HARRISON FORD, PRODIGAL SON

Tomorrow's a big day for Harrison Ford. The theater where he made his West Coast stage debut, The Laguna Playhouse, is to honor him as its "most distinguished alumnus."

The playhouse -- which was founded in Laguna Beach, Calif., in 1920, making it one the nation's oldest continuing theater companies -- doesn't say who the other alumnae are. Therefore it's hard to compare, but "most distinguished" sounds about right. So does "most famous," "most handsome," "richest," "best former carpenter" and "biggest deal."

According to Playhouse executive director Richard Stein, Ford appeared in "John Brown's Body," a poetic drama by Stephen Vincent Benet, directed by Douglas Rowe. The production ran for 12 performances (March 2-13) in 1965. The playbill called him "Harry" and described him as follows:

A newcomer both to California and Laguna Beach, Harry brings with him an impressive background in theater. At college, such roles as MacHeath in "Threepenny Opera," El Gallo in "The Fantasticks" and Mr. Antrobus in "Skin of our Teeth" brought rave reviews and with it overtures from several little theater groups. As a result, shows such as "Damn Yankees," "Sunday in New York," "Dark of the Moon" and "Little Mary Sunshine" followed. Harry's goal is to be a professional actor. We wish him good luck and hope to see him back here for more shows.

Harry never appeared at the Laguna Playhouse again. But the whole point of honoring the prodigal son is to help raise money for the troupe. When it comes to fund-raising, loyalty has a long leash. (By the way, who knew he had such a sweet tooth for musical comedy?)

April 16, 2004 8:54 AM |

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Me Elsewhere

'WILD SIDE' STILL ROCKS 

Nelson Algren was one of the great American authors of the 20th century, it is no exaggeration to say, and among the most neglected. Consider his underrated classic, "A Walk on the Wild Side." The title -- popularized and co-opted as an idiomatic phrase by Hollywood and Madison Avenue (institutions Algren loathed) -- is familiar to most anyone who speaks English or knows Lou Reed's lyrics. But the novel itself? Hardly.

BUSTER KEATON REVISITED 
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LAUREN BACALL, STILL SALTY AT 80 
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THE STARS ACCORDING TO BOGDANOVICH 
Peter Bogdanovich's superb collection of movie-star profiles and interviews -- a sequel to Who the Devil Made It, his interviews of top film directors -- begins with an affectionate tale about Orson Welles that reminds us just how intimate the author's connection to Hollywood's greatest has been. But contrary to what we've come to expect from dime-a-dozen celebrities and celebrity interviews not worth two cents, the tale avoids bromidic egotism and journalistic platitudes.
SAMMY'S WHITE DREAMS 
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