Forsaking All Others

Theater: Times Square
Opening Date: March 1, 1933
Performances: 110

Playwrights: Edward Barry Roberts, Frank Morgan Cavett
Director: Thomas Mitchell
Producer: Arch Selwyn

Partial Cast: Fred Keating, Donald MacDonald, Roger Sterns, Anderson Lawler, Ilka Chase, Barbara O'Neil

Tallulah's Role: Mary Clay

After Tallulah's less-than-spectacular success in Hollywood, she decided to return to the New York stage. She had optioned Forsaking All Others a few years previously and she set out to find a producer. Her popularity was much dimmer than it had been in London, however, and it had been 11 years since she had appeared on Broadway. She finally decided to use her own money to finance the play. After opening to enthusiastic reviews, it has the misfortune of debuting on a day that President Roosevelt declared a bank holiday. The country was in the midst of the Great Depression and Broadway plays were a luxury only afforded by a few. Tallulah kept the play running for fourteen weeks but she eventually lost $40,000. She did get some of the money back when the property was bought by Hollywood as a vehicle for Joan Crawford.

Tallulah's comments: "I glowed when I read Walter Winchell's verdict: This Bankhead no bust. My favorite valentine! When I first met Walter he said: "Miss Bankhead, I've heard a lot about you." "Well, it's all true," I replied."

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