Will Be Featured Entertainer At 10-Act Stage Revue At The Arena
Morton Downey world-famous tenor who has established an enviable record in every phase of the entertainment field will come to Norwood next Sunday evening July 25. when he will appear as featured entertainer in a two-and-a-half hour, 10-act stage and radio revue at the new Norwood Arena on Route 1.
The "Irish Minstrel", as he has been lovingly called throughout the world, gained recognition as America's outstanding vocalist through his presentation of sentimental modern and Irish ballads. The fact that music was a part of him was evident from an early age. Working as a candy and news butcher on a railroad line, he sold his wares by singing to attract customers who gathered around him to hear his voice.
When he left the railroad job, he looked for something more in the line of singing and received his break at an Elks smoker where he was paid a sum of $5 for his performance. An indication of his rise to fame can be garnered from a comparison of this figure with the fabulous sal; arles he receives today for his radio appearances alone.
Morton studied and practiced voice and waited for an opportunity to present itself. It presented itself in the form of Paul Whiteman, who signed him for his orchestra aboard the luxury liner "Leviathan". Morton made six trips between America and Europe on the ship and then quit. He took a job in a London nightclub and met with sensational success at this and other leading music halls and theaters.
From London, he toured England and the countries of the continent. King Leopold of Belgium spotted him at one of the exclusive nightclubs and had him engaged at the Royal Palace Hotel in Ostend, Belgium.
The renown of Morton Downey carried him from one internationally known night club to another, In Havana, London, Paris, Deauville, Ostend, Berlin arid Biarritz The naturalness, the genial smile and the exceptionally high sweet tone of Morion Downey were irresistible.
When Morton returned to America, he was greeted with a torrent of offers from all parts of the country. Left bewildered by this overwhelming acclaim, he rejected many of the lucrative offers. Hollywood held out a tempting contract for several short subjects and he accepted. He made several full-length films, including "'Syncopation', "Mother's Boy," and "Lucky in Love" and then left Hollywood for a tour of America's music palaces.
The story of his climbing popularity was the same everywhere: there were no bounds to the fame and the glory that came to Morton Downey. In 1931, he had his own show over the Columbia Broadcasting System. The fan mail he received from his vast audiences rose to a height unprecedented at the time.
Morton expanded his activities. He opened his own New York supper club, the exclusive Delminico's on Park Avenue; he starred on the Camel Hour, the Number One program on the air, and he made countless recordings of his most popular ballads.
Each year, Morton returned to Europe for several engagements. He was as well received there as in America. And audiences in two continents were grateful. Morton Downey has been singing professionally for a long time and he has survived many an old-time favorite, continuing to rate high on music polls throughout the country In 1936, he was selected to sing at the coronation festivities in England, and a few years later was chosen as the first entertainer ever to perform before all the chiefs of staff in Washington.
Going overseas during World War II, he was greeted with tremendous ovations and Army popularity polls placed him high on vocalist lists.
When Morton Downey returned from overseas, he opened at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, In two shows, the uncompromising applause of the audience held him in the spotlight until he had sung a total of 39 songs! And the applause from the Waldorf resounded across the country, and critics from coast to coast paid tribute to a man who was revered as 'much by competitors as by his countless fans. In February, 1945, his radio show moved from ABC to MBS with the greatest coverage in radio history. A total of 440 stations carried the program.
Morton Downey has gone abroad 30 times, and has played more than 1700 theater engagements in America. The figures sound fantastic, but ''they are no more fantastic than the fame of the man they refer to. For the silver voice of Morton Downey is beloved by millions of people the world over. And as long as a sentiment rests in the hearts of men, this love will live and grow deeper. Morton Downey takes an honored and lasting place in the history of American music.
For his Norwood appearance, tickets have been popularly priced at $1, plus tax, and for reserved seats, $1.50 plus tax.
(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)
No comments:
Post a Comment