Billy Burke remembers 'Sweet Bird of Youth'

Billy Burke, who travelled to New York City many times to see Broadway plays, saw Sidney Blackmer in the original production of 'Sweet Bird of Youth,' which is opening soon at the Meroney Theater in Salisbury. Photo by Katie Scarvey, Salisbury Post.

Piedmont Players presents Sweet Bird of Youth. Jonathan Furr, Kathleen Tronsor and Bill Greene. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

This photo, featured in the playbill for the Broadway production of 'Sweet Bird of Youth,' featured Paul Newman, Geraldine Page and Salisbury's own Sidney Blackmer. Photo by Katie Scarvey.

Inside page of the playbill for the original Broadway production of 'Sweet Bird of Youth.'

The cover of the Broadway playbill of 'Sweet Bird of Youth.'

Sidney Blackmer was a star of the Broadway play 'Sweet Bird of Youth.' This photo appeared in the playbill.

By Katie Scarvey

kscarvey@salisburypost.com

The upcoming Piedmont Players Theatre production of 'Sweet Bird of Youth" will bring back many fond memories for 92-year-old Billy Burke.

Well-known in Salisbury as a pianist and bridge columnist, Burke saw the play on Broadway more than 50 years ago, shortly after it opened in 1959. It was around Easter, he remembers, because he was going to see the Easter show at Radio City Music Hall.

Although Burke had seen many major theatre productions, "Sweet Bird of Youth," was of particular interest to him. Sidney Blackmer, a Salisbury native and friend of Burke, had a starring role as Boss Finley, sharing the stage with Paul Newman and Geraldine Page.

"I thought it was a terrific production," Burke says, adding that it "was regrettable that Sidney Blackmer didn't get the role in the movie."

A movie version was made in 1962, and while Newman and Page retained their roles, Blackmer's went to Ed Begley Sr. Burke believes it was because Geraldine Page had expressed a preference for Begley — who went on to win an Oscar for his performance.

"I think Sidney was as good in the role as Ed was in the movie," Burke says.

Burke attended a matinee performance of the play with Steve Stevenson, a former Catawba student who had played the leading role in "Showboat," for which Burke had played piano.

Afterward, Burke went backstage and visited with Blackmer, whose two young sons were in the dressing room with him at the time, Burke remembers.

He also knocked on the door of Paul Newman's dressing room, but a voice called out, "He's already gone."

Burke laughs and says that it might well have been Newman himself saying that.

He had better luck meeting Geraldine Page.

"She was very gracious," Burke says. "She introduced me to a high school friend of hers and his mother."

Burke says that Blackmer was "a down to earth fellow" and "a perfect Southern gentleman, of course."

Burke also remembers that when "Huck Finn" was performed at Catawba (Burke wrote the melodies for the production), Blackmer was in town and wrote a review of the play.

The theatre has been a lifelong passion for Billy Burke.

After he got out of the army in 1946, he began to travel to New York City every other year, seeing five or six shows during each trip, he says.

Among the most memorable was "Applause," starring Lauren Bacall and "Funny Girl" with Barbra Streisand.

"Those were outstanding shows," Burke says.

He also saw three different versions of "Hello Dolly" — starring Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers and Betty Grable. He preferred the Carol Channing version.

He also loved "The Sound of Music" with Mary Martin, as well as "The Diary of Anne Frank" starring Susan Strasberg.

Burke was able to meet Strasberg through his Salisbury friend Ralph Roberts. Roberts was living in New York and working as an off-Broadway actor and masseur.

One year, Burke says, when he and his friend Jack Daniels were in New York, Roberts invited them to go to a New Year's Eve party at the home of Strasberg's parents.

"That was a treat," he says.

He recalled that Roberts brought Judy Holliday as his date. Holliday starred in "Bells Are Ringing," Burke says.

"Jack and I were just awe-struck," Burke says. "Everybody at the party was connected to the theatre in some way."

He remembers meeting Shelley Winters there.

"We headed back to the kitchen and she came up the hall barefooted," Burke says. "We stopped and told her we enjoyed her performances."

Later, she came to Charlotte with a touring company, Burke says. He went backstage to meet her.

"I'm sure she didn't remember, but I said, 'I met you at Susan Strasberg's New Year's Eve party,' and she said, 'Of course, I remember. Those were always wonderful parties.'"

In 1976, Burke went to the Tony Awards with John Hartledge, the first president of Piedmont Players. He remembers having to rent a tuxedo for the black-tie affair.

He got to see plenty of stars at that event, including Richard Burton, Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Plummer, Eddie Albert, George C. Scott, Cloris Leachman and Jane Fonda.

Along with seeing "Sweet Bird of Youth," the Tony awards show was a highlight of his New York trips, Burke says.

He also recalls going to Sardi's after seeing "Applause" and meeting Lauren Bacall there.

Bacall was one of Ralph Roberts' massage clients, says Burke, who worked up the courage to introduce himself as one of Roberts' friends.

"She was very gracious," Burke says. "It was nice to speak to her in person."

Burke hasn't been to New York to indulge his theatre passion for at least 15 years, he says, but he still attends many plays — he regularly attends the Blue Masque productions at Catawba College.

Then of course he has season tickets for Piedmont Players Theatre.

Burke already knows what night he's going to see "Sweet Bird of Youth" — the second Thursday of the show's run.

For ticket information, call 704-633-5471.