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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Brian Patrick Clarke to Charlotte Cornwell
Betty Comden Biography (1919-)
Original name, Elizabeth Cohen; born May 3, 1919, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Leo (a lawyer) and Rebecca (a school teacher; maiden name, Sadvoransky) Cohen; married Steven Kyle (a designer and businessman), January 4, 1942 (died);children: Susanna, Alan. Addresses: Office: c/o The Dramatists Guild,234 West 44th St., New York, NY 10036.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Lyricist, writer, actress
- Birth Details
- May 3, 1919
- Brooklyn, New York, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Stage Appearances
- (Broadway debut) Claire, On the Town, Adelphi Theatre, 1944
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A Party (revue based on collection of Comden and Green's previously written songs and sketches), Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1958 thenexpanded version at Golden Theatre, New York City, as A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, 1958 later new version at Morosco Theatre, New York City, 1977 then on tour.
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Lyrics and Lyricists, Kaufman Auditorium, New York City, 1971
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An Evening with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, 1971
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George Abbott ... A Celebration, Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1976 Tasha Blumberg, Isn't It Romantic (two-act), Playwrights HorizonsTheatre, New York City, 1983-1984 then Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City,1984-1985
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Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott!; or, Night of 100 Years, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1987
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The Players Club Centennial Salute, Shubert Theatre, 1989
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Film Appearances
- (Uncredited) Revuer, Greenwich Village, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1944
- (Uncredited) Garbo, Garbo Talks, United Artists, 1984
- Mrs. Wheeler, Slaves of New York, Tri-Star, 1989
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Musicals Great Musicals, 1996
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Television Appearances
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Movies
- MC, On the Town, 1992
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Specials
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The Fabulous 50s, CBS, 1960
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The American Film Institute Salute to Gene Kelly (also known as The AFI Salute to Gene Kelly), CBS, 1985
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Evening at Pops, PBS, 1987 and 1988
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Tony Bennett (also known as On Stage at Wolf Trap), PBS, 1988
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The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988 and 1991
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The 45th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1991
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Episodic
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That Was the Week That Was, 1964
- "Follies in Concert," Great Performances, PBS, 1986
- "Bernstein at 70," Great Performances, PBS, 1989
- "Music by Richard Rodgers," Great Performances, PBS, 1990
- "Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne," Great Performances, PBS, 1991
- Voice of Linda, "Burying a Grudge," Frasier, ABC, 1994
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WRITINGS
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Stage Lyrics
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with Adolph Green
- (And sketches) Two on the Aisle, produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1951
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Wonderful Town (two-act musical), produced at Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1953 then New York State Theatre, 1994
- Additional lyrics, Peter Pan (three-act musical), produced at Winter Garden Theatre, 1954 then Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1981 and 1991 then Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1992 then Marquis Theatre, New YorkCity, 1999
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Say, Darling, produced at American National Theatre and Academy, New York City, 1958
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Do Re Mi (two-act musical; includes song "Make Someone Happy"), produced at St. James Theatre, New York City, 1960 then City Center Theatre, New York City, 1999
- (And others) Leonard Bernsteins Theatre Songs, produced at TheatreDe Lys, New York City, 1965
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Hallelujah, Baby! (two-act musical), produced at Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1967
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Lorelei (two-act musical; based on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), produced at Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City, OK, 1973 then at Palace Theatre, 1974
- (With others) By Bernstein, produced at Chelsea Theater Center Westside, New York City, 1975
- (And music; with others) The Madwoman of Central Park West (one-woman show), produced at 22 Steps Theatre, New York City, 1979
- (And others) Diamonds (two-act musical), produced at Circle in theSquare Downtown, New York City, 1984-1985
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The Will Rogers Follies, produced at Palace Theatre, 1991
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Stage Book and Lyrics
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with Adolph Green:
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On the Town (two-act musical based on the ballet Fancy Freeby Jerome Robbins), produced at Adelphi Theatre, New York City, 1944
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Billion Dollar Baby, produced at Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1945
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Bonanza Bound, produced at Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1947
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Bells Are Ringing (two-act musical), produced at Shubert Theatre,1956 published by Random House, 1957 then produced at Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 2001
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Subways Are for Sleeping (two-act musical), produced at St. JamesTheatre, 1961-1962
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Fade Out--Fade In, produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1964 published by Random House, 1965
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On the Twentieth Century (two-act musical), produced at St. JamesTheatre, 1978 published by Drama Book Publishers, 1981
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A Dolls Life (two-act musical), produced at Mark Hellinger Theatre, 1982
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Stage Book
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with Adolph Green
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Applause (two-act musical; based on film All about Eve), produced at Palace Theatre, 1970-1972 published by Random House, 1971
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Stage Music
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with Adolph Green
- (And others) Straws in the Wind (two-act musical), produced at American Place Theatre, 1975
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Plays
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with Adolph Green
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A Party (revue based on collection of Comden and Green's previously written songs and sketches), first produced at Cherry Lane Theatre, 1958 expanded version produced at Golden Theatre as A Party with Betty Comden andAdolph Green, 1958 new version produced at Morosco Theatre, 1977 then ontour.
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Singin' in the Rain (two-act musical; adaptation of movie of sametitle), produced at Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 1985-1986
- (And others) Jerome Robbins Broadway, produced at Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1989-1990
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Screenplays
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with Adolph Green
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Good News (based on the musical comedy by Lawrence Schwab, Frank Mandel, Buddy De Sylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1947
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The Barkleys of Broadway, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- (And lyrics) On the Town (based on the musical play by Comden, Green, and Leonard Bernstein), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- (And lyrics) Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- (And lyrics) Singin' in the Rain, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952 published by Viking, 1972
- (And lyrics) The Band Wagon, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953
- (And lyrics) Its Always Fair Weather, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1955
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Auntie Mame (based on the novel Mame by Patrick Dennis andthe play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee), Warner Bros., 1958
- (And lyrics) Bells Are Ringing (based on the musical play), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1960
- (And lyrics) What a Way To Go! (based on a story by Gwen Davis), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964
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Television Lyrics
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Movies
- (Additional) Peter Pan, 1955 1956 1960 and 2000
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Wonderful Town, 1958
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Television Specials
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with Adolph Green
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Let's Celebrate, ABC, 1972
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Applause (adapted from musical of same title), CBS, 1973
- Also author of various other musical comedy specials for ABC.
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Television Series
- (With others) Buick Circus Hour, NBC, 1952-1953
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Other
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Comden and Green on Broadway, Drama Book Publishers, 1981
- Also author, with Green, of music, book, and lyrics for cabaret group, "The Revuers," 1939-44. Contributor to periodicals, including Esquire, Cahiers du Cinema, and Vogue.
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A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Capitol.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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Betty Comden, Simon & Schuster, 1995
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