[front cover, outside]
THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY
PRESENTS
“Meet the Navy”
PRODUCED BY
THE DIRECTORATE OF SPECIAL SERVICES
[front cover, inside]
[ship photographs captioned “above, TRIBAL CLASS DESTROYER, below, RIVER CLASS DESTROYER”]
[page 1]
[drawing at top left is a portrait of “THE HONOURABLE ANGUS L. MACDONALD, K.C, Minister of National Defence for Naval Services”; at top right of “REAR-ADMIRAL G.C. JONES, C.B., R.CN, Chief of Naval Staff”]
To all who serve...
To all who serve their country in the armed forces of the Dominion;
To those who serve in the munitions plants, the shipyards, the mines and on the farms;
To those who play their part in business, in the professions and in the homes of this land;
The Royal Canadian Navy offers “Meet the Navy” as a contribution to good cheer and entertainment in these days of war.
We have a growing naval tradition in the Dominion. Today, the name of Canada and the achievements of Canadian men and women in the Allied effort on the oceans of the world are freely recognized in the company of those who go down to the sea in ships.
Many of the personnel in this production have seen active service on the seas and now they demonstrate that the Silent Service has the capacity to laugh as well as to fight.
Some evidence of their spirit and their sense of humour is suggested in “Meet the Navy.” It is our hope that this performance will give the people of Canada not merely entertainment of a high order but, as well, something of the spirit of the sea and some glimpse of the manner in which young Canadians approach a task – seriously, but not without a lightness of heart.
[signature of “Angus L. Macdonald”]
MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE FOR NAVAL SERVICES
[page 2]
MEET THE FOLKS IN “Meet the Navy”
INTERESTING PERSONALITIES abound in “Meet the Navy.” Some of them are well known in the entertainment world. Others will be well known to Canadian audiences before the show’s coast-to-coast tour has ended. Several of them are talented young people who are having their first chance in a big show and who are destined to go far in the theatre . . . Well known, of course, are LOUIS SILVERS and LARRY CEBALLOS who brought their professional talent and experience to the production. Silvers, who is musical director of Lux Radio Theatre, has been associated with many big Hollywood musical films and active in many Broadway productions. Ceballos began his producing career with Andre Chariot in London in 1917. He has produced for the Shuberts in New York and worked with Silvers on the first all-talking picture, “Lights of New York,” now treasured in the Smithsonian Institute . . . BILLY LIVINGSTON, costume designer for “Meet the Navy,” dressed those memorable chorus members in “Holiday Inn” and “Star Spangled Rhythm” . . . Sets for the show were designed and produced by PAUL DUPONT, well-known Broadway stage designer, and LEONARD BROOKS, one of Canada’s best known younger painters . . . LOUISE BURNS is a Toronto girl who began her dancing career under Jack Arthur at the age of 9. She later danced with the Radio City Music Hall ballet and the famous “Rockettes” . . . OSCAR NATZKE, our basso, is a native of New Zealand . . . VALENTINE KUKURUZA, with a sensational tenor voice, is a Russian. He was born in Harbin, China, but is now proud to be a Canadian and in Canada’s Navy . . . Born 6,000 miles away, ANNA LEIGH came to Canada from Finland. She sings in English, French, Italian, Finnish and Russian . . . IVAN ROMANOFF who leads the Russian group is no stranger to radio listeners. He taught some of his group to sing in Russian by writing the lyrics phonetically. The result, he says, is intelligible to a Russian . . . CAM GRANT, character comedian, was a lecturer before Wren Officers’ classes until his talents for comedy led the authorities to transfer him to the Navy show. He attracted Hollywood’s attention while the show was still in rehearsal . . . Comics PRATT, GOODIER and MURTON are all products of the Montreal Repertory Theatre. They began together in 1939 with the M.R.T. Tin Hat Revue, giving troop concerts . . . Another “one of the boys” is PHYLLIS HUDSON, high, wide and handsome comedienne who can do nearly anything from painting stage props to standing in for the trio ... Top honours for dancing go to ALLAN LUND and BLANCHE HARRIS who make their own routines, all of which are based on ballet . . . LAURA COOKMAN, soprano, is from Vancouver . . . Summoned from the Atlantic Coast where they were busy in concert parties for the armed forces, the Terrible Trio have done much to build up the show and entertain the cast during trying rehearsal periods. DIXIE DEAN was serving on a corvette, BILL RICHARDS on a mine-sweeper, and TONY STECHYSHYN was doing shipwright duties at Halifax when the boys first got together. They spent their spare time entertaining troops and have performed for Netherlands, Norwegian, Fighting French and Russian sailors and merchant seamen as well as Canadian service men . . . BILL O’CONNOR, originally with the show, now overseas, brought the boys together. Bill was then a sports and entertainment officer in the Navy, as was PAT QUINN who wrote nearly all the music for “Meet the Navy” . . . Before joining the Navy, orchestra director ERIC WILD did radio work in Great Britain and Canada. Arranger, as well as conductor, he is a talented artist and a popular young man with all of the cast. Scripts for the show are the product of BILL HARWOOD, NOEL LANGLEY and HENRY SHERMAN. A Montrealer, HARWOOD has done radio work for Canadian network shows and has written script for Junior League stage shows . . . LANGLEY was born in South Africa and came to Canada via England and the United States. A popular author, he spends much time warning SHERMAN not to be lured by Hollywood . . . SHERMAN, junior of the trio, is a Torontonian who dreams of writing a page in Canadian literature when he is older. Meanwhile he is waiting to be lured! Portraits and sketches in this programme are the work of GRANT MACDONALD, who has drawn many naval subjects in Canada, and theatrical portraits in New York and London.
[page 3]
[various sketches of John Pratt with portrait top right]
“You’ll Get Used To It” is sung by John Pratt, one of the show’s outstanding comics
[page 4]
[ship photographs captioned “above and below TOWN CLASS DESTROYERS”]
[page 5]
[various sketches of Robert Goodier with portrait top right]
Robert Goodier gives his satiric impression of a young woman getting up and getting dressed in the morning
[page 6]
[ship photographs captioned “above FRIGATE, below CORVETTE”]
[page 7]
[various sketches of Cameron Grant with portrait top right]
Cameron Grant plays the part of Captain Bligh in “Mutiny on the Bounty,” a skit which pokes fun at the Canadian Navy regulations
[page 8 & 9]
PROGRAMME “Meet the Navy”
The entire production under the supervision of Captain J. P. Connolly, M.C., R.C.N.V.R., Director of Special Services.
Staged and directed by Louis Silvers and Larry Ceballos
THE GIRLS
Anita D’Allaire, Louise Burns, Barbara Chauvin, Frances Conley, Laura Cookman, Barbara Davis, Billie Mae Dinsmore, Audrey Edwards, Ora Griffin, Bea Gibbs, Margaret Gilmour, Jane Hackshaw, Blanche Harris, Nancy Holmes, Phyllis Hudson, Margaret Hurst, Mary Judge, Joyce Lamberg, Anna Leigh, Norma Macdonald, Janet MacFarlane, Betty MacLauchlan, Margaret MacLauchlan, Mary McCallum, Jean McHardy, Myra McNeil, Pat Merchant, Alice Nelson, Helen Richardson, Elsa Romanoff, Barbara Sawers, Loma Shand, Gertrude Shaw, Margaret Smith, Rea Smith, Gwen Tasse, Yvonne Tate, Jeannette Thompson
THE BOYS
J, Ambrose, J. Austin, W. Crampton, B. Cross, Dixie Dean, Albert D’Allaire, Real D’Allaire, Reynaid D’Allaire, D. M. Davies, L. Foster, R. W. Goodier, C. Grant, J. Hancock, Jim Hawthorne, A. Huston, H. C. Jones, A. W. Lund, Murray Lutsky, L. D. Malenfant, M. Mason, John Moscow, W. L. Murton, O. Natzke, W. Oliver, E. Phillips, R. J. Pratt, W. Rennick, J. Ringham, I. Romanoff, W. Rose, Wayne Sheridan, A. Stechyshyn, W. Stevens, C. Tapscott, R. Taylor, F. Thrasher, Vai Valentine, G. Young
ORCHESTRA
Musical Director
Eric Wild
Violins
J. Sera, A. Moses, W. Richards, N. Gilmych, V. Feldbrill, J. Marks, M. Biniowsky, J. Moscow, N. Petroff, V. Szabo
Violas
A. Ochiena, R. Lechow
Cello
J. Dolhan
Bass
P. Gravel, G. MacKay
Oboe
N. Goodman
Clarinets and Saxophone
K. Adamson, V. Kauhanen, E. Campbell, E. Brian
Trumpets
R. Reid, R. Ince, R. Johnson
Trombones
T. Elfstrom, A. Kirk, H. Keetch
Piano
F. Rou, S. Smith
Percussion
Harry Nicholson
------------------------------------------------
ACT ONE
OVERTURE
Orchestra .......... under the direction of Eric Wild
1. Opening Chorus
Meet the Navy .......... Sailors and Wrens
2.Three of a Kind
Danced by .......... Pratt, Goodier and Murton
3. Rockettes and Wrens
Petty Officer .......... Phyllis Hudson
Recruit .......... Arthur Huston
4.Three Accordions
Played by .......... Billie Mae Dinsmore, Dixie Dean and Les Foster
5. Women at War
The C.W.A.C. .......... Janet MacFarlane
The R.C.A.F. (W.D.) .......... Pat Merchant
The Wren .......... Phyllis Hudson
Henry Blipp .......... John Pratt
Elmer Tweek .......... Lionel Murton
The Postwoman .......... Barbara Davis
6. Laura Cookman, Coloratura
“Far is Thy Moon”
7. Colour Confusion —
Solo Dance by .......... Louise Burns
(Original Music by Roy Locksley)
8. Robert Goodier
Impressions
9. Moonlight Fantasie
“Am I in Love?”
The girl .......... Anna Leigh
The boy .......... Jim Hawthorne
“Dancing on a Moonbeam”
Golden Girls .......... B. MacLauchlan, B. Gibbs, M. Hurst, G. Tasse, N. Macdonald, A. Edwards, L. Cookman, M. Gilmour, J. McHardy
Silver Girls .......... Joyce Lamberg, M. Smith, P. Merchant, B. Shaw, M. Judge, B. Davis, A. Nelson, H. Richardson, B. M. Dinsmore
“One Love”
Premiere Dancers .......... Blanche Harris and Allan Lund (Lee and Sandra)
10. Betty Shaw .......... An Audition
11. The Four Jacks .......... R. Taylor, B. Cross, W. Sheridan and L. Malenfant
12. Scena Russki
Balalaika Orchestra and chorus under the direction of Ivan Romanoff
Soloists .......... Anna Leigh, Tony Stechyshyn and Val. Valentine
13. “You’ll Get Used To It”
Sung by .......... John Pratt
14. “Brothers-In-Arms”
Singers .......... W. Oliver, J. Ringham, R. Thrasher and the Ensemble
ACT TWO
ENTRACTE — Orchestra
1. Beauty on Duty
The Singer .......... J. Ambrose
The Beauty .......... Blanche Harris
On Duty .......... The Best Dressed Women of the Year
2. Just Nonsense .......... Arthur Huston
3. Sea Chanties
Sung by .......... Oscar Natzke and his Shipmates
4. Rhythm Personified
The Girls .......... B. Dinsmore, P. Merchant, A. Edwards, B. Gibbs, N. Holmes and B. Sawers
The Boys .......... R. Taylor, W. Ross, R. D’Allaire, L. Malenfant, W. Sheridan and B. Cross
5. Kiss and Sell
Miss Canada .......... Anna Leigh
The First Buyer .......... William Crampton
The Boy Friend .......... Joe Austin
The Second Buyer .......... Billie Mae Dinsmore
The Girl Friend .......... Phyllis Hudson
6. “Say It With Music"
7. In Your Little Chapeau
The Girl .......... Blanche Harris
Her Beau .......... Alan Lund
His Rival .......... Robert Goodier
The Tumblers .......... The D’Allaire Family
Strolling Musicians .......... Les Foster, Tony Stechyshyn
THE SWEATER BOYS AND THE BATHING BEAUTIES
8. Entre Nous .......... Cameron Grant
9. “The Boy in the Bell Bottom Trousers”
The Singer .......... Mary Judge
A Couple of Wrens .......... Billie Mae Dinsmore, Margaret Hurst
The Lieutenant .......... Ray D’Allaire
The Dancers .......... Louise Burns, Alan Lund, Blanche Harris
ENTIRE SHIP’S COMPANY
LYRICS AND MUSIC
“IN YOUR LITTLE CHAPEAU” “BROTHERS-IN-ARMS”“ROCKETTES AND WRENS”
“MEET THE NAVY”“BEAUTY ON DUTY”
Music by P.E. Quinn Lyrics by R.W. Harwood
“THE BOY IN THE BELL BOTTOM TROUSERS”
Words and Music by P. E. Quinn
“YOU’LL GET USED TO IT”
Lyrics by John Pratt Music by Freddie Grant
“DANCING ON A MOONBEAM”
Lyrics by R. W. Harwood Music by Roy Locksley
“ONE LOVE” “AM I IN LOVE?”
Words and Music by Roy Locksley
“FAR IS THY MOON”
Words and Music by W. Stevens and Roy Locksley
MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Special Piano Arrangements: W. Stevens
Orchestrations: E. Wild, H. Campbell, C. Tapscott, R. Reid and V. Kauhanen
Vocal and Musical Arrangements: E. Wild, I. Romanoff and H. Campbell
PLAYLETS
Women at War .......... Noel Langley
Kiss and Sell .......... Henry Sherman
-----------------------------------------
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Roy Locksley
Executive Officer Lieutenant E. Sullivan
House Manager Sub. Lieut. A. E. Brown
Treasurer Lieut. J.L. Elvidge
Business Manager Sub. Lieut. E.A. Charman
Advance Liaison Sub. Lieut. H. Kelman, Petty Officer L. Brooks
Publicity Lieut. W.G. Allen
Public Relations Lieut. S. Robertson
Box Office Petty Officer Laskey
Secretary L/Writer A.J. Villeneuve
PRODUCTION STAFF
Producer Roy Locksley
Stage Settings Leonard Brooks, Paul DuPont, John Weir
Set Designs Rudy Nicoletti, Lewis Hurst
Costume Designs Billy Livingstone
Technical Director Carl W. Mullholland
Stage Manager Fred Manett
Assistant Stage Manager Bob Morrison
Dance Instructress Louise Burns
Carpenter Bob Hall
Electrician Roy Kennedy
Wardrobe Elsa Romanoff
Property Manager C. Fuller
EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL
Ass’t Accountant Officer Sub-Lieut. E. A. Bow, W.R.C.N.S.
Unit Officer for Wren Personnel Sub-Lieut. P. R. Youle, W.R.C.N.S.
Sick Bay Nursing Sister Margaret Reid, R.C.N.
Regulating Petty Officer William Oliver
Writers Charles Cardinal, Gordon Eriksen
Supply Assistant H. E. Armstrong
Cooks Reggie Beale, Donald Delion, Nick Dennison
Steward T. J. Carroll
Coiffeur Wren Ora Griffin
Technical Crew Thomas Crawford, Ronald Montgomery, John Jordan, Bill Stechyshyn, John Weir, George Cameron, George Carter, Jack Mussellam, Elton Newman-Jones, Frank Nicholson, Rudy Nicoletti, Cyril Roworth, John Villeneuve, Peter Zradowski, Jack Tasse
[page 10]
[Sketches of various cast members. Top row, l to r:]
IVAN ROMANOFF
CAPTAIN J.P. CONNOLLY, AT THE HELM OF “MEET THE NAVY”
ANNA LEIGH
[Middle row, l to r:]
DIXIE DEAN
LIONEL MURTON
[Bottom row, l to r:]
PHYLLIS HUDSON
ERIC WILD
RHYTHMIC FEET
[page 11]
[various sketches of Oscar Natzke with portrait top right]
Oscar Natzke, basso, who leads his shipmates in singing salty sea chanties
[page 12]
[ship photographs captioned “above, WOODEN MINESWEEPER, below, BANGOR MINESWEEPER”]
[page 13]
[various sketches of Blanche Harris and Alan Lund with portrait top right]
Blanche Harris and Alan Lund . . . their graceful dancing is one of the show’s most impressive hits
[page 14]
[ship photographs captioned “above, ALGERINE MINESWEEPER, below, THE FAIRMILE”]
[page 15]
[sketch captioned “A SAILOR IN THE CANADIAN NAVY”]
[page 16]
[photograph of cast and orchestra in theatre]
Thank you –
PRODUCTION of “Meet the Navy” became possible, to a large extent, through the generous support of firms and individuals in Canada and the United States who were eager to assist in this Royal Canadian Navy enterprise. To all of these, the Directorate of Special Services, producers of “Meet the Navy,” say “Thank you!” It is impossible to mention everyone who has helped in the production. A thousand and one details are involved in building and presenting a big musical revue.
Problems arise in every phase of the production, but the helpfulness of countless friends has enabled the producers to solve these manifold problems and the Navy’s first big musical show is now a reality.
Although hundreds have helped in many ways and cannot all be listed, several donations have been so outstanding that the producers wish to make special mention of them here. The majority of the costumes seen in the show were donated by the T. Eaton Co., Ltd., the Robert Simpson Co., Ltd., and Canadian Celanese Ltd. The variety of acts in such a revue calls for a great number of costume changes and the generosity of these firms has helped immeasurably in making “Meet the Navy” a picturesque and colourful production. Dazian’s, famous New York theatrical supply house, sent the show many theatrical accessories with their compliments. These accessories are too many and varied to list but are used all through the show on costumes and scenery.
A show with so large a cast naturally requires a large quantity of cosmetics and the problem of finding powders, creams, grease paint and all the rest became no problem at all when two leading cosmetic firms made a handsome present to “Meet the Navy.” The House of Hollywood and Max Factor, Inc., both of Hollywood, presented every member of the cast with individual make-up kit. Mrs. Sally Hansen of the former organization came to Toronto while the show was in rehearsal to give the girls special lessons in the art of theatrical make-up.
Thanks are due to the manufacturers of Player’s Navy Cut Cigarettes, who are contributing generously to the show’s country-wide publicity programme, and to The Gazette, Montreal, for permission to reproduce several of the portrait sketches in this programme.
Finally, to all who have helped in any way, whether great or small, we say again “Thank you.” If we have failed to mention anyone, either through lack of space or inadvertence, we trust they will accept this sincere “Thank you” as their own.
[back cover, inside]
[photograph of “THE CHORUS” surrounded by portrait sketches, clockwise from top left:]
JANET MacFARLANE
REA SMITH
MARGARET HURST
JOYCE LAMBERG
NANCY HOLMES
[back cover, outside]
[painting of H.M.C.S. Iroquois]
H.M.C.S. Iroquois
One of Canada s new Tribal Class destroyers—displacement 2,000 tons, twin 4.7 gun mountings reinforced by numerous anti-aircraft weapons, torpedo tubes and depth charges. Complement: 14 officers and about 250 men.
Painted by Gordon Grant for the makers of PLAYER'S NAVY CUT CIGARETTES
Original Scans
