Career Bert Lahr

1 career

1.1 cowardly lion in wizard of oz
1.2 waiting godot
1.3 television
1.4 other work

career

lahr cowardly lion in mgm feature film wizard of oz, 1939

lahr made feature film debut in 1931 s flying high, playing oddball aviator had played on stage. signed new york-based educational pictures series of two-reel comedies. when series ended, went hollywood work in feature films. aside wizard of oz (1939), movie career limited. in 1944 patriotic film meet people, lahr uttered phrase heavens murgatroyd! later popularized cartoon character snagglepuss.

cowardly lion in wizard of oz

lahr s famous role of cowardly lion in metro-goldwyn-mayer s 1939 adaptation of wizard of oz. lahr signed play role on july 25, 1938. starred opposite judy garland, ray bolger, jack haley, frank morgan, , margaret hamilton. lahr s lion costume composed of lion fur and, under high-intensity lighting required oz s technicolor scenes, costume unbearably hot. lahr contributed ad-lib comedic lines character. many of lahr s scenes took several takes because other cast members, garland, couldn t complete scenes without laughing. cowardly lion character sings 2 solo song numbers- if had nerve , performed after initial meeting dorothy, scarecrow, , tin man in forest, , if king of forest , performed while , others awaiting audience wizard.

wizard of oz lahr s 17th movie. when warned hollywood had habit of typecasting actors, lahr replied, yeah, how many parts there lions?

an original cowardly lion costume worn lahr in wizard of oz in holdings of comisar collection, largest collection of television artifacts , memorabilia in world.

in june 2013, lahr s original reading script wizard of oz, bequeathed great-grandson, appraised insurance value of $150,000 on pbs s antiques roadshow in episode filmed in detroit, michigan.

waiting godot

he made transition straight theater. got script of waiting godot, , impressed unsure of how revolutionary play received in united states. performed in europe great acclaim, obscure , intellectual. co-starred in premiere of waiting godot in 1956 @ coconut grove playhouse in miami, florida, playing estragon tom ewell s vladimir. performance bombed, audience members walking out in large numbers, , critics did not treat kindly. in book notes on cowardly lion, john lahr (bert s son) states problems caused partly choices of director, including decision limit bert s movement on stage; filling stage platforms; , misguided description of play light comedy, along other difficulties.

lahr reprised role in short-lived broadway run, co-starring e. g. marshall vladimir. time, new director, herbert berghof, had met beckett in europe , discussed play. set cleared , bert allowed more freedom in performance. advertisements taken out urging intellectuals support play. success , received enthusiastic ovations audience. bert praised , though claimed did not understand play, others disagree , understood great deal.

television

lahr appeared on television, including nbc s live version of cole porter musical let s face (1954), 1964 hallmark hall of fame production of fantasticks, , occasional appearances mystery guest on s line? (e.g. december 30, 1956). performed in commercials, including memorable series lay s potato chips during long-running betcha can t eat 1 campaign lahr appearing in multiple costumes. not afraid take on classics in television performances of androcles , lion , school wives (1956). performed moonface martin in television version of goes, ethel merman reprising role reno sweeney , frank sinatra billy crocker. in 1959, played mr. o malley in adaptation of barnaby general electric theater. in 1963, appeared go-go garrity in episode mr. martian coming on nbc s medical drama eleventh hour.

other work

lahr skid in broadway revival of burlesque, 1946

among numerous broadway roles, lahr starred skid in broadway revival of burlesque 1946 1948 , played multiple roles, including queen victoria, in original broadway musical 2 on aisle 1951 1952. in late 1955 name mentioned larry fine possible replacement shemp howard, had died suddenly, part of 3 stooges. nothing came of it. in late 1950s, supplied voice of bloodhound in old whiff, short cartoon produced mike todd featured olfactory smell-o-vision process developed todd s feature film scent of mystery (1960).

in 1964 won tony award best leading actor in musical role in musical foxy. @ american shakespeare festival played bottom in midsummer night s dream (1960), received best shakespearean actor of year award.

laughter never far away tears, reflected on comedy. cry @ pedlar easier cry @ woman dressed in ermine had lost whole family.