HOT ISSUES USA

Robert Alda’s career began in vaudeville, as a singer-dancer. Graduating to performing on radio and in burlesque, he made a splashy film debut as George Gershwin in Rhapsody in Blue (1945). His film career faltered somewhat after that, but he had much greater success on the Broadway stage in such productions as “Guys and Dolls” and “What Makes Sammy Run.” Settling in Rome in the early 1960s, he appeared in many Italian and European films over the next 15 years. While many of them were quite successful in Europe, few made it to the United States. Alda is the father of actor Alan Alda and Antony Alda.

Just opened at the Hale Centre Theatre is Frank Loesser’s masterpiece Guys and Dolls, a Broadway musical fable. There are many recordings to choose from but the best will always be the original 1950 Broadway cast starring Robert Alda (the father of Alan Alda)), Sam Levene, Vivian Blaine, Isabel Bigley and Stubby Kaye still available from Decca Records.

The successful (if less appreciated) 1955 film adaptation with four new songs by Loesser and starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye is available in short supply as an import.

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