No No Nanette 1972 Tony Awards

[@williamarndt9465]

Saw the original cast. Twice. I'll never forget it.

[@rfiola687]

When I was 10 my mom (her sister-in-law) and dad took me to see to see Helen in this wonderful play. She was magical. I thought that she looked at me several times during the performance! My love for musicals comes from Helen. What a beautiful memory.

[@allanfisch]

I always heard about this revival and Ruby's great success in it. So glad I get to see this. She was a very special performer. One of the last things I remember doing with my grandmother was watching 42nd Street a few years before she passed. She told me all about Ruby.

[@xak999]

Years later, when questioned about never having won a Tony Award, and 'What happened?' the great Elaine Stritch quipped 'Helen Gallagher happened!' And boy did she ever!

[@Heyjay454]

This was the first Broadway musical I saw at age 12...and it was EVERYTHING WONDERFUL and FANTASTIC!! Never will forget it!!

[@robertjonas9357]

Nono Nanette first online Broadway Play

[@lorraineserabian6529]

Brava Helen!

[@6828Lu]

Wonderful Helen Gallagher.

[@roxannesantoro7503]

Maeve Ryan from Ryan's Hope.

[@ClarasBeau]

Ruby Keeler was amazing! To see her dance up that kind of a storm at her age is truly jaw-dropping. Thanks for the upload!

[@andrewgibbon-williams7974]

If America had done nothing else... it has given us THE greatest art form: THE MUSICAL!

[@Gerardo-g4m]

Ruby keeler was phenomenal she was 63 years old and she had the energy of a 30 yearold

[@mountainmama051]

I saw this production when I was in College and still remember it vividly....ah yes, Jack Guilford was also in the show...Bobby Van was terrific and dear Ruby could still hoof with the best of the them! :)

[@kurtjackberhalter1537]

I saw this production in 1975,at the Kenley Players in Dayton,Ohio! Everything was memorable! Virginia Mayo,Gale Gordon,Kathleen Freeman,and especially Loni Ackerman (Cyma Rubin's daughter)and Ted Pritchard in the Helen Gallagher and Bobby Van roles! Randy Skinner,Karen Prunzcik and the rest of the cast were excellent! l have had a stroke,cant remember yesterday but l will always remember that excellent cast and show!

[@hhhh-xb9py]

Looooooooove helen gallagher!!

[@oscar646]

A middle aged woman, matronly with face and figure that goes with all that comes and knocks ‘‘em dead with her great talents! Too adorable! It gives me a high.

[@showtunestarpower]

That Ruby Keeler is something else! What incredible charisma! I love the staging of the number. At one point Ruby goes off stage and I thought that maybe she couldn't keep up with what the young people are doing - and then she comes back on stage and brings down the house! You hear every one of her elegant taps. Wow!!

[@chrisnorman9980]

I thought the same thing but, I watched a tape of Sandy Duncan in the later revival and she exits the stage at the same point and returns.

[@strykertool]

Will this musical be revived? I hope so. The songs are catchy and who wouldnt want to see some fancy dancing??

[@joycepustilnik]

Ruby Keeler at her age was amazing.

[@jjsmith949]

This was one of my first Broadway albums I fell in love with. The musical came from Broadway to L.A. In the early 1970's but never saw it, was too young to make it to Los Angeles from Newport Beach, CA. One of my favorite musicals of all time!!!

[@liesljones5987]

Professionalism Plus! Not to mention a little thing called REAL TALENT!

[@michelboudot2882]

Saw it then in New York. Loved it

[@Coley8]

To see the Happy Tap on Raoul Pene du Bois multilevel set was sensational. A great show.

[@lixie1]

I saw Ruby Keeler (and touched her!) at the Westbury Music Fair's production of No No Nanette and I sat next to Irving Caesar. I was such a lucky 14 yr old girl!

[@prettyasian888]

YEAR I WAS BORN!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!1

[@tarotbear]

Good Lord! This is 40 years ago! Amazing!

[@15ardennes]

I was in NYC in 1971 and watched the musical with Keeler.

[@jameszerukjr]

Joël Lowenstein Awesome.

[@grown-upactress4155]

I was 6. It was magic. Guess what I do for a living?

[@BTURNER1961]

One thing Bobby Van really could do with the very best. DANCE

[@waterlily6543]

You said it better thanks

[@trov85]

Magical

[@ydnas639]

This was a revival. It was billed as the New 1925 Musical. It was also a '40 movie. To answer, when we have a new Ruby Keeler, Patsy Kelly, Jack Gilford, etc., and don't forget 'the big one' Sandra O'Neil.

[@ericgillot5152]

Marvellous

[@robertjonas9357]

Ruby Keeler Ethel. Merman

[@khtyson1]

Maave Ryan of Ryan's Hope.

[@drziman]

Ruby Keeler is a Goddess

[@1hoseeman]

Read NPR reporter Bob Mondello's Ruby Keeler profile from a few years back. Doing so will help you place Ruby's show biz career, movies, and this revival in their proper context.

[@strykertool]

No really...when is Broadway going to revive this musical...again ..in this century? It's time!

[@juanmonge8]

Does this show have a story? Love the dancing.

[@RichardBrennan]

Yes. It has a very silly 1920s musical comedy story - which is part of its charm. At a time when shows like Company, Follies, and Jesus Christ Superstar were the big thing on Broadway, audiences were ready for something that was just a frothy, entertaining, time capsule of a time when pure entertainment was the only thing required for a hit. Since then, that kind of show has been a staple of a well rounded Broadway season, with shows like 42nd Street, Me and My Girl, and Hello, Dolly.

[@KT-sq2ml]

Was she in the musical Nine on Broadway?

[@bblegacy]

Hard to believe that the top ticket price for No No Nanette on Broadway in 1971 was $15. You got a Busby Berkeley production starring Ruby Keeler, Jack Gilford, Helen Gallagher and Bobby Van performing with a huge cast being backed up by a 28 piece orchestra that included two grand pianos down in the pit. Nowadays you pay that much or more to see high school or community theatre. And I won't even remark on the caliber of that. Anyone whose ever had to suffer through it knows what I'm talking about.

[@jameszerukjr]

***** It wasn't exactly a Busby Berkeley production, though. The revival of No No was produced by Cyma Rubin, wife of Sam Rubin, president of Fabergé Perfume. Busby, who was broke, mostly forgotten, and living in a trailer in the desert of Palm Springs, was hired for what he believed was as director.But Cyma Rubin hated his guts--I forget why. There was constant bickering between Buzz and Cyma, who wanted to fire him. But she was convinced by others that keeping him on was the best thing for the show, for having his name alongside Ruby's on the marquee would be a fantastic draw.So, she basically demoted him and paid him terrible. If I remember it went from $1500 to $500 per week, but he had nothing to do. He was not allowed to direct or choreograph! He was there for only his name.There is a wonderful biography about this revival. It's called THE MAKING OF NO, NO, NANETTE. Poor Buzz!

[@colonialradio1]

+Kevin R Given inflation, a $15. ticket in 1971 would be $88. in todays currency - still a bargain given prices on Broadway today.

[@WhiteCamry]

Broadway trivia: Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee ... aw, you know the rest.

[@strykertool]

A revival in the 2010's... like 2012 or 2013 or whenever! You dont know.. so stop judging!

[@rustynail6785]

Ruby Keller was in her 60s when she did Nanette on Broadway. A minor star in the 30's, talentless, but quite a beauty. She is in the second dance number.

[@jpdesigns2135]

Actually, if you read The Making of No No Nanette, she was very talented as a hoofer. She brought steps to the show that veteran tappers Like Mary Ann Niles (Bob Fosse's first wife) had never seen

[@chrisnorman9980]

There was a book written about the production. Some of the cast and production came off as troupers - among them the stars and Production team. Well, that is except Ms. Rubin and poor Mr. Berkeley was just, well, too advanced in years to be anything other than a publicity stunt.

[@Sportinanewgut]

+Chris Norman You can't mention that book without mentioning Harry Rigby... the Broadway gadfly that without any money put the show together with Cyma Rubin's cash and simply used the Berkley name along with Ruby Keeler's tapping. And then it was the biggest hit of all.

[@kurtjackberhalter1537]

Busby Berkeley wasn't a likeable character! Maybe Cyma Rubin had her reasons! Talented yes,likeable no!

[@hfelton]

Ruby Keeler couldn't sing, dance or act when she was young. She slept with Ziegfield, and married Jolson, which accounted for her career. And that's the real story.

[@nondescript2892]

She must have picked up something along the way...very enjoyable...and as for sleeping with Ziegfeld and marrying Jolson : she deserves a medal for courage there😊

[@richarddixon7855]

@@nondescript2892 Your comment made me laugh out loud. How true and well said!

[@robrivax]

Dancing as Shanghai Lil....Ruby was fantastic, excellent feet and supple ankles for tap dancing, she was a super talented tap dancer....

[@michelboudot2882]

Ruby keeper was awful in this....could not match and never did match eleonor powell,,,her only claim to fame beeing married to al Jolson..

[@robrivax]

Ruby Keeler is not being dubbed for her tap dancing here. Her tap rhythms are clear, her ankles are like butter, she is leading tap sections. What she is doing is very difficult. Awful is not even close to describing her dancing. I'd say she is excellent here.

[@KenDanieli]

Really bad. Amateurish. Except for Bobby Van's dancing which is tops.

[@chrisnorman9980]

Really tacky comment. Nasty and uncalled for.

[@KenDanieli]

***** Lmao

[@bblegacy]

I suppose you could do better. Ms. Gallagher is a Broadway legend and has one of the most distinctive voices and personal all around identifiable style of any singer / actress ever to grace the stage. All you are doing is demonstrating your ignorance.

[@chiedu90069]

+Kevin R Oh, Ms. Gallagher wasn't all that. Just a few Tonys and sensational performances, among them, the original Nickie in Sweet Charity - but what did Bob Fosse know lol. And in case it's not clear, I'm being sarcastic. The word "amateurish" could never describe this Broadway treasure :-)

[@chrisnorman9980]

You LYAO at pretty odd things.