I saw this show live. I never thought I would get to see it again! Wonderful memories. As a Dark Shadows fan, an F Troop fan, a Happy Days fan and All in the Family fan this show was a once in a lifetime event. Thank you for making this available. You are helping to preserve piece of theater and TV history. Ordering today!
I saw this in Boston! It was a wonderful evening and we loved the show. Gary Sandy was Mortimer, and John Alexander was Teddy. I still have my Larry Storch-signed playbill.
I wish I had been able to see Jonathan Frid play Jonathan Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace", sadly I was not able to. I did however have the pleasure of meeting and speaking to him at several DS Fests, and was fortunate to have seen his show "Fools and Fiends" one Saturday afternoon in a small library auditorium, We had to either sit on the floor or stand against the wall, but the performance was so magical, you felt no discomfort, only enchantment. RIP to a legend,
@tuxguys Yes, I am so sorry I didn't make it to this one! I certainly wanted to attend, having been a "Dark Shadows" fan (to see Jonathan Frid), and, of course, in awe of Jean Stapleton, from years of watching her "Edith Bunker." But, as a consolation, I did get to see Vincent Price in his one-man show as Oscar Wilde, in "Diversions & Delights." It was probably the best theatrical experience of my life.
I also remember, at the time this show played Boston, reading a newspaper interview with Jean Stapleton, the aticle mentioned her stayingat the old Ritz-Carlton Hotel. That in itself was the mark of an old-school theater actress, to take her rooms at the Ritz, instead of one of the more modern hotels in the city, or even renting an apartment short-term.
I received the DVD in the mail today (08/26/13). I watched it as soon as it arrived. What a treat! The miracle is not that this video is very watchable (decent video and sound), the miracle is that it exists at all. I am so glad this will be available for future generations to see. BTW - Gary Sandy from WKRP plays Mortimer Brewster. I looked like Jonathan Frid had fun playing Joanthan Brewster.
I saw the show live on Broadway. Later I had the opportunity to get a good quality bootleg of the show on DVD. since this was years ago, I have no Idea if it is still available. I can try posting it on UA-cam and hope they don't take it down.
Yes. I wanted to see this when it played Boston, at either the Colonial or Shubert Theaters, as I recall. There were still good seats available for a matinee, I think third-row orchestra, at $30 each. But my friend, with whom I would have attended, thought $30 too expensive for a matinee. I can't believe I just didn't go myself, to see a classic of comedy theater, and with such a stellar cast of all-stars to boot!
I received the DVD in the mail today and it is wonderful! I'm so glad this was available for purchase. The actors are all great and all seem to be having a great time. The audio was perfect. The picture is a slightly blurry at times but since it is so old I'm surprised it is as good as it is. On the computer it is a pretty good picture, as well as my 40 inch TV. But on my old 27 inch TV it looks great.
I saw this as well back in1988 in Tempe, AZ when they took it on the room. I remember that scene here. Johnathan Brewster's line, "He said I looked like Boris Karloff" got apsolutely no laughs maybe a snicker or two; not like the hilarity that Boris Karloff got when he said on Broadway back in the 1940's and no I didn't see it. There was a radio version with Karrloff and Eddie Albert playing Mortimer.
Today, $30 would be a real bargain, a steal, for tickets to a Broadway-calibre show. But even in the 1980s, not that outrageously priced. As I recall, various local personalites (including politicians) would play the "bodies" unearthed from the "Eldeberry" sisters' basement at the end of the play. And, to my recollection, one of the "bodies" at a Boston show was Congressman Barney Frank.
(4/14/15: Many of the UA-cam Folks to whom I responded, all those years ago, no longer exist...) @@krupa500 I was there, as well... Larry Storch, in the Peter Lorre part, was great, and the Cary Grant role was played by Gary Sandy, fresh from "WKRP in Cincinnati." I swear, this production had more former TV stars than an episode of "Love Boat." @@DS6TsFan The other Brewster aunt was, I believe, Marian Ross, who played Mrs. Cunningham on "Happy Days." **gymnastix Yes, I am so sorry I didn't make it to this one! I certainly wanted to attend, having been a "Dark Shadows" fan (to see Jonathan Frid), and, of course, in awe of Jean Stapleton, from years of watching her "Edith Bunker. **MZVIRB How about the version with Fred Gwynne & Bob Crane, anyone? Televised in the late sixties? @@MZVIRB The first time I ever saw this piece was in the (very) early '60's, "Hallmark Hall of Fame," I think, and the part of Jonathan Brewster, who had been surgically manipulated and disfigured, drunkenly and mistakenly, to resemble Boris Karloff was played by... Boris Karloff. The Cary Grant/Raymond Massey/Peter Lorre version (read those three names in succession again... astonishing...) remains the Gold Standard, of course.
@krupa500 But I have seen a few, other good shows since--Kathleen Turner as "Tallulah" (Bankhead), in that one-woman show; Lauren Bacall, Rosemary Harris and Barnard Hughes in Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings"; The Supremes' Mary Wilson in "Leader of the Pack" (a jukebox musical, thin on plot, but with a great songbook, of the Brill Building canon); and Petula Clark as "Norma Desmond," in the Lloyd-Webber production of "Sunset Boulevard."
@krupa500 The Reagle Players in Waltham (in the auditorium of my high school alma mater), is a very professional community theater, having brought in the talents of Richard Chamberlain, JoAnne Whorley, and Patrick Cassidy, among others. Even good high school and college theater companies shouldn't be overlooked, as economical alternatives for competent, sometimes outstanding productions.
But Stapleton is from the era of theater when Boston & New Haven were still "tryout towns" for Broadway-bound productions, as opposed to current practice of an extended period of "previews" in NYC, to work out the kinks before Broadway "opening night.". Ah, "those were the days!" Pun intended, "Edith."
Thank you for uploading this. May I ask if you have any more of the show, please upload. I was lucky enough to see this play back in 86 or 87 when they toured in LA and remember how hard I laughed and how thrilled I was to see Jonathan Frid on stage. He was wonderful
Money sent! Looking forward to seeing it. I saw Frid in Fools and Fiends in Cleveland in the late 80's. Sure would like find a copy of that somewhere. How were you lucky enough to come by the recording of the play?
@krupa500 That's where I would have seen it too (read my other postings), as I live in the Boston area. Not making it to 'that' production of that play is one of the lowlights of my life--entertainment-wise. Did it play at the Colonial,or at the Shubert Theater, do you recall which? I think the Wilbur was already dark, even by then, though now is used for stand-up comedy shows.
@krupa500 Among my future theatrical ambitions is to see a good production of "Take Me Out," about the gay baseball player, which won the Tony Award in 2002. That had played at one of the smaller theaters in the Boston Center For The Arts a few years ago. I also read the North Shore Music Theater has a good reputation for mainstream productions. I saw an excellent production of "Hair" there, about 10 years ago, and some of the cast were Broadway-bound, one opening in "Mama Mia."
That these was not a movie version of Old Lace filmed with THIS cast, is criminal! It is a classic lost to time !
I saw Jean Stapleton in this at the Ogunquit Playhouse around that same time. Thanks for posting!
I saw this show live. I never thought I would get to see it again! Wonderful memories. As a Dark Shadows fan, an F Troop fan, a Happy Days fan and All in the Family fan this show was a once in a lifetime event. Thank you for making this available. You are helping to preserve piece of theater and TV history. Ordering today!
Good heavens, I don't know how you found this, but Frid onstage in a play has to be almost impossible to find! THANK YOU!!
I saw this in Boston! It was a wonderful evening and we loved the show. Gary Sandy was Mortimer, and John Alexander was Teddy. I still have my Larry Storch-signed playbill.
I wish I had been able to see Jonathan Frid play Jonathan Brewster in "Arsenic and Old Lace", sadly I was not able to. I did however have the pleasure of meeting and speaking to him at several DS Fests, and was fortunate to have seen his show "Fools and Fiends" one Saturday afternoon in a small library auditorium, We had to either sit on the floor or stand against the wall, but the performance was so magical, you felt no discomfort, only enchantment. RIP to a legend,
@tuxguys Yes, I am so sorry I didn't make it to this one! I certainly wanted to attend, having been a "Dark Shadows" fan (to see Jonathan Frid), and, of course, in awe of Jean Stapleton, from years of watching her "Edith Bunker."
But, as a consolation, I did get to see Vincent Price in his one-man show as Oscar Wilde, in "Diversions & Delights." It was probably the best theatrical experience of my life.
I also remember, at the time this show played Boston, reading a newspaper interview with Jean Stapleton, the aticle mentioned her stayingat the old Ritz-Carlton Hotel. That in itself was the mark of an old-school theater actress, to take her rooms at the Ritz, instead of one of the more modern hotels in the city, or even renting an apartment short-term.
I have always wanted to see this play! I love this video! TFS! ~Janet in Canada
Hi Janet Information on how to purchase a copy is i the comments below.
I received the DVD in the mail today (08/26/13). I watched it as soon as it arrived. What a treat! The miracle is not that this video is very watchable (decent video and sound), the miracle is that it exists at all. I am so glad this will be available for future generations to see. BTW - Gary Sandy from WKRP plays Mortimer Brewster. I looked like Jonathan Frid had fun playing Joanthan Brewster.
What DVD? Are they still available?
I saw the show live on Broadway. Later I had the opportunity to get a good quality bootleg of the show on DVD. since this was years ago, I have no Idea if it is still available. I can try posting it on UA-cam and hope they don't take it down.
@@tommiller4895 Hi Tom, if you have any info on where to get a nice copy, or if you eventually post one, please let me know! I'm very interested!
The DVD is $20.00 + $1.50 postage. email Bobubas@aol.com
@@skyllarrk the DVD of the show is $20.00 + $1.50 postage. Email Bobubas@aol.com
This is wonderful! I'm a huge Frid fan and thought I'd never get to see this. Thanks, Bobubas :)
RIP Jean Stapleton
Great to see thanks. Wish I'd been in the audience. I like this play- loved the film of it!
Yes. I wanted to see this when it played Boston, at either the Colonial or Shubert Theaters, as I recall. There were still good seats available for a matinee, I think third-row orchestra, at $30 each.
But my friend, with whom I would have attended, thought $30 too expensive for a matinee. I can't believe I just didn't go myself, to see a classic of comedy theater, and with such a stellar cast of all-stars to boot!
Ah-I knew he did this! Thank you thank you thank you.What a great cast and my favorite movie-loved Grant but the play-priceless
We went and saw this play in San Francisco. Was a wonderful evening!
I received the DVD in the mail today and it is wonderful! I'm so glad this was available for purchase. The actors are all great and all seem to be having a great time. The audio was perfect. The picture is a slightly blurry at times but since it is so old I'm surprised it is as good as it is. On the computer it is a pretty good picture, as well as my 40 inch TV. But on my old 27 inch TV it looks great.
I know it's been seven years.... but I sure hope you see this and have the answer...where did you get the DVD?
@@cynthiaross9438 I see that you had a reply on down. Good luck to you and enjoy.
@@kp22kc Dang..I can't find any other reply. :(
I saw this as well back in1988 in Tempe, AZ when they took it on the room. I remember that scene here. Johnathan Brewster's line, "He said I looked like Boris Karloff" got apsolutely no laughs maybe a snicker or two; not like the hilarity that Boris Karloff got when he said on Broadway back in the 1940's and no I didn't see it. There was a radio version with Karrloff and Eddie Albert playing Mortimer.
Wow! Thanks!
ok
Sending payment via paypal. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing the show.
Today, $30 would be a real bargain, a steal, for tickets to a Broadway-calibre show. But even in the 1980s, not that outrageously priced.
As I recall, various local personalites (including politicians) would play the "bodies" unearthed from the "Eldeberry" sisters' basement at the end of the play. And, to my recollection, one of the "bodies" at a Boston show was Congressman Barney Frank.
(4/14/15: Many of the UA-cam Folks to whom I responded, all those years ago, no longer exist...)
@@krupa500
I was there, as well...
Larry Storch, in the Peter Lorre part, was great, and the Cary Grant role was played by Gary Sandy, fresh from "WKRP in Cincinnati." I swear, this production had more former TV stars than an episode of "Love Boat."
@@DS6TsFan
The other Brewster aunt was, I believe, Marian Ross, who played Mrs. Cunningham on "Happy Days."
**gymnastix
Yes, I am so sorry I didn't make it to this one! I certainly wanted to attend, having been a "Dark Shadows" fan (to see Jonathan Frid), and, of course, in awe of Jean Stapleton, from years of watching her "Edith Bunker.
**MZVIRB
How about the version with Fred Gwynne & Bob Crane, anyone? Televised in the late sixties?
@@MZVIRB
The first time I ever saw this piece was in the (very) early '60's, "Hallmark Hall of Fame," I think, and the part of Jonathan Brewster, who had been surgically manipulated and disfigured, drunkenly and mistakenly, to resemble Boris Karloff was played by...
Boris Karloff.
The Cary Grant/Raymond Massey/Peter Lorre version (read those three names in succession again... astonishing...) remains the Gold Standard, of course.
@krupa500 But I have seen a few, other good shows since--Kathleen Turner as "Tallulah" (Bankhead), in that one-woman show; Lauren Bacall, Rosemary Harris and Barnard Hughes in Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings"; The Supremes' Mary Wilson in "Leader of the Pack" (a jukebox musical, thin on plot, but with a great songbook, of the Brill Building canon); and Petula Clark as "Norma Desmond," in the Lloyd-Webber production of "Sunset Boulevard."
Is the whole thing recorded anywhere? I remember this so fondly, and I've been looking for it for a very long time.
@krupa500 The Reagle Players in Waltham (in the auditorium of my high school alma mater), is a very professional community theater, having brought in the talents of Richard Chamberlain, JoAnne Whorley, and Patrick Cassidy, among others. Even good high school and college theater companies shouldn't be overlooked, as economical alternatives for competent, sometimes outstanding productions.
fun clip where can i find the entire show
But Stapleton is from the era of theater when Boston & New Haven were still "tryout towns" for Broadway-bound productions, as opposed to current practice of an extended period of "previews" in NYC, to work out the kinks before Broadway "opening night.".
Ah, "those were the days!" Pun intended, "Edith."
Thank you for uploading this. May I ask if you have any more of the show, please upload. I was lucky enough to see this play back in 86 or 87 when they toured in LA and remember how hard I laughed and how thrilled I was to see Jonathan Frid on stage. He was wonderful
I do have DVD's of the show available for purchase. $20.00 + $1.50 shipping. Email Bobubas@aol.com
That was a fast reply. So to get a copy, I can follow the instructions via paypal outlined below?
Did the $27 but I can't get you email to work on aol. Looking forward to this! smiles to you.
How does one purchase the full dvd?
Money sent! Looking forward to seeing it. I saw Frid in Fools and Fiends in Cleveland in the late 80's. Sure would like find a copy of that somewhere. How were you lucky enough to come by the recording of the play?
@krupa500 That's where I would have seen it too (read my other postings), as I live in the Boston area. Not making it to 'that' production of that play is one of the lowlights of my life--entertainment-wise.
Did it play at the Colonial,or at the Shubert Theater, do you recall which? I think the Wilbur was already dark, even by then, though now is used for stand-up comedy shows.
I meant to ask you, how long is the show?
Is there a complete recording of this available Bob?
Can anyone actually verify that they received a copy of the dvd and how it looks?
@krupa500 Among my future theatrical ambitions is to see a good production of "Take Me Out," about the gay baseball player, which won the Tony Award in 2002. That had played at one of the smaller theaters in the Boston Center For The Arts a few years ago.
I also read the North Shore Music Theater has a good reputation for mainstream productions. I saw an excellent production of "Hair" there, about 10 years ago, and some of the cast were Broadway-bound, one opening in "Mama Mia."
Any hope of buying the dvd now?
Hi Nanci Yes, it is still available. Send me an email Bobubas59@gmail.com
Is there a full show of this on youtube?!
Can you buy a dvd of this show and where
Who played Teddy...
BOBUBAS, how to I contact you?
why not upload more for us Storchers? :)
Wonder why Jean used her Edith Bunker voice.
TEST