Happy Birthday, Jolie Gabor
January 24, 1950 – Eva Gabor Makes Her Broadway Debut in The Happy Time
On January 24, 1950, Eva Gabor made her broadway debut in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Happy Time, in the role of Mignonette. The production was staged at the Plymouth Theatre and ran for 614 performances.
Eva was asked to read for the role by Richard Rodgers after he saw her performance in L’Amour the Merrier on television. Eva read for the role a few days later at the Majestic Theatre. She then flew to Boston to read for the director, Robert Lewis.
Eva devotes a whole chapter to The Happy Time in her autobiography, Orchids and Salami. Her memories of the production are positive. The cast enjoyed each other and were very supportive of each other on-stage. “Every day was Christmas. Everyone was helpful, no one was jealous.”
Eva’s program bio lists a few of the stage productions she was in while in Hollywood, including The Farewell Supper, The Play’s The Thing, and By Candlelight. Eva has an extensive theatrical resume, something that I find completely fascinating. I would love to have a complete list of her theatrical credits, along with any taped footage that might exist.
Inside the Playbill is an ad for the Jolie Gabor Pearl Salon, aka mom’s store, featuring a photo of Eva wearing a cultured pearl necklace. This ad MADE the program for me. The fact that her mother bought an ad in the program of her daughter’s Broadway debut caused me to laugh out loud. Jolie was a self-admitted stage mom and she proves it with this ad for her ADULT daughter’s show. Believe me when I say I am going to use this as a selling point for program ads (if it is good enough for Eva’s mom, then it is good enough for your mom!).
Happy Birthday, Jolie Gabor
On September 30, 1897( or 1896 or 1900 or 1930, does it really matter?), Jolie Gabor Szigethy (Janke Tilleman) was born in Budapest.
Jolie loved parties. She was quoted as saying, “Maybe you wonder why always I go to so many parties,” she said to me in a touching confidence. “You have many parties yet ahead. I, not so many.”
Take some time today to find your own party and celebrate the birth of Mama Gabor.
Jolie Gabor
Jolie Gabor is the mother of Eva, Zsa Zsa, and Magda. She was born Janka Tillman on September 30, 1896 in Budapest, Hungary. Jolie was married three times to Vilmos Gabor (father to Eva, Zsa Zsa, and Magda), Howard Peter Christman, and Count Odon Szigethy.
Jolie had a string of jewelry shops in Hungary, which she was forced to close during the German Occupation in WW2. She opened a shop in New York shortly after immigrating to the US. Later, she opened a shop in Palm Springs.
Jolie passed away at the age of 100 on April 1, 1997.