Room Service (play)
Encyclopedia
Room Service is a play written by Allen Boretz
and John Murray
. It was originally produced by George Abbott
and debuted at the Cort Theatre
in New York
on May 19, 1937. Its initial production ran for 500 performances, closing on July 16, 1938. The play was revived for a short run of 16 performances in 1953. RKO Pictures
purchased the film rights for a then-record $225,000 and used it as the basis for the Marx Brothers
film of the same title
.
The 1937 production starred Eddie Albert
as Leo Davis. The role was played by Jack Lemmon
in the 1953 revival. Alexander Asro, who created the role of Sasha Smirnoff, played the same role in both the film and the revival.
Allen Boretz
Allen Boretz , was an American songwriter, playwright and screenwriter. The great success of his and John Murray's Broadway hit Room Service led to offers from Hollywood, and he wrote and co-wrote screenplays from the late 1930s through the 1940s.His film credits include It Ain't Hay , Step Lively...
and John Murray
John Murray (playwright)
John Murray was a playwright best known for writing the 1937 play Room Service with Allen Boretz.Murray was born in New York and attended DeWitt Clinton High School, City College of New York, and Columbia University...
. It was originally produced by George Abbott
George Abbott
George Francis Abbott was an American theater producer and director, playwright, screenwriter, and film director and producer whose career spanned more than nine decades.-Early years:...
and debuted at the Cort Theatre
Cort Theatre
The Cort Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 138 West 48th Street in the Theatre District of midtown Manhattan in New York City...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on May 19, 1937. Its initial production ran for 500 performances, closing on July 16, 1938. The play was revived for a short run of 16 performances in 1953. RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
purchased the film rights for a then-record $225,000 and used it as the basis for the Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
film of the same title
Room Service (1938 film)
Room Service is an RKO film comedy starring the Marx Brothers and based on the 1937 play of the same name by Allen Boretz and John Murray. It co-stars Lucille Ball, Ann Miller, Alexander Asro, and Frank Albertson.-Plot outline:...
.
The 1937 production starred Eddie Albert
Eddie Albert
Edward Albert Heimberger , known professionally as Eddie Albert, was an American actor and activist. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1954 for his performance in Roman Holiday, and in 1973 for The Heartbreak Kid.Other well-known screen roles of his include Bing...
as Leo Davis. The role was played by Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon
John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III was an American actor and musician. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts , Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8, 1925June...
in the 1953 revival. Alexander Asro, who created the role of Sasha Smirnoff, played the same role in both the film and the revival.
Original 1937-38 Broadway cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Leo Davis | Eddie Albert Eddie Albert Edward Albert Heimberger , known professionally as Eddie Albert, was an American actor and activist. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1954 for his performance in Roman Holiday, and in 1973 for The Heartbreak Kid.Other well-known screen roles of his include Bing... |
| Sasha Smirnoff | Alexander Asro* |
| Timothy Hogarth | Jack Byrne Jack Byrne Jack Byrne was a Canadian politician. He represented the riding of Cape St. Francis in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly... |
| Joseph Gribble | Clifford Dunstan* |
| Hilda Manney | Betty Field Betty Field Betty Field was an American film and stage actress. Through her father, she was a direct descendant of the Pilgrims John Alden and Priscilla Mullins.... |
| Faker Englund | Teddy Hart Teddy Hart Teddy Annis , is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Teddy Hart. He is currently working on the American independent circuit for promotions such as Jersey All Pro Wrestling and Dragon Gate USA... |
| Senator Blake's Secretary | William Howard William Howard -United Kingdom:* William Howard , nobleman whose descendants become Sir John, 1st Duke of Norfolk from the Howard Family* William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham -United Kingdom:* William Howard (judge) (d. 1308), nobleman whose descendants become Sir John, 1st Duke of Norfolk from the... |
| Gordon Miller | Sam Levene Sam Levene Sam Levene was an American Broadway and film actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1927 with five lines in a play titled Wall Street, and over a span of nearly 50 years, appeared on Broadway in 37 Shows, of which 33 were the original Broadway Productions, many now considered legendary... |
| Harry Binion | Peter Loeb |
| Gregory Wagner | Donald MacBride Donald MacBride Donald MacBride was an American character actor on stage, in films and on TV who launched his career as a teenage singer in vaudeville and went on to be an actor on Broadway. He appeared in nearly 140 films between 1914 and 1955... * |
| Bank Messenger | William Mendrek |
| Senator Blake | Ralph Morehouse |
| Christine Marlowe | Margaret Mullen |
| Dr. Glass | Hans Robert |
| Simon Jenkins | Philip Wood* |
- Reprised the role in the film adaptation.