In 1888, Edwin Booth, America's pre-eminent Shake-spearean actor, and 15 other incorporators, includingMark Twain and General William Tecumseh Sherman,founded The Players. Modeled after London's famedGarrick Club, The Players was the first American"gentleman's club" of its kind.

Its purpose: "The promotion of social intercoursebetween members of the dramatic profession and thekindred professions of literature, painting, architec-ture, sculpture and music, law and medicine, and thepatrons of the arts..."

The Players, located in a Greek Revival townhousefacing historic Gramercy Park, is also home to theHampden-Booth Theater Library, reflecting Booth'sexpress wish to create "a library relating especially tothe history of the American stage and the preservationof pictures, bills of the play, photographs, and curiosi-ties connected with such history..."

Bechstein is the Official Piano of The Players

BRIEF CHRONICLES is © 2008 The Players

THE PLAYERS16 Gramercy ParkNew York, NY 10003

Phone: (212) 475-6116Fax: (212) 473-2701E-mail: info@theplayersnyc.org

We had help from:James Karen, who shared his

recollections of Buster Keaton andmemories of more than 50 years asa Player;

John Martello, who explainedthe charter of The Players Founda­tion and provided this month’s Call­board;

Louis Menendez, who sharedhis vision for the Foundation’s newBechstein Series;

Beck Lee, who wrote about be­loved Player Michael Dainard;

Woody Slomanson, photogra­pher extraordinaire, who beauti­fully captured our best events;

Doug Gerbino, who sharedcopies of past Bulletins, and

Burt Wolder, who organizedthe words and layout.

In this issue...

FIRST CLASS MAIL

PAGE 10 BRIEF CHRONICLES

Sargent by Sargent. John Singer Sar-gent, shown here in self portrait, com-pleted over 900 oils, more than 2,000 wa-tercolors and countless charcoal sketchesand pencil drawings in his half-century ca-reer. Along the way he captured many ofthe world’s notables, including Booth, Jef-ferson and other Players. In our next issuePlayer Ray Kinstler tells us about Sar-gent’s legacy to the world — and our Club.

In Memoriam

Please remember The Players andThe Players Foundation in your will.

dwin Booth would be pleased.When The Players was incor­porated in 1888, Booth had

few resources to preserve the his­tory of the American stage beyondhis library of books and scripts andtrunks of memorabilia.

He would have welcomed a ma­jor initiative to bring Americantheater arts to a community of art­ists, academics, students and thepublic.

And had there been a federalincome tax in that happier time, hesurely would have appreciated thevalue of tax­deductible contribu­tions to such an initiative.

Today our Club has taken a ma­jor step to further Booth’s vision byestablishing The Players Founda­tion for Theater Education.

It is a new, non­profit organiza­tion whose mission is to foster an

understanding and appreciation ofthe American Theater using whatwe know best: the history of ThePlayers and the many personalitieswho have played a part in our his­tory.

The Foundation is an organiza­tion separate and apart from ourClub. Its officers include Playersand non­Players. The President ofthe Foundation is Player ElliottMartin; Player Brian Drutman isVice President; the Treasurer isAnnette Green, a leader in the fra­grance industry and past presidentof the Fragrance Foundation; theSecretary is Mary Horner, andPlayer John Martello serves as adirector. The Foundation’s activi­ties will be supported by the Club’sadministrative staff at the outset,but within its first five years of op­eration we expect the Foundation

will provide its own support.“The goal of the Foundation is

broad by design: it is to use ourhistory and the great Players of thepast and present to educate andinform,” said Elliott Martin.“Considering today’s level of cul­tural illiteracy, this work is obvi­ously important and timely. It isalso presents vast opportunities forcreativity and imagination in ourprograms.”

At the outset, the Foundationhas three broad groups of initia­tives: an initial series of events andprojects, a new multimedia room,and The Players Hall of Fame.

The initial scope of projects in­cludes tours of The Players and thePlayers Hall of Fame to theatre stu­dents by appointment; free ticketsfor students at readings, lectures

Continued on Page 2

IntroducingThe Players FoundationforTheater EducationNew non-profit organization leads arts outreach to theaterprofessionals, teachers, students and the general public

Published by Members for Members

BRIEFCHRONICLESDecember 2008 — January 2009

THEPLAYERS

E

The Players Foundation Launches New Bechstein SeriesMusical performances and master classes celebrate art of collaboration

ome 19th century Manhattanbrownstones are undoubtedlymore welcoming to ghosts thanothers. Should the spirits of

Brahms or Liszt visit our Club theywould happily feel right at home,for the piano they favored, a top­of­the ­ l ine , German­made C .Bechstein, is now on our stage in allits gleaming glory.

The piano and a companion giftof regular tuning and adjustment

come to us through the generosity ofthe storied company founded inNuremberg by Carl Bechstein in1833.

Bechstein’s rich history toucheseven The Beatles: Paul McCartneyand many other artists favored theclassic sound of the 100­year oldBechstein at the Trident Studios inLondon's Soho district. Heard HeyJude? You’ve heard a Bechstein.

The long term loan of this mag­

nificent new instrument marks thelaunch of the Bechstein Series atThe Players to benefit the PlayersFoundation for Theater Education.It is the brainchild of composer, con­ductor and coach Louis Menendez,whom many Players will recall inconnection with Player Sherrill Mil­nes’ annual Opera as Drama eventat the Club.

“The Bechstein is the perfectContinued on Page 4

S

Brooks Atkinson, critic

Judy Collins, musician

Walter Cronkite, journalist

Walter Hampden, actor

Al Hirschfeld, art

Hal Holbrook, actor

Robert Edmond Jones, scenicdesigner

Tommy Lee Jones, actor

Bert Lahr, actor

Angela Lansbury, actor

Jack Lemmon, actor

Alfred Lunt, actor

Harold and Fayard Nicholas,dancers

Christopher Plummer, actor

Richard Rodgers, composer

Tommaso Salvini, actor

Gerald Schoenfeld, producer

Budd Schulberg, writer

Marian Seldes, actor

Pamela Singleton, patron ofthe arts

Arturo Toscanini, conductor

Spencer Tracy, actor

Thornton Wilder, writer

Sidney Zion, journalist

2009 Hall of Fame24 Honorees Named

PAGE 2 BRIEF CHRONICLES

Continued from Page 1

and other events; acting masterclasses and seminars for theaterstudents; readings of plays; lectureson all arts and other topics relatedto the history of the theater; musi­cal evenings celebrating the greatAmerican songwriters as well as thefields of classical music and opera;Booth Award celebrations and PipeNights celebrating significantachievements in the arts; play­wrights’ workshops and develop­mental projects for new playwrightsand new plays; documentaries onthe history of the American Thea­ter, The Players, Edwin Booth, andother personalities and aspects ofthe theater, and the maintenance ofThe Club Archive.

A new multimedia room isplanned for the second floor of theClubhouse, dedicated to the study ofnoted members of The Players andothers in the theatrical and enter­tainment professions. It will beavailable to researchers and stu­dents from around the world. Itscollection will include representa­tive works of Players as well astapes and DVDs of Club events andPipe Nights, and appropriate audio­visual equipment.

The Foundation is also now re­sponsible for The Players Hall ofFame, celebrating the rich historyand legacy of The Players.

Beginning next year, the Foun­dation’s selection committee willsubmit a ballot of nominees to theClub’s membership. Each year twoto three honorees will be electedfrom at least these four categories:Actor, Writer/Playwright, Director/Producer and Musician. Each yearthe Players Board of Directors willalso elect a Patron of the Arts hon­oree. (See sidebar for our 2009 Hon­orees.)

Members of the Hall of Famewill be commemorated with por­traits displayed on the second floor.In future, touch screens will beadded to give visitors a short biog­

Players Foundation Debuts

raphy of each honoree. The Hall ofFame will be open to the public attimes and days to be determined byThe Players.

“We will soon begin outreach toour members and others to encour­age their tax­deductible contribu­tions,” said Elliott Martin. “A greatmany people in the theater, busi­ness and the arts care passionatelyabout arts education. With theirsupport and the support of Playerseverywhere, we believe The PlayersFoundation will play a major role ineducating current and future gen­erations.”

Martha Plimpton JoinsBoard of Directors

Player Martha Plimpton, namedby Entertainment Weekly as one of"The Hardest Working Actors InShowbiz," has joined the Club’sBoard of Directors.

She succeeds Elliot Martin whohas resigned from the Board to be­come President of The PlayersFoundation.

Martha received her secondnomination for a Tony Award in2008, Best Performance by a Fea­tured Actress In a Play, for herwork in Top Girls at the Biltmore.

PAGE 9BRIEF CHRONICLES

RESPECTANDAFFECTION

Marian SeldesBirthday

September 28 2008: Player Marian Seldes’ 80thbirthday celebration becomes an evening of heart­felt tributes and surprises. Clockwise from topright,Marian Seldes with Player James Karenand Alba Karen; KT Sullivan belts out There’sNo Business Like Show Business to open the eve­ning; Players Marian Sledes and DavidStaller; Player Angela Pierce, who said play­ing Goneril to Kevin Kline’s ‘Lear’ with Marian inthe audience felt like being back in Julliard’sroom 303; Player Brian Murray, Marian’s co­star in The Play About The Baby; two of the fourJulliard students who read from Marian’s autobi­ography Bright Lights, and Player Jerry Tall­mer who recalled Marian’s father Gideon Seldes.

November 9 2008: As Player ThomasVinciguerra reported in The New YorkTimes: “he signed copies of his recentlypublished memoir, My Word Is MyBond, flanked by paintings of such pastclub presidents as José Ferrer and Al­fred Drake. ‘It’s rather frightening,’ Mr.Moore said of being amid such distin­guished company. ‘I just wish I hadn’thad to wait 81 years.’” From top left,UNICEF Executive Director AnneVeniman, who spoke movingly of SirRoger’s work with the world’s children;Players Lee Pfeiffer and Sir RogerMoore; Players Ray Kinstler, Pam­ela Singleton and NAME Kinstler; SirRoger receives life membership in theClub from John Martello.

PIPEKNIGHT:

Sir RogerMoore

PAGE 8 BRIEF CHRONICLES

After the outpouring of affectionat her recent birthday celebration,Player Marian Seldes turned for herremarks to a piece of paper she saidwas always with her. It carriesquotations from the play AnotherTime by Ronald Harwood. “If youwant to know what I believe, thesewords say it much better than Iever could,” she said.

“It’s no secret I’m a lover ofbooks, a lover of poetry, a lover ofart. I believe in art, that’s what Ibelieve in. God I leave to the godly,business and politics I leave tocrooks. I believe in art. I believeart – I mean literature, poetry, thetheater, music, painting, ballet, theopera – all art is an expression ofwhat’s best about each and everyone of us.

“My belief is that art is a solace,a benediction.

“My world was created, trans­formed and blessed by art. Myprayers are for more Shakespearesand George Eliots, my litany is tothe glory of Mozart and Schubert,my worship is of Rembrandt andChagall, and the infinite number ofartists whose vision has made meable to bear this life from one day tothe next.

“There’s not a thought in myhead, not a feeling in my body thatart hasn’t, in one way or another,informed and fired.

“I believe there’s a chance thatart might, might, just might turnthe whole world upside down, allright, not the whole world, I don’tbelieve in miracles, but one individ­ual world, and that’s a chance, inmy opinion, you’re meant to take.After all, I speak from personal ex­perience. That’s it, that’s what Ibelieve.”

* * *As quoted by Marian from the

play Another Time by Ronald Har­wood

Marian Seldes:“I Believe in Art”

Glamorous Anita Jaffe and and new members James Fenniman and James Laroccajoined the rest of the Board in raising a glass to congratulate John Martello as he began his16th year as Executive Director. He accepted a plaque commemorating his contributions tothe Club in the Library after the October 28 board meeting.

Now in your bookstore is PlayerLeslie Carroll’s latest, RoyalScandals: A Lusty Romp Throughthe Extramarital Adventures thatRocked the British Monarchy, four­starred at Amazon (NAL Trade).This is Leslie’s twelfth publishedbook. Her prolific writing effortsare what used to be called a cottageindustry, though we’re not sure howmany cottages could contain thismuch industry.

You might not know that PlayerMeir Ribalow is the co­host of aweekly online radio show on classicmovies, Iconsradio.com. An artist­in­residence at Fordham University

HEARDIN THE

GRILL

and teacher at the William EsperStudio, Meir is also Artistic Directorof New River Dramatists. His newplay Tiger in the Tree was presentedas part of Ensemble Studio Thea­tre’s Octoberfest. Meir is also Direc­tor of Poetry at the Players; if you’reinterested in reading poetry, contactBrenda Gelles at Chunda71@aol.com.

Sirs,

While I am an admirer of ProfessorBell’s ingenuity, please inform ourmembers that I consider portabletelephones to be infernal devicesdestructive of the principles of so­cial intercourse upon which ourClub was founded, and that I be­lieve they should not be used whileon our premises.

Yours,

E. Booth

PAGE 3BRIEF CHRONICLES

ccording to EntertainmentWeekly Keaton was the sev­enth greatest director of alltime. Best known for his silent

films, his work was among the mostinnovative in the history of cinema.Yet by the 1950’s, when producersmentioned Buster Keaton, the firstquestion always was ‘is he stillalive?’

“Well, he was very much alive,”said James Karen. “The terrificthing about Buster was that henever stopped working. When hiscareer slowed down here he went toEurope, he was working every­where, working in circuses, workinganywhere they would have him.”

Karen was putting together asummer stock package in early1957, a production that wouldtravel to a dozen or so theatersacross the country. He had been afan of The Great Stone Face sinceboyhood, but it was Jim’s member­ship in the Club that helped himmake his first connection to Keaton.

“I saw Rudi Blesch at The Play­ers and he was then working on hisbiography of Keaton. Rudi owed memoney and I told him that I'd for­give the debt if he gave me BusterKeaton's phone number. I regrettedthat deal ever since, because Busterwas in the phone book and I didn'tknow it.

“So I called him on the phone.Mr. Keaton, I asked, I'm thinkingabout producing a package for sum­mer stock and I wonder if you'd beinterested. ‘Yeah.’ Well, I asked, isthere anything you'd particularlylike to do? ‘Yeah. Always wantedto do Merton of the Movies.’

The idea presented major chal­lenges. “The play is set in 1919,and it's about a boy in the Midwestwho wants to join the movies, andBuster was a long way from being aboy,” said Karen.

“But at the Players bar one day Ifound Marc Connelly, who had writ­ten the play with George S. Kauf­

man. So I told him that Keatonwanted to do it and Marc's immedi­ate reaction was that anything wecould do to help Buster keep work­ing was all right with him. So hereached for a piece of paper, andright then and there he wrote outpermission for me to alter the pieceso the part made sense for Buster. Iasked him how his co­author wouldfeel about it. ‘George is in a coma,’he said. ‘Don't worry about it.’”

With the author’s approval inhand, the big question was how todo it. “I remembered the advice ofGeorge S. Abbott, who said thatfarce beginswith a crazyidea and every­thing followslogically fromthat crazy idea,”said Karen. “Sowe added theline ‘You're kindof old to be inthe movies,’ andBuster of coursereplies ‘It's notmy fault thatmovies were invented when I wasan old man.’”

“Well, the production went toChicago and people came in droves.Huntington Hartford came to see it,and in those days he had a theaterin Hollywood that had not yetopened. We ran about six weeks outthere.”

The summer stock run gaveKaren the opportunity to get toknow Keaton despite the fact thathe was not a strong verbal commu­nicator. “He was quite shy withstrangers. Buster was not an intel­lectual. He was a hard­working per­son, someone who only went toschool one day in his entire life. Hewas not a great conversationalist,”said Karen, “but he was howeververy warm with people he liked.”

Visually, however, Keaton was agenius, an expert in structure and

timing. Both The General andSherlock Jr. are on the AmericanFilm Institute’s list of 100 topAmerican comedies.

“Buster simply understood phys­ics, engineering, everything relatedto film. He just knew it, naturally.That's a good definition of what itmeans to be a genius,” said Karen.“There's no reason for them to un­derstand what they do, but they do.And they’re there at the right timein history. Chaplin, Keaton andLloyd were born at the right time tofulfill their destinies in silent mov­ies.

“Buster neverused scripts.He’d get an idea,a beginning andan end. And hewould fill in themiddle by writ­ing on scraps ofpaper what theshooting wouldbe for that day.Sometimes theycouldn't solve aproblem with a

story, so they played baseball untilthey could figure it out. But Busteralways brought his pictures in ontime and on budget ­­ he wanted tohave his pictures done in time so hecould go on to the next one.”

“Over the years I became veryclose to Buster. In a way, he waslike an adopted father to me. Hewas my son’s godfather, and hardlya day goes by that I don’t thinkabout him.”

Karen on KeatonOur Club helped long-time Player and LA resident James Karen play aunique role in Buster Keaton’s last years

A

The Great Stone Face

What’s it like to returnto the Club after a longabsence? Read whatJim Karen has to sayon Page 5.

PAGE 4 BRIEF CHRONICLES

Bechstein Center was around thecorner from the hotel, and theywere very accommodating and I gotto know them very well.”

“This new series and the work ofthe Foundation are beautifullymatched with the strengths of theClub. For me, it's not just aboutpeople who stand and sing; my in­terest is in working with people whoact,” said Louis.

Players and guests can learnmore about these unique instru­ments by visiting the Bechstein Pi­ano Centre at 207 West 58th Street,about a block from Carnegie Hall.

The Bechstein Series

December 9; 8PMKam Cheng, SopranoRose and Blood: An evening ofStrauss, Berlioz & Ravel

December 14; 3PMThe Michael Cabe Trio , A JazzyHoliday Concert featuring vocalist,Jessica Elbert

January 13, 8PMMark Walters, BaritoneSongs of Bellini, Brahms & Copland

January 25; 3PMIrina Moyzleva, Russian SouvenirsTimeless Russian romances & songsfrom the repertoire of Lyubov Or­lova & American Composers of Rus­sian descent

February 11; 8PMFrancesca Mondanaro, Postcardsfrom Italy: The summer voyagethat brings a family’s heritage fullcircle, based on the true story ofFrancesca’s adventures performingand living in Italy

February 24; 8PMDr. William Riley, A Masterclass.International Master Teacher for allgenres

March 11; 8PMEileen Hampshire, Songs of SpiritA recital of soulful art songs

March 24; 8PMCarol Kirkpatrick, Master Teacherand Consultant. A Masterclass.

April 6; 8PMTracy Bidleman, Recital

April 22; 8PMEllen Gould, Classic­Cab(­aret)A century of Taxi passengers takesyou through time in song to placesyou never thought a cab could go…in this new work co­created andwritten with Louis Menendez.

May 6; 8PMJennifer Harris & Dan Snyder,Myths and Legends. Soprano &Tenor pay homage in song

May 19; 8PMAlisa Cassola, SopranoFeaturing Strauss’s BrentanoLieder

June 3; 8PMTammy Hensrud, SopranoWeill in Berlin, taking the walldown one song at a time

June 17; 8PMJames Greening & Julia SahkarovaViolinists & Singers TBA­ Music ofBach

Continued from Page 1

instrument to sing with, and whatI've been looking to do is to providea very special venue to promote theart form of artistic collaboration,”said Menendez. “We want to show­case a wide range of artists, doingwhat they do best, in specially cre­ated programs combining singing,acting and other art forms.”

Over time the visual componentof each event will become more im­portant. “I want to do a combina­tion with videography and speciallighting effects ­­ lighting andscrims, not props ­­ to do somethingreally creative, multimedia, withthe piano,” said Louis. “We willcontinue to present one personshows where the repertoire is bothclassical and new, and to blur thelines between the recital format andtheater. What we want to do is notcabaret, not concerts but real thea­ter pieces.”

At least three of the 18 dates inthe series will be master classes.One such class was held on Novem­ber 5 with internationally knownsoprano and teacher MariaSpacagna. Future master classeswill feature Dr. William Reilly, anexpert in working with all sorts ofvoices and teacher to Celine Dion.Carol Kirkpatrick will bring a busi­ness­sensible approach to art, tomarketing oneself and managing acareer.

The new Bechstein series wasprompted both by Menendez’s loveof the Bechstein and knowledge ofThe Players. He has become anunofficial goodwill ambassador forBechstein in America, fueled largelyby personal experience.

“I suppose the first Bechstein Iplayed was when I was an under­graduate. One of my professors hadbrought his concert grand over fromEurope, and I fell in love with theinstrument,” said Louis. “Yearslater I was on tour in Germany withPorgy and Bess, in Hannover, and Ineeded a place to practice. The

Bechstein Series Celebrates Art of Collaboration

“This new series and thework of the Foundationare beautifully matchedwith the strengths of theClub. It's not just aboutpeople who stand andsing; my interest is inworking with peoplewho act.”

PAGE 7BRIEF CHRONICLES

Continued from Page 5

in March 1707. Two young gentle­men, fallen on hard times, proposeto travel the countryside and entrapyoung heiresses; one falls in loverather quickly.)

The month’s political commen­tary poked fun at both Herbert Hoo­ver and his opponent, happy war­rior Al Smith.

Also noted was E. H. Sothern’sgift of “his collection of theatricalobjects of interest and historicalvalue,” which was to be displayed inspecial cases on the third floor“adjacent to the room formerlyknown as the Florence Room, butnow to be known as the SothernRoom.” One wonders where thatwas, precisely.

The November 1928 Bulletinfound members up in arms aboutthe scheme to take The BeauxStratagem on the road, with a spe­cial meeting called on 5 Novemberto debate the issue. At least 25 ofour brethren felt the prospect“unbecoming to the dignity and tra­ditions of the Club, not consonantwith its welfare or its objects, norwith the purposes of the Founder.”

Not a group to avoid contre­temps, the issue went on to inno­cently propose setting aside “one

Sunday evening per month whenmembers may bring lady guests fordinner” – into the grill, which waswhat we today call the dining room.Ladies were not, however, to be per­mitted in the pool room or the bar.This naïve idea was suggested as ameans to “offset the cost of the grilland bring more people in.” ‘Twasever thus.

The issue also included storiesand anecdotes heard around theClub, a report of James Cagney’sdoings on Martha’s Vineyard, andnoted the passing of long timePlayer Warren William.

70 YEARS AGO

Headlines in the November 1938Bulletin described the Club’s anni­versary dinner held at the Waldorf.1100 attended, and Club SecretaryWhitney Darrow (founder of Prince­ton University Press and father offamed New Yorker cartoonist Whit­ney Darrow Jr.) was saluted formaking the evening a success.President Walter Hampden wasmaster of ceremonies for an eveningwhich included the Founders’ Nightritual recreated on stage.

Nov. 1938 also marked the an­nouncement that the 50th anniver­sary volume The Players Book wasin type and that copies might beready in December. And the Bulle­tin offered its own 50 year retro­spective by listing the shows play­ing at the city’s theaters in the lasttwo months of 1888.

One of the most interesting sto­ries in the issue described the arri­val in the library of The UnlockedBook, an unpublished memoir ofJohn Wilkes Booth by Booth’s sisterAsia, who had kept it hidden toavoid destruction by the family.

Also reported was the gift ofEllen Terry’s death mask by play­wright and poet Percy MacKaye.

60 YEARS AGO

Dennis King’s Booth birthdaytribute leads the Christmas 1948issue, followed by a Kipling­esquepoem by James Garrett Wallaceabout the Dewey­Truman electionupset. Booth Day in the West Room(The Player’s Los Angeles outpost)was reported by Thurston Hall.

Next is a story about a disasterthat almost claimed the manuscriptof Clarence Day’s Life With Father.The editor reports on the uproarcreated by yet another proposedLadies’ Night dinner; HeywoodBroun’s Christmas Legend of 1929is reprinted, followed by notes onthe passing of beloved Player RoyalCortissoz.

The issue closes with news of acommittee formed to look into thesubject of television presentationsat the Club, and an interestingstory about The Players and TheLittle Church Around the Corner.

Interested in seeing these oldBulletins for yourself? We’vescanned them for the Club web site.

80Years AgoBulletins from decades past

PAGE 6 BRIEF CHRONICLES

is mind ran a mile a minute,but he wasn’t a big talker,"said Elizabeth Jackson. "He

really liked to listen, to take it allin. Once he said to me, ‘whenyou’re speaking, you’re not learn­ing.’”

There was also an air of mysteryand inscrutability about him, sopronounced that it prompted PlayerMeryl Goodfader to dub him Dr.Wu, International Man of Mystery— a mysterious alter ego which hemuch enjoyed.

At Michael Dainard’s well­attended memorial celebration onSeptember 24 Players John Marion,Doug Gerbino, David Copeland, andLee Pfeiffer offered colorful andheartfelt remarks. His son Stefan,now a student at Lehigh University,and Ted Walworth, a friend sinceMike’s CBS days, contributedfunny, sweet reminiscences. Theprogram also included a movingslide show produced by Jim Masser.

Those who make great impres­sions on our lives live on in fondmemories. That’s especially true ofMike Dainard. Here’s what severalPlayers had to say.

"He was a true gentleman, oneof the most thoughtful members weever had,” said John Marion."When I joined, Mike came up to meand started introducing me around.If you needed his help he was therefor you, no questions asked."

"He was intellectually curious,forthright, playful, helpful, open,"said Player Lee Pfeiffer. "If youasked him a question, he didn'thesitate to tell you what he thought.

"Did I know him? Did he sharehis inner feelings? Well, I supposeit's a guy thing. We just talkedabout the things that interested us.He was into a number of spiritualthings, yes, but I never felt he wastrying to win me over."

Still, there were many facets toMike’s interests and intelligencethat were unknown to many of us.

Only a handful of Players knew,for example, that Michael had be­

night, in dark corners of the Club."Who cares if the thing was crazy?"said Meryl Goodfader. "It was fun.We loved it."

“Mike was candid and open inso many ways and yet so private,”Meryl said. “He had private, funnysecrets in all sorts of places, like asquirrel who hides stuff in thisplace and that.”

When asked his remembrancesof the Dr. Pepper­swigging Dr. Wu,barman Eddie NAME’s eyes lit up.Before the Club closed for the sum­mer, Eddie said, Michael had askedhim to fill out a questionnaire so hecould write a short biography of hislife. “He said he was going to makeit into a little book,” said Eddie. “Igave him the information. He wasworking on it, but he died a fewweeks later, when the Club wasclosed.”

The mysterious Dr. Wu. As LeePfeiffer proclaimed the other night,"I barely knew him, but I know this:I miss him. I really miss him."

“So many people said he wastheir first friend at the Club,” saidElizabeth Jackson. “That generos­ity of spirit was his real legacy."

friended a Dr. DaVid, who collecteda medicine from the Amazon rainforest, which Mike supplied to alter­native­seeking cancer patients.Several of these people would ea­gerly offer testimonials aboutMike's assistance when asked. "Hewasn't looking for recognition," saidElizabeth Jackson.

While Pfeiffer and others wereaware that Mike had written anunpublished account of an alienencounter in Austria where he hada second home, many Players hadnever heard about it.

"When Mike showed me hismanuscript for the alien book," saidone Player, "he told me the storywas really not something he wantedto publish. He didn't want people tothink he was crazy, but he felt thatnot telling anybody would be irre­sponsible.”

A good many Players also drew ablank when asked about the Arche­type Matrix personality test devel­oped by psychologist WolfgangBernhard, for which Mike, a sea­soned marketing professional andauthor who taught at NYU, was aconsultant. Some said he adminis­tered the test, which gauged a sub­ject’s responses to music, late at

Remembering Michael DainardBeck Lee recalls a Player affectionately known as “an International Man of Mystery”

“Hbegan comingto the Clubfirst in 1947

when WalterHampden waspresident. I wasintroduced to himand I rememberhe was in one ofthe tall pool tablechairs, and hesaid "My boy, Iunderstand you'vegot a nice part onBroadway. I hopeyou won't go toHollywood. I wentto Hollywood as astar and woundup playing Indi­ans on the backlot."

In those days I was at the Clubvirtually every day. Rollie Winters,Martin Gable, Peter Turgeon. Theywere all there by one o'clock, playedpool all day and then went to thetheater. Roland Winters was myclosest friend. I always had greattimes with Rollie and Jason Ro­bards, they were very close.

Player Angela Lansburyreturns to Broadway this winterin the eagerly awaited revivalof Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. It’sscheduled to play the ShubertTheatre. She will be joinedby Player Simon Jones. Simonhas gotten rave reviews for hisperformance as C.S. Lewis in theGuthrie Theatre’s production ofShadowlands.

Player Sherrill Milnesreceived the prestigious OperaNews Award at its annual gala atthe Pierre Hotel.

PlayerMaire Martello’s playThe Lodger will be presented atthe Workshop Theatre in Janu­ary. Co­Produced by HerbBlodgett, the cast includes Play­ers George Innes, Glenn Kali­son and John Martello.

Penang, playwright James La­rocca's compelling story of youngmen in combat, earned five awardnominations for its featured MainStage production at the summer2008 Midtown InternationalTheater Festival (MITF). Theplay, which was first read at ThePlayers in 2003, was nominatedfor best drama, best supportingactor, best featured actor, bestlighting design, and best sounddesign.

Player Doug Gerbino portrayedGeorge Read, delegate from Dela­ware, in the Hoffstra Universityproduction of 1776 at the end ofSeptember in a cast that includedEd Dennehy, brother of Brian, asStephen Hopkins.

.

PAGE 5BRIEF CHRONICLES

To know that ThePlayers is there,even when you areaway, and that youcan still go thereand that you canmeet new friends…and that the build­ing is there, closeto our heart… well,it is difficult to putit all into words.The building is asmuch a part of thePlayer's family asthe people who in­habit it.I will say that it’sjust wonderful tocome back. TheGreat Hall looksmarvelous. The

Grill looks as it should. And theghosts are there. I look around andI hear Martin Gable bellowing, Ihear Roland Winters saying, well,what he would say.

It's not only hallowed ground butit's a place that's just gorgeous to bein. There is no place else like it inthe world.

CALLBOARDIt’s Great to Come BackJames Karen has maintained his Players membership anddeep connection to the Club in spite of miles and years.He shares his thoughts after a welcome return to NewYork.

James and Alba KarenGABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

I

80 YEARS AGO

The main story in the Club’sOctober 1928 Bulletin headlined“Culinary Catacombs” described aremodeling effort which created“ample space conjured out of noth­ing” for the downstairs kitchen. Wenow had, as the editor reported,tongue firmly in cheek, “ample stor­age for our other egg.” The altera­tions cost $29,000.

What would eventually become acontentious issue was the an­nouncement of a new Players re­vival, The Beaux Stratagem,planned as the Club’s first travelingproduction.

(The play was one of the last ofthe Restoration comedies, writtenby George Farquhar and first pro­duced at The Haymarket on London

Continued on Page 7

The Players ArchivesA look at our history from the pages of The Players Bulletin

PAGE 6 BRIEF CHRONICLES

is mind ran a mile a minute,but he wasn’t a big talker,"said Elizabeth Jackson. "He

really liked to listen, to take it allin. Once he said to me, ‘whenyou’re speaking, you’re not learn­ing.’”

There was also an air of mysteryand inscrutability about him, sopronounced that it prompted PlayerMeryl Goodfader to dub him Dr.Wu, International Man of Mystery— a mysterious alter ego which hemuch enjoyed.

At Michael Dainard’s well­attended memorial celebration onSeptember 24 Players John Marion,Doug Gerbino, David Copeland, andLee Pfeiffer offered colorful andheartfelt remarks. His son Stefan,now a student at Lehigh University,and Ted Walworth, a friend sinceMike’s CBS days, contributedfunny, sweet reminiscences. Theprogram also included a movingslide show produced by Jim Masser.

Those who make great impres­sions on our lives live on in fondmemories. That’s especially true ofMike Dainard. Here’s what severalPlayers had to say.

"He was a true gentleman, oneof the most thoughtful members weever had,” said John Marion."When I joined, Mike came up to meand started introducing me around.If you needed his help he was therefor you, no questions asked."

"He was intellectually curious,forthright, playful, helpful, open,"said Player Lee Pfeiffer. "If youasked him a question, he didn'thesitate to tell you what he thought.

"Did I know him? Did he sharehis inner feelings? Well, I supposeit's a guy thing. We just talkedabout the things that interested us.He was into a number of spiritualthings, yes, but I never felt he wastrying to win me over."

Still, there were many facets toMike’s interests and intelligencethat were unknown to many of us.

Only a handful of Players knew,for example, that Michael had be­

night, in dark corners of the Club."Who cares if the thing was crazy?"said Meryl Goodfader. "It was fun.We loved it."

“Mike was candid and open inso many ways and yet so private,”Meryl said. “He had private, funnysecrets in all sorts of places, like asquirrel who hides stuff in thisplace and that.”

When asked his remembrancesof the Dr. Pepper­swigging Dr. Wu,barman Eddie NAME’s eyes lit up.Before the Club closed for the sum­mer, Eddie said, Michael had askedhim to fill out a questionnaire so hecould write a short biography of hislife. “He said he was going to makeit into a little book,” said Eddie. “Igave him the information. He wasworking on it, but he died a fewweeks later, when the Club wasclosed.”

The mysterious Dr. Wu. As LeePfeiffer proclaimed the other night,"I barely knew him, but I know this:I miss him. I really miss him."

“So many people said he wastheir first friend at the Club,” saidElizabeth Jackson. “That generos­ity of spirit was his real legacy."

friended a Dr. DaVid, who collecteda medicine from the Amazon rainforest, which Mike supplied to alter­native­seeking cancer patients.Several of these people would ea­gerly offer testimonials aboutMike's assistance when asked. "Hewasn't looking for recognition," saidElizabeth Jackson.

While Pfeiffer and others wereaware that Mike had written anunpublished account of an alienencounter in Austria where he hada second home, many Players hadnever heard about it.

"When Mike showed me hismanuscript for the alien book," saidone Player, "he told me the storywas really not something he wantedto publish. He didn't want people tothink he was crazy, but he felt thatnot telling anybody would be irre­sponsible.”

A good many Players also drew ablank when asked about the Arche­type Matrix personality test devel­oped by psychologist WolfgangBernhard, for which Mike, a sea­soned marketing professional andauthor who taught at NYU, was aconsultant. Some said he adminis­tered the test, which gauged a sub­ject’s responses to music, late at

Remembering Michael DainardBeck Lee recalls a Player affectionately known as “an International Man of Mystery”

“Hbegan comingto the Clubfirst in 1947

when WalterHampden waspresident. I wasintroduced to himand I rememberhe was in one ofthe tall pool tablechairs, and hesaid "My boy, Iunderstand you'vegot a nice part onBroadway. I hopeyou won't go toHollywood. I wentto Hollywood as astar and woundup playing Indi­ans on the backlot."

In those days I was at the Clubvirtually every day. Rollie Winters,Martin Gable, Peter Turgeon. Theywere all there by one o'clock, playedpool all day and then went to thetheater. Roland Winters was myclosest friend. I always had greattimes with Rollie and Jason Ro­bards, they were very close.

Player Angela Lansburyreturns to Broadway this winterin the eagerly awaited revivalof Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. It’sscheduled to play the ShubertTheatre. She will be joinedby Player Simon Jones. Simonhas gotten rave reviews for hisperformance as C.S. Lewis in theGuthrie Theatre’s production ofShadowlands.

Player Sherrill Milnesreceived the prestigious OperaNews Award at its annual gala atthe Pierre Hotel.

PlayerMaire Martello’s playThe Lodger will be presented atthe Workshop Theatre in Janu­ary. Co­Produced by HerbBlodgett, the cast includes Play­ers George Innes, Glenn Kali­son and John Martello.

Penang, playwright James La­rocca's compelling story of youngmen in combat, earned five awardnominations for its featured MainStage production at the summer2008 Midtown InternationalTheater Festival (MITF). Theplay, which was first read at ThePlayers in 2003, was nominatedfor best drama, best supportingactor, best featured actor, bestlighting design, and best sounddesign.

Player Doug Gerbino portrayedGeorge Read, delegate from Dela­ware, in the Hoffstra Universityproduction of 1776 at the end ofSeptember in a cast that includedEd Dennehy, brother of Brian, asStephen Hopkins.

.

PAGE 5BRIEF CHRONICLES

To know that ThePlayers is there,even when you areaway, and that youcan still go thereand that you canmeet new friends…and that the build­ing is there, closeto our heart… well,it is difficult to putit all into words.The building is asmuch a part of thePlayer's family asthe people who in­habit it.I will say that it’sjust wonderful tocome back. TheGreat Hall looksmarvelous. The

Grill looks as it should. And theghosts are there. I look around andI hear Martin Gable bellowing, Ihear Roland Winters saying, well,what he would say.

It's not only hallowed ground butit's a place that's just gorgeous to bein. There is no place else like it inthe world.

CALLBOARDIt’s Great to Come BackJames Karen has maintained his Players membership anddeep connection to the Club in spite of miles and years.He shares his thoughts after a welcome return to NewYork.

James and Alba KarenGABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

I

80 YEARS AGO

The main story in the Club’sOctober 1928 Bulletin headlined“Culinary Catacombs” described aremodeling effort which created“ample space conjured out of noth­ing” for the downstairs kitchen. Wenow had, as the editor reported,tongue firmly in cheek, “ample stor­age for our other egg.” The altera­tions cost $29,000.

What would eventually become acontentious issue was the an­nouncement of a new Players re­vival, The Beaux Stratagem,planned as the Club’s first travelingproduction.

(The play was one of the last ofthe Restoration comedies, writtenby George Farquhar and first pro­duced at The Haymarket on London

Continued on Page 7

The Players ArchivesA look at our history from the pages of The Players Bulletin

PAGE 4 BRIEF CHRONICLES

Bechstein Center was around thecorner from the hotel, and theywere very accommodating and I gotto know them very well.”

“This new series and the work ofthe Foundation are beautifullymatched with the strengths of theClub. For me, it's not just aboutpeople who stand and sing; my in­terest is in working with people whoact,” said Louis.

Players and guests can learnmore about these unique instru­ments by visiting the Bechstein Pi­ano Centre at 207 West 58th Street,about a block from Carnegie Hall.

The Bechstein Series

December 9; 8PMKam Cheng, SopranoRose and Blood: An evening ofStrauss, Berlioz & Ravel

December 14; 3PMThe Michael Cabe Trio , A JazzyHoliday Concert featuring vocalist,Jessica Elbert

January 13, 8PMMark Walters, BaritoneSongs of Bellini, Brahms & Copland

January 25; 3PMIrina Moyzleva, Russian SouvenirsTimeless Russian romances & songsfrom the repertoire of Lyubov Or­lova & American Composers of Rus­sian descent

February 11; 8PMFrancesca Mondanaro, Postcardsfrom Italy: The summer voyagethat brings a family’s heritage fullcircle, based on the true story ofFrancesca’s adventures performingand living in Italy

February 24; 8PMDr. William Riley, A Masterclass.International Master Teacher for allgenres

March 11; 8PMEileen Hampshire, Songs of SpiritA recital of soulful art songs

March 24; 8PMCarol Kirkpatrick, Master Teacherand Consultant. A Masterclass.

April 6; 8PMTracy Bidleman, Recital

April 22; 8PMEllen Gould, Classic­Cab(­aret)A century of Taxi passengers takesyou through time in song to placesyou never thought a cab could go…in this new work co­created andwritten with Louis Menendez.

May 6; 8PMJennifer Harris & Dan Snyder,Myths and Legends. Soprano &Tenor pay homage in song

May 19; 8PMAlisa Cassola, SopranoFeaturing Strauss’s BrentanoLieder

June 3; 8PMTammy Hensrud, SopranoWeill in Berlin, taking the walldown one song at a time

June 17; 8PMJames Greening & Julia SahkarovaViolinists & Singers TBA­ Music ofBach

Continued from Page 1

instrument to sing with, and whatI've been looking to do is to providea very special venue to promote theart form of artistic collaboration,”said Menendez. “We want to show­case a wide range of artists, doingwhat they do best, in specially cre­ated programs combining singing,acting and other art forms.”

Over time the visual componentof each event will become more im­portant. “I want to do a combina­tion with videography and speciallighting effects ­­ lighting andscrims, not props ­­ to do somethingreally creative, multimedia, withthe piano,” said Louis. “We willcontinue to present one personshows where the repertoire is bothclassical and new, and to blur thelines between the recital format andtheater. What we want to do is notcabaret, not concerts but real thea­ter pieces.”

At least three of the 18 dates inthe series will be master classes.One such class was held on Novem­ber 5 with internationally knownsoprano and teacher MariaSpacagna. Future master classeswill feature Dr. William Reilly, anexpert in working with all sorts ofvoices and teacher to Celine Dion.Carol Kirkpatrick will bring a busi­ness­sensible approach to art, tomarketing oneself and managing acareer.

The new Bechstein series wasprompted both by Menendez’s loveof the Bechstein and knowledge ofThe Players. He has become anunofficial goodwill ambassador forBechstein in America, fueled largelyby personal experience.

“I suppose the first Bechstein Iplayed was when I was an under­graduate. One of my professors hadbrought his concert grand over fromEurope, and I fell in love with theinstrument,” said Louis. “Yearslater I was on tour in Germany withPorgy and Bess, in Hannover, and Ineeded a place to practice. The

Bechstein Series Celebrates Art of Collaboration

“This new series and thework of the Foundationare beautifully matchedwith the strengths of theClub. It's not just aboutpeople who stand andsing; my interest is inworking with peoplewho act.”

PAGE 7BRIEF CHRONICLES

Continued from Page 5

in March 1707. Two young gentle­men, fallen on hard times, proposeto travel the countryside and entrapyoung heiresses; one falls in loverather quickly.)

The month’s political commen­tary poked fun at both Herbert Hoo­ver and his opponent, happy war­rior Al Smith.

Also noted was E. H. Sothern’sgift of “his collection of theatricalobjects of interest and historicalvalue,” which was to be displayed inspecial cases on the third floor“adjacent to the room formerlyknown as the Florence Room, butnow to be known as the SothernRoom.” One wonders where thatwas, precisely.

The November 1928 Bulletinfound members up in arms aboutthe scheme to take The BeauxStratagem on the road, with a spe­cial meeting called on 5 Novemberto debate the issue. At least 25 ofour brethren felt the prospect“unbecoming to the dignity and tra­ditions of the Club, not consonantwith its welfare or its objects, norwith the purposes of the Founder.”

Not a group to avoid contre­temps, the issue went on to inno­cently propose setting aside “one

Sunday evening per month whenmembers may bring lady guests fordinner” – into the grill, which waswhat we today call the dining room.Ladies were not, however, to be per­mitted in the pool room or the bar.This naïve idea was suggested as ameans to “offset the cost of the grilland bring more people in.” ‘Twasever thus.

The issue also included storiesand anecdotes heard around theClub, a report of James Cagney’sdoings on Martha’s Vineyard, andnoted the passing of long timePlayer Warren William.

70 YEARS AGO

Headlines in the November 1938Bulletin described the Club’s anni­versary dinner held at the Waldorf.1100 attended, and Club SecretaryWhitney Darrow (founder of Prince­ton University Press and father offamed New Yorker cartoonist Whit­ney Darrow Jr.) was saluted formaking the evening a success.President Walter Hampden wasmaster of ceremonies for an eveningwhich included the Founders’ Nightritual recreated on stage.

Nov. 1938 also marked the an­nouncement that the 50th anniver­sary volume The Players Book wasin type and that copies might beready in December. And the Bulle­tin offered its own 50 year retro­spective by listing the shows play­ing at the city’s theaters in the lasttwo months of 1888.

One of the most interesting sto­ries in the issue described the arri­val in the library of The UnlockedBook, an unpublished memoir ofJohn Wilkes Booth by Booth’s sisterAsia, who had kept it hidden toavoid destruction by the family.

Also reported was the gift ofEllen Terry’s death mask by play­wright and poet Percy MacKaye.

60 YEARS AGO

Dennis King’s Booth birthdaytribute leads the Christmas 1948issue, followed by a Kipling­esquepoem by James Garrett Wallaceabout the Dewey­Truman electionupset. Booth Day in the West Room(The Player’s Los Angeles outpost)was reported by Thurston Hall.

Next is a story about a disasterthat almost claimed the manuscriptof Clarence Day’s Life With Father.The editor reports on the uproarcreated by yet another proposedLadies’ Night dinner; HeywoodBroun’s Christmas Legend of 1929is reprinted, followed by notes onthe passing of beloved Player RoyalCortissoz.

The issue closes with news of acommittee formed to look into thesubject of television presentationsat the Club, and an interestingstory about The Players and TheLittle Church Around the Corner.

Interested in seeing these oldBulletins for yourself? We’vescanned them for the Club web site.

80Years AgoBulletins from decades past

PAGE 8 BRIEF CHRONICLES

After the outpouring of affectionat her recent birthday celebration,Player Marian Seldes turned for herremarks to a piece of paper she saidwas always with her. It carriesquotations from the play AnotherTime by Ronald Harwood. “If youwant to know what I believe, thesewords say it much better than Iever could,” she said.

“It’s no secret I’m a lover ofbooks, a lover of poetry, a lover ofart. I believe in art, that’s what Ibelieve in. God I leave to the godly,business and politics I leave tocrooks. I believe in art. I believeart – I mean literature, poetry, thetheater, music, painting, ballet, theopera – all art is an expression ofwhat’s best about each and everyone of us.

“My belief is that art is a solace,a benediction.

“My world was created, trans­formed and blessed by art. Myprayers are for more Shakespearesand George Eliots, my litany is tothe glory of Mozart and Schubert,my worship is of Rembrandt andChagall, and the infinite number ofartists whose vision has made meable to bear this life from one day tothe next.

“There’s not a thought in myhead, not a feeling in my body thatart hasn’t, in one way or another,informed and fired.

“I believe there’s a chance thatart might, might, just might turnthe whole world upside down, allright, not the whole world, I don’tbelieve in miracles, but one individ­ual world, and that’s a chance, inmy opinion, you’re meant to take.After all, I speak from personal ex­perience. That’s it, that’s what Ibelieve.”

* * *As quoted by Marian from the

play Another Time by Ronald Har­wood

Marian Seldes:“I Believe in Art”

Glamorous Anita Jaffe and and new members James Fenniman and James Laroccajoined the rest of the Board in raising a glass to congratulate John Martello as he began his16th year as Executive Director. He accepted a plaque commemorating his contributions tothe Club in the Library after the October 28 board meeting.

Now in your bookstore is PlayerLeslie Carroll’s latest, RoyalScandals: A Lusty Romp Throughthe Extramarital Adventures thatRocked the British Monarchy, four­starred at Amazon (NAL Trade).This is Leslie’s twelfth publishedbook. Her prolific writing effortsare what used to be called a cottageindustry, though we’re not sure howmany cottages could contain thismuch industry.

You might not know that PlayerMeir Ribalow is the co­host of aweekly online radio show on classicmovies, Iconsradio.com. An artist­in­residence at Fordham University

HEARDIN THE

GRILL

and teacher at the William EsperStudio, Meir is also Artistic Directorof New River Dramatists. His newplay Tiger in the Tree was presentedas part of Ensemble Studio Thea­tre’s Octoberfest. Meir is also Direc­tor of Poetry at the Players; if you’reinterested in reading poetry, contactBrenda Gelles at Chunda71@aol.com.

Sirs,

While I am an admirer of ProfessorBell’s ingenuity, please inform ourmembers that I consider portabletelephones to be infernal devicesdestructive of the principles of so­cial intercourse upon which ourClub was founded, and that I be­lieve they should not be used whileon our premises.

Yours,

E. Booth

PAGE 3BRIEF CHRONICLES

ccording to EntertainmentWeekly Keaton was the sev­enth greatest director of alltime. Best known for his silent

films, his work was among the mostinnovative in the history of cinema.Yet by the 1950’s, when producersmentioned Buster Keaton, the firstquestion always was ‘is he stillalive?’

“Well, he was very much alive,”said James Karen. “The terrificthing about Buster was that henever stopped working. When hiscareer slowed down here he went toEurope, he was working every­where, working in circuses, workinganywhere they would have him.”

Karen was putting together asummer stock package in early1957, a production that wouldtravel to a dozen or so theatersacross the country. He had been afan of The Great Stone Face sinceboyhood, but it was Jim’s member­ship in the Club that helped himmake his first connection to Keaton.

“I saw Rudi Blesch at The Play­ers and he was then working on hisbiography of Keaton. Rudi owed memoney and I told him that I'd for­give the debt if he gave me BusterKeaton's phone number. I regrettedthat deal ever since, because Busterwas in the phone book and I didn'tknow it.

“So I called him on the phone.Mr. Keaton, I asked, I'm thinkingabout producing a package for sum­mer stock and I wonder if you'd beinterested. ‘Yeah.’ Well, I asked, isthere anything you'd particularlylike to do? ‘Yeah. Always wantedto do Merton of the Movies.’

The idea presented major chal­lenges. “The play is set in 1919,and it's about a boy in the Midwestwho wants to join the movies, andBuster was a long way from being aboy,” said Karen.

“But at the Players bar one day Ifound Marc Connelly, who had writ­ten the play with George S. Kauf­

man. So I told him that Keatonwanted to do it and Marc's immedi­ate reaction was that anything wecould do to help Buster keep work­ing was all right with him. So hereached for a piece of paper, andright then and there he wrote outpermission for me to alter the pieceso the part made sense for Buster. Iasked him how his co­author wouldfeel about it. ‘George is in a coma,’he said. ‘Don't worry about it.’”

With the author’s approval inhand, the big question was how todo it. “I remembered the advice ofGeorge S. Abbott, who said thatfarce beginswith a crazyidea and every­thing followslogically fromthat crazy idea,”said Karen. “Sowe added theline ‘You're kindof old to be inthe movies,’ andBuster of coursereplies ‘It's notmy fault thatmovies were invented when I wasan old man.’”

“Well, the production went toChicago and people came in droves.Huntington Hartford came to see it,and in those days he had a theaterin Hollywood that had not yetopened. We ran about six weeks outthere.”

The summer stock run gaveKaren the opportunity to get toknow Keaton despite the fact thathe was not a strong verbal commu­nicator. “He was quite shy withstrangers. Buster was not an intel­lectual. He was a hard­working per­son, someone who only went toschool one day in his entire life. Hewas not a great conversationalist,”said Karen, “but he was howeververy warm with people he liked.”

Visually, however, Keaton was agenius, an expert in structure and

timing. Both The General andSherlock Jr. are on the AmericanFilm Institute’s list of 100 topAmerican comedies.

“Buster simply understood phys­ics, engineering, everything relatedto film. He just knew it, naturally.That's a good definition of what itmeans to be a genius,” said Karen.“There's no reason for them to un­derstand what they do, but they do.And they’re there at the right timein history. Chaplin, Keaton andLloyd were born at the right time tofulfill their destinies in silent mov­ies.

“Buster neverused scripts.He’d get an idea,a beginning andan end. And hewould fill in themiddle by writ­ing on scraps ofpaper what theshooting wouldbe for that day.Sometimes theycouldn't solve aproblem with a

story, so they played baseball untilthey could figure it out. But Busteralways brought his pictures in ontime and on budget ­­ he wanted tohave his pictures done in time so hecould go on to the next one.”

“Over the years I became veryclose to Buster. In a way, he waslike an adopted father to me. Hewas my son’s godfather, and hardlya day goes by that I don’t thinkabout him.”

Karen on KeatonOur Club helped long-time Player and LA resident James Karen play aunique role in Buster Keaton’s last years

A

The Great Stone Face

What’s it like to returnto the Club after a longabsence? Read whatJim Karen has to sayon Page 5.

Brooks Atkinson, critic

Judy Collins, musician

Walter Cronkite, journalist

Walter Hampden, actor

Al Hirschfeld, art

Hal Holbrook, actor

Robert Edmond Jones, scenicdesigner

Tommy Lee Jones, actor

Bert Lahr, actor

Angela Lansbury, actor

Jack Lemmon, actor

Alfred Lunt, actor

Harold and Fayard Nicholas,dancers

Christopher Plummer, actor

Richard Rodgers, composer

Tommaso Salvini, actor

Gerald Schoenfeld, producer

Budd Schulberg, writer

Marian Seldes, actor

Pamela Singleton, patron ofthe arts

Arturo Toscanini, conductor

Spencer Tracy, actor

Thornton Wilder, writer

Sidney Zion, journalist

2009 Hall of Fame24 Honorees Named

PAGE 2 BRIEF CHRONICLES

Continued from Page 1

and other events; acting masterclasses and seminars for theaterstudents; readings of plays; lectureson all arts and other topics relatedto the history of the theater; musi­cal evenings celebrating the greatAmerican songwriters as well as thefields of classical music and opera;Booth Award celebrations and PipeNights celebrating significantachievements in the arts; play­wrights’ workshops and develop­mental projects for new playwrightsand new plays; documentaries onthe history of the American Thea­ter, The Players, Edwin Booth, andother personalities and aspects ofthe theater, and the maintenance ofThe Club Archive.

A new multimedia room isplanned for the second floor of theClubhouse, dedicated to the study ofnoted members of The Players andothers in the theatrical and enter­tainment professions. It will beavailable to researchers and stu­dents from around the world. Itscollection will include representa­tive works of Players as well astapes and DVDs of Club events andPipe Nights, and appropriate audio­visual equipment.

The Foundation is also now re­sponsible for The Players Hall ofFame, celebrating the rich historyand legacy of The Players.

Beginning next year, the Foun­dation’s selection committee willsubmit a ballot of nominees to theClub’s membership. Each year twoto three honorees will be electedfrom at least these four categories:Actor, Writer/Playwright, Director/Producer and Musician. Each yearthe Players Board of Directors willalso elect a Patron of the Arts hon­oree. (See sidebar for our 2009 Hon­orees.)

Members of the Hall of Famewill be commemorated with por­traits displayed on the second floor.In future, touch screens will beadded to give visitors a short biog­

Players Foundation Debuts

raphy of each honoree. The Hall ofFame will be open to the public attimes and days to be determined byThe Players.

“We will soon begin outreach toour members and others to encour­age their tax­deductible contribu­tions,” said Elliott Martin. “A greatmany people in the theater, busi­ness and the arts care passionatelyabout arts education. With theirsupport and the support of Playerseverywhere, we believe The PlayersFoundation will play a major role ineducating current and future gen­erations.”

Martha Plimpton JoinsBoard of Directors

Player Martha Plimpton, namedby Entertainment Weekly as one of"The Hardest Working Actors InShowbiz," has joined the Club’sBoard of Directors.

She succeeds Elliot Martin whohas resigned from the Board to be­come President of The PlayersFoundation.

Martha received her secondnomination for a Tony Award in2008, Best Performance by a Fea­tured Actress In a Play, for herwork in Top Girls at the Biltmore.

PAGE 9BRIEF CHRONICLES

RESPECTANDAFFECTION

Marian SeldesBirthday

September 28 2008: Player Marian Seldes’ 80thbirthday celebration becomes an evening of heart­felt tributes and surprises. Clockwise from topright,Marian Seldes with Player James Karenand Alba Karen; KT Sullivan belts out There’sNo Business Like Show Business to open the eve­ning; Players Marian Sledes and DavidStaller; Player Angela Pierce, who said play­ing Goneril to Kevin Kline’s ‘Lear’ with Marian inthe audience felt like being back in Julliard’sroom 303; Player Brian Murray, Marian’s co­star in The Play About The Baby; two of the fourJulliard students who read from Marian’s autobi­ography Bright Lights, and Player Jerry Tall­mer who recalled Marian’s father Gideon Seldes.

November 9 2008: As Player ThomasVinciguerra reported in The New YorkTimes: “he signed copies of his recentlypublished memoir, My Word Is MyBond, flanked by paintings of such pastclub presidents as José Ferrer and Al­fred Drake. ‘It’s rather frightening,’ Mr.Moore said of being amid such distin­guished company. ‘I just wish I hadn’thad to wait 81 years.’” From top left,UNICEF Executive Director AnneVeniman, who spoke movingly of SirRoger’s work with the world’s children;Players Lee Pfeiffer and Sir RogerMoore; Players Ray Kinstler, Pam­ela Singleton and NAME Kinstler; SirRoger receives life membership in theClub from John Martello.

PIPEKNIGHT:

Sir RogerMoore

In 1888, Edwin Booth, America's pre-eminent Shake-spearean actor, and 15 other incorporators, includingMark Twain and General William Tecumseh Sherman,founded The Players. Modeled after London's famedGarrick Club, The Players was the first American"gentleman's club" of its kind.

Its purpose: "The promotion of social intercoursebetween members of the dramatic profession and thekindred professions of literature, painting, architec-ture, sculpture and music, law and medicine, and thepatrons of the arts..."

The Players, located in a Greek Revival townhousefacing historic Gramercy Park, is also home to theHampden-Booth Theater Library, reflecting Booth'sexpress wish to create "a library relating especially tothe history of the American stage and the preservationof pictures, bills of the play, photographs, and curiosi-ties connected with such history..."

Bechstein is the Official Piano of The Players

BRIEF CHRONICLES is © 2008 The Players

THE PLAYERS16 Gramercy ParkNew York, NY 10003

Phone: (212) 475-6116Fax: (212) 473-2701E-mail: info@theplayersnyc.org

We had help from:James Karen, who shared his

recollections of Buster Keaton andmemories of more than 50 years asa Player;

John Martello, who explainedthe charter of The Players Founda­tion and provided this month’s Call­board;

Louis Menendez, who sharedhis vision for the Foundation’s newBechstein Series;

Beck Lee, who wrote about be­loved Player Michael Dainard;

Woody Slomanson, photogra­pher extraordinaire, who beauti­fully captured our best events;

Doug Gerbino, who sharedcopies of past Bulletins, and

Burt Wolder, who organizedthe words and layout.

In this issue...

FIRST CLASS MAIL

PAGE 10 BRIEF CHRONICLES

Sargent by Sargent. John Singer Sar-gent, shown here in self portrait, com-pleted over 900 oils, more than 2,000 wa-tercolors and countless charcoal sketchesand pencil drawings in his half-century ca-reer. Along the way he captured many ofthe world’s notables, including Booth, Jef-ferson and other Players. In our next issuePlayer Ray Kinstler tells us about Sar-gent’s legacy to the world — and our Club.

In Memoriam

Please remember The Players andThe Players Foundation in your will.

dwin Booth would be pleased.When The Players was incor­porated in 1888, Booth had

few resources to preserve the his­tory of the American stage beyondhis library of books and scripts andtrunks of memorabilia.

He would have welcomed a ma­jor initiative to bring Americantheater arts to a community of art­ists, academics, students and thepublic.

And had there been a federalincome tax in that happier time, hesurely would have appreciated thevalue of tax­deductible contribu­tions to such an initiative.

Today our Club has taken a ma­jor step to further Booth’s vision byestablishing The Players Founda­tion for Theater Education.

It is a new, non­profit organiza­tion whose mission is to foster an

understanding and appreciation ofthe American Theater using whatwe know best: the history of ThePlayers and the many personalitieswho have played a part in our his­tory.

The Foundation is an organiza­tion separate and apart from ourClub. Its officers include Playersand non­Players. The President ofthe Foundation is Player ElliottMartin; Player Brian Drutman isVice President; the Treasurer isAnnette Green, a leader in the fra­grance industry and past presidentof the Fragrance Foundation; theSecretary is Mary Horner, andPlayer John Martello serves as adirector. The Foundation’s activi­ties will be supported by the Club’sadministrative staff at the outset,but within its first five years of op­eration we expect the Foundation

will provide its own support.“The goal of the Foundation is

broad by design: it is to use ourhistory and the great Players of thepast and present to educate andinform,” said Elliott Martin.“Considering today’s level of cul­tural illiteracy, this work is obvi­ously important and timely. It isalso presents vast opportunities forcreativity and imagination in ourprograms.”

At the outset, the Foundationhas three broad groups of initia­tives: an initial series of events andprojects, a new multimedia room,and The Players Hall of Fame.

The initial scope of projects in­cludes tours of The Players and thePlayers Hall of Fame to theatre stu­dents by appointment; free ticketsfor students at readings, lectures

Continued on Page 2

IntroducingThe Players FoundationforTheater EducationNew non-profit organization leads arts outreach to theaterprofessionals, teachers, students and the general public

Published by Members for Members

BRIEFCHRONICLESDecember 2008 — January 2009

THEPLAYERS

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The Players Foundation Launches New Bechstein SeriesMusical performances and master classes celebrate art of collaboration

ome 19th century Manhattanbrownstones are undoubtedlymore welcoming to ghosts thanothers. Should the spirits of

Brahms or Liszt visit our Club theywould happily feel right at home,for the piano they favored, a top­of­the ­ l ine , German­made C .Bechstein, is now on our stage in allits gleaming glory.

The piano and a companion giftof regular tuning and adjustment

come to us through the generosity ofthe storied company founded inNuremberg by Carl Bechstein in1833.

Bechstein’s rich history toucheseven The Beatles: Paul McCartneyand many other artists favored theclassic sound of the 100­year oldBechstein at the Trident Studios inLondon's Soho district. Heard HeyJude? You’ve heard a Bechstein.

The long term loan of this mag­

nificent new instrument marks thelaunch of the Bechstein Series atThe Players to benefit the PlayersFoundation for Theater Education.It is the brainchild of composer, con­ductor and coach Louis Menendez,whom many Players will recall inconnection with Player Sherrill Mil­nes’ annual Opera as Drama eventat the Club.

“The Bechstein is the perfectContinued on Page 4

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