Lisa Kirk(bornElsie Kirk;February 25, 1925 – November 11, 1990) was an American actress andsingernoted for her comic talents and richcontralto(her voice was called a huskyalto).[1]
Lisa Kirk | |
|---|---|
 Kirk in Bewitched, 1967 | |
| Born | Elsie Kirk February 25, 1925 |
| Died | November 11, 1990(aged 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Locust Valley Cemetery,Locust Valley, New York,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Spouse | |
Career
editBorn inBrownsville, Pennsylvaniaas Elsie Kirk, she was raised inRoscoe, Pennsylvania.Her Roscoe home later became the Hotel Roscoe. Kirk enrolled as a law student at theUniversity of Pittsburghbut abandoned her studies when she was offered a spot in the chorus line at the VersaillesnightclubinManhattan.[2]
Kirk studied theatre atHB Studio[3]in New York City and made herBroadwaydebut inAllegroin 1947.[4]In 1948, she gained critical acclaim for her performance as Lois Lane/BiancainKiss Me, Kate,[4][5]for which Kirk recounted learning the songs (fromCole Porter) and performing them for investors before performing them in the theatre.[6]The reviewer for CastAlbumReviews.com wrote: "As Lois/Bianca, Lisa Kirk acts and sings her numbers impeccably; her performance of 'Why Can't You Behave?' is unsurpassed as her sultry voice pours over great lines such as, 'There I'll care for you forever/Well, at least till you dig my grave'. "[7]
In 1950, Kirk's mother, Elsie Kirk, filed suit against her daughter for failing to abide to what she said was an agreement that the two of them share her earnings. Lisa Kirk insisted no such agreement existed.[8]
InMack and Mabel(1974), she played an older actress who becomes a star tap dancer, and was noted byClive Barnesto be "particularly fine".[9]Additional Broadway credits includeHere's Love(1963),[10]Me Jack, You Jill(closed during previews in 1976),[11]and a 1984 revival ofNoël Coward'sDesign for Living.[12]
Kirk's only feature film work was done behind-the-scenes, dubbing all ofRosalind Russell's singing inGypsy(except for "" Mr. Goldstone "and the first half of"Rose's Turn").[13][14][15]It was rumored that she had also dubbedLucille Ball's singing voice inMame,[16]but Ball denied this onThe Merv Griffin Show,saying, "She's not dubbing my voice because no one can."[17][18]
Kirk was active in the early days of television, appearing in suchanthology seriesasStudio One,where she co-starred inThe Taming of the Shrewon June 5, 1950.[19]She appeared onKraft Television Theatre,The Colgate Comedy Hour,andGeneral Electric Theater.In later years she guested on episodes of sitcoms likeBewitchedandThe Courtship of Eddie's Father,as well as variety series likeThe Ed Sullivan Show,The Hollywood Palace,andThe Dean Martin Show.[citation needed]
Kirk frequently appeared at the Persian Room in thePlaza Hotel.[2]She also appeared atNew York City's Rainbow and Stars nightclub. In a review of her act at Rainbow and Stars in April 1989,New York TimescriticJohn S. Wilsonwrote that Kirk's "long career has given her polish, presence and a solid foundation of songs byRodgers and Hammerstein,Cole Porter andJerry Hermanwith which she is associated. She has maintained such a trim structure that she can do justice to a song called 'Is That Really Her Figure?' And although her voice may not be as full-bodied as it once was, she has a warm, easy projection that gives sensitivity and color to her songs. "[20]
In addition to Kirk's appearances on originalcast albumsand compilations of Broadway performances, she recorded a number of solorecordings,includingI Feel A Song Comin' On[21]andLisa Kirk Sings At The Plaza(1959).[22][23]
Kirk may be best known for her roles in the original Broadway productions ofRodgers and Hammerstein'sAllegroandCole Porter'sKiss Me, Kate.[6]Bloom and Vlastnik wrote in their bookBroadway Musicals: the 101 Greatest Shows of All Timethat Kirk "hit the jackpot again", introducing "Why Can't You Behave" and "Always True to You (in My Fashion)".[24]Another popular number was the upbeat "Tom, Dick or Harry",performed withHarold Langas Lucentio, Edwin Clay as Gremio andCharles Woodas Hortensio (suitors to Kirk's Bianca). Lewis Nichols writes: "Having startled the town last season by singing 'The Gentleman is a Dope' as though she meant it, Miss Kirk is captivating... this year as a fully accredited hoyden with a sense of humor."[25]
Marriage
editKirk was married to sketch artist and famed songwriterRobert Wellsfrom 1949 until her death in 1990.[2]They had no children. Wells co-wrote "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"withMel Torme.[4][26]
Death
editA non-smoker, Kirk died oflung cancerat Memorial-Sloan Cancer Center in Manhattan.[2][4]
Radio appearances
edit| Year | Program | Episode/source |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Musical Comedy Theater | Yolanda and the Thief[27] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Monkees | Gloria | S1:E21, "The Prince and the Paupers" |
References
edit- ^Bloom, Ken and Vlastnik, Frank.Broadway Musicals: the 101 Greatest Shows of All Time.Black Dog Publishing, 2004,ISBN1-57912-390-2,p. 173
- ^abcdLisa Kirk biography,Bigbandsandbignames.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^"HB Studio - Notable Alumni | One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC".Hbstudio.org.
- ^abcdBlau, Eleanor.Obituary,The New York Times,November 13, 1990
- ^Kiss Me, KatePlaybill (vault), retrieved November 24, 2017
- ^abGilliland, John(1994).Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s(audiobook).ISBN978-1-55935-147-8.OCLC31611854.Tape 4, side B.
- ^"Review. 'Kiss Me, Kate'",castalbumreviews.com. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^"Mother Sues Lisa Kirk for Share of Earnings",New York World-Telegram,January 4, 1950.
- ^Barnes, Clive. "Mack & Mabel and Silent Film Era",The New York Times,October 7, 1974, p. 54
- ^Here's LovePlaybill (vault). Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^Me Jack, You Jill,ibdb.com. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^Broadwayibdb.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^Gypsycduniverse.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^Gypsysondheimguide.com, retrieved March 18, 2010.
- ^American Film Institute.The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures.University of California Press, 1997;ISBN0-520-20970-2,p. 444
- ^Karol, Michael.[1]Lucy A to Z: The Lucille Ball Encyclopedia.iUniverse, 2004;ISBN0-595-29761-7,p. 295
- ^"Lucille Ball on MAME:" I Can't Sing "".YouTube.2008-01-26.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-15.Retrieved2020-04-23.
- ^"MameArticle ",tcm.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^"Television Highlights of the Week".The Boston Globe.June 4, 1950. p. 6 - A.RetrievedMay 6,2021– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Wilson, John S.Review/Cabaret; Lisa Kirk Sings and JokesThe New York Times,April 21, 1989
- ^Lisa Kirk I Feel A Song Comin' On CDcduniverse.com, retrieved March 18, 2010
- ^Lisa Kirk Sings At The Plazabarnesandnoble.com, retrieved March 18, 2010
- ^Ruhlmann, William."Liza Kirk Sings at the Plaza"allmusic.com, retrieved November 25, 2017
- ^Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 173
- ^White, David M.Popular Culture,"Music in the Air" (chapter), Ayer Publishing, 1975,ISBN0-405-06649-X,p. 116
- ^Vosburgh, Dick.Obituary: Robert WellsThe Independent,October 27, 1998
- ^Kirby, Walter (November 23, 1952)."Better Radio Programs for the Week".The Decatur Daily Review.The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48.RetrievedJune 16,2015– viaNewspapers.com.
