Three of the eleven plays selected for the season were related to wartime themes. They were Tomorrow the World by James Gow and Arnaud d’Usseau, The Doughgirls by Joseph Fields and Janie by Josephine Bentham and Herschel Williams.
Raymond Burr was the leading man. He had extensive theatrical experience before making his debut at Elitch. He made his New York debut in the musical Crazy With the Heat in 1941. He appeared with Marlene Dietrich, Martha Raye and other leading stars in over 300 camp shows for the men in the armed forces. He is best remembered for his television role as Perry Mason that would come later in his career.
Martha Sleeper was the leading lady and made her debut at Elitch in the 1944 season in Frederick Lonsdale’s Another Love Story. She was encouraged to begin an acting career by Cecil B. De Mille. At the age of 13 Martha was consumed with the desire to become a film actress. Her parents were acquainted with Cecil B. De Mille and sent her to him in hopes that he would dissuade her from her childish ambition. But De Mille was impressed with the youngster’s enthusiasm and believed she possessed talent.
De Mille encouraged her to pursue work in Mack Sennett or Hal Roach comedies, “which he considered the best school for beginners to learn timing and the ground work for a higher dramatic career.” Aware of the pie-throwing antics of the Sennett studio, Martha chose to settle for a part with the Hal Roach comedy shorts.
[Borrillo, T. A. (2012). Denver’s historic Elitch Theatre: A nostalgic journey (a history of its times). Colorado. p. 204]
Theatre Staff:
- Director George Somnes
- Set Design Victor Paganuzzi
Season Cast Members:
- Raymond Burr
- Martha Sleeper
- Helen Ambrose
- Helen Bonfils
- Beverley Boos
- Joyce Bowman
- George Calvert
- Natalie Chilvers
- Arthur Cleveland
- Glona Cohan
- Martin De Roo
- William Doherty
- Mortie Dutra
- Maxine Dysart
- Tony Ferraro
- Hunter Gardner
- Chris Ghicadus
- Gene Hamilton
- Bobbie Harris
- Martin Hatcher
- Josephine Johnson
- Bobby Kerr
- Raymond Kerr
- Louise LaBat
- Ben Laughlin
- Billy Laughlin
- James Lee
- Ted Lewis
- John MacGowan
- Michael Marchner
- Edgar Mason
- Ruth McDevitt
- Michael Michaelson
- Skedge Miller
- Frances Obrien
- Olga Petroff
- Patty Pope
- Veme Powers
- Guy Reed
- Kenneth Richards
- Patty Ross
- Jerry Rumely
- Robert Simmons
- George Spelvin
- Al Stevens
- Joyce Van Patten
- Johnnie Venn
- Arthur Washbum
- Ralph Welliver
- Diane Jo White
- John Winthrop
Productions:
- June 25, 1944, Another Love Story, Frederick Lonsdale
- July 2, 1944, The Intimate Strangers, Booth Tarkington
- July 9, 1944, But Not Goodbye, George Seaton
- July 16, 1944, My Sister Eileen, Joseph A. Fields, and Jerome Chodorov
- July 23, 1944, Janie, Josephine Bentham and Herschel V. Williams Jr. Noted in program that soldiers from Fitzsimons General Hospital attended.
- July 30, 1944, Tomorrow the World, James Gow and Amaud d’Usseau
- August 6, 1944, The Doughgirls, Joseph Fields
- August 13, 1944, Let Us Be Gay, Rachel Crothers
- August 20, 1944, Spring Again, Isabel Leighton and Bertram Bloch
- August 27, 1944, Mrs. January and Mr. Ex, Zoe Akins
