The Tony Awards: 4/16/61
To open the proceedings, Metropolitan Opera soprano Eleanor Steber delivers "The Star Spangled Banner," with cutaway shots to the standing audience and to the flag. Henry Fonda appears to read some prepared remarks about the American Theatre Wing. Fonda's currently appearing in the Broadway comedy Critic's Choice, loosely suggested by the Walter and Jean Kerr situation of a critic whose wife writes plays.
Fonda introduces the evening's host, Phil Silvers, currently starring in the musical Do Re Mi, a show that has been nominated for five Tonys but that will find itself shut out. Among Silvers' opening jokes: "While we're doing this, David Merrick will have produced nine shows." A sarcastic Silvers advises the young American Theatre Wing students present to think about trying a different business.
Silvers introduces this year's "custodians of the medallions," two young people who carry the Tonys up to the winners. They are Patty Duke, from The Miracle Worker, and Eddie Hodges, The Music Man's original Winthrop, currently in Critic's Choice. Silvers quips that because of the seriousness of the occasion, both young stars have promised to refrain from drinking for tonight.
The first presenters are Patricia Neal and Gig Young. Colleen Dewhurst's featured-actress prize for All the Way Home is accepted by her co-star in the play, silent-screen great Lillian Gish. Dewhurst was billed below the title, but had what was obviously the leading role in All the Way Home.
Joan Fontaine announces the nominees for outstanding conductor. One has to wonder how Pembroke Davenport got nominated for the disastrous 13 Daughters. The winner is Franz Allers for Camelot; Allers won the same prize for My Fair Lady several years earlier. Accepting for Allers is none other than the star of Camelot, Richard Burton, whose only comment is "I hope I come back again." Fontaine also presents the award to the best stage technician. It's won by the only nominee, an imposing gentleman named Teddy Van Bemmel, for the elaborate costume drama Becket.
Silvers informs the audience that's because he's doing his first Merrick show, he's developed a flair for exaggeration and will soon become the father of twins. Applause greets that announcement, then the next presenters are Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft, who is no longer co-starring with Duke in The Miracle Worker but shares a brief moment with her. In the featured-musical-actress category, there are two obvious leading ladies, Tammy Grimes in The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Chita Rivera in Bye Bye Birdie, along with one supporting performer, Nancy Dussault in Do Re Mi. A limping Grimes runs up to the stage eagerly but says nothing more than "Thank you very much."
When Geraldine Page reads the list of Best Play nominees, she includes A Taste of Honey, a title not included among the four listed in Tony record books. The winner is Jean Anouilh's Becket, and the prize is accepted by its producer, Mr. Merrick. Page also announces the surprise directorial winner, John Gielgud for Big Fish, Little Fish. Gielgud's prize is accepted by the wife of one of the play's leads, Jessica Tandy.
Page's Sweet Bird of Youth co-star Paul Newman is the next presenter. There are only two nominees for choreography, and Gower Champion Bye Bye Birdie beats Onna White Irma La Douce. Accepting for Champion is Kay Medford, still playing Mae Peterson in Birdie. In her own inimitable delivery, Medford says, "I'm his mother, and I would have hit somebody if he didn't get it." Dick Van Dyke wins for featured musical actor, and the prize is accepted by his Birdie understudy, Charles Nelson Reilly.
Carol Channing's reading of the names for featured dramatic actor wins instant audience laughter. Martin Gabel takes the prize for Big Fish, Little Fish, stating that it's "the first prize I've won since Arlene Francis consented to be my wife." The award for set design of a musical is, of course, won by Oliver Smith for Camelot, who won earlier in the evening in the category of straight-play design, for Becket. Channing is pleased to greet Smith, who co-produced her star-making vehicle, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Anna Maria Alberghetti, who opened three nights earlier in Carnival, announces the three nominees for Best Musical, Do Re Mi, Irma La Douce, and Bye Bye Birdie. The year-old Birdie takes the prize, accepted by producer Edward Padula, who notes the fact that Birdie had arrived unheralded.
Robert Goulet, who was not nominated for Camelot, presents the prize for costumes of a musical, which naturally goes to the splendid designs of Camelot, created by Tony Duquette and the late Adrian. The award is accepted by Camelot's leading lady, Julie Andrews, who alludes to Adrian's widow by stating, "This evening, I wish I had been Janet Gaynor."
Shirley Booth presents the second award to Champion, for his Birdie direction, and Medford again accepts. Then Silvers presents a special Tony to Merrick, his current boss. As Merrick begins speaking, Silvers interrupts with, "Like you told me in Philadelphia, talk louder, David!" When Merrick concludes his cordial remarks, Silvers alludes to one of Merrick's recent, celebrated feuds by joking, "David, I'll wire Jackie Gleason."
Peter Pan and Captain Hook are next, in the persons of Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard. They announce the nominees for musical actress, consisting of three of the top musical-theatre women of all time -Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, and Nancy Walker-and Elizabeth Seal. Irma La Douce's Seal wins, and remarks, "So that's what a Tony looks like."
Zero Mostel wins the Best Actor award for his performance as a man who turns into a Rhinoceros. He jokes, "God, will the fellas at the zoo be happy about this!" As he departs, Silvers wickedly instructs the Wing students to note Mostel as an example of the importance of neatness.
Richard Burton gets his wish when he returns to the stage to accept his prize for Camelot, presented to him by Fredric March. Apologizing to fellow nominees Silvers and Maurice Evans, Burton explains that this was his last chance to win this award.
Joan Plowright's work in A Taste of Honey earns her the Best Actress award, and it's accepted by the great Bea Lillie, who gets laughs as she begins by saying, "I am veddy, veddy happy...," then inquires "What are you laughing at?"
Before closing the proceedings, Silvers says, "Considering the last two awards, we didn't run that Boston tea party long enough." He adds, "I'm very thrilled for Mr. Burton. Not happy, just thrilled."
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