
A letter to “Elitch Patrons” from A.B. Gurtler, President of Elitch Gardens Company, appeared in the final Elitch Theatre program of the season, and contained the following:
Elitch’s is one shining 1942 example of the truth of that well-worn Shakespearean quip, “The Play’s the Thing.” Yes, the play and some of the enduring pleasures of civilized man have managed to carry on, Herr Schickelgruber notwithstanding. We hope that you found pleasure, relaxation, and some rare moments of keen enjoyment in the famed old Elitch Playhouse this summer. May another year see the lifting of the clouds of war, and full attainment of every principle for which we, as a nation, are striving.
[Borrillo, T. A. (2012). Denver’s Historic Elitch Theatre: A nostalgic journey (a history of its times). Colorado. p. 201]
Theatre Staff:
- Director George Somnes
- Set Design Victor Paganuzzi
Season Cast Members:
- Lawrence Fletcher
- Ruth Matteson
- Beverly Batschelet
- Mollie Lee Beresford
- Paul Boardman
- Helen Bonfils
- Earl V. Copping
- Ruth Gates
- Jack Hamill
- Cass Hendee
- Dorothy Hendee
- Keith Hendee
- Virginia Heter
- Louise LaBat
- Gordon Leonard
- Adele Longmire
- Enid Markey
- Roy Roberts
- Marlene McCabe
- Richard McCraken
- Arthur Sachs
- John McGowan
- Cesare Morganti
- O.K. Pettee
- Lucian Self
- Emma Raff Phillips
- Freddie Sherman
- Calvin Thomas
- Tommy Seymour
- Dudley Thomas
- Hoyt Smythe
- George Somnes
- Francis Van Derbur
- Don Whelen
Productions:
- June 21, 1942, Separate Rooms, Joseph Carole and Alan Dinehart.
- June 28, 1942, Ring Around Elizabeth, Charlotte Armstrong.
- July 5, 1942, Sailor Beware, Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Robinson
- July 12, 1942, Jason, Samson Raphaelson
- July 19, 1942, Guest in the House, Hagar Wilde and Dale Eunson. (Noted in program as the only performance outside New York for the season.)
- July 26, 1942, Glamour Preferred, Florence Ryerson and Colin Clements
- August 2, 1942, Watch on the Rhine, Lillian Hellman
- August 9, 1942, Murray Hill, Leslie Howard
- August 16, 1942, On Borrowed Time, Paul Osborn
- August 23, 1942, Old Acquaintance, John Van Druten
- August 30, 1942, The Play’s the Thing, Ferenc Molnár
