Irene Dahlia...(aka Laura Leopard*) as Auntie Mame
Born Arina Torporkov in Saint Petersburg, Irene’s mother was a member of the Moscow Art Theatre founded by Constantin Stanislovski. Her family immigrated on the heels of the Russian Revolution in 1917. Once safely in New York, her mother Sonia Torporkov (stage name Mollie Anderson) began her Broadway career, appearing in The Fountain of Youth” among others. Irene made her Broadway debut in 1924 with a small role in Anthony and Cleopatra. She returned to Broadway in 1926, starring in “She Couldn’t Say No” and has been a star in her own right ever since. FDR once remarked on her performance in “The Bohemian Girl” as “moving Russian and U.S. relations to a new delicious level.” Irene will next appear in Gotham Radio Theatre’s production of Present Laughter this summer she toured the country in the Broadway hit, “Suspect”. Married briefly to screen star, John Garfield, Irene lives quietly in New York with her little dog Sasha.
Born Arina Torporkov in Saint Petersburg, Irene’s mother was a member of the Moscow Art Theatre founded by Constantin Stanislovski. Her family immigrated on the heels of the Russian Revolution in 1917. Once safely in New York, her mother Sonia Torporkov (stage name Mollie Anderson) began her Broadway career, appearing in The Fountain of Youth” among others. Irene made her Broadway debut in 1924 with a small role in Anthony and Cleopatra. She returned to Broadway in 1926, starring in “She Couldn’t Say No” and has been a star in her own right ever since. FDR once remarked on her performance in “The Bohemian Girl” as “moving Russian and U.S. relations to a new delicious level.” Irene will next appear in Gotham Radio Theatre’s production of Present Laughter this summer she toured the country in the Broadway hit, “Suspect”. Married briefly to screen star, John Garfield, Irene lives quietly in New York with her little dog Sasha.
Bartholomew Redmond...(aka Martin McGeachy*)as Beau, Mr. Babcock and Ito
Bartholomew “Bartie” Redmond grew up in rural Tennessee, the only son of well-known Presbyterian evangelist “Rev. Hellfire” Redmond and temperance leader Sarah Mae Angle. Expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, in 1905 on the afternoon of his sixteenth birthday, while testifying at a tent revival in Memphis on the sins of youthful whimsy, Bartie was interrupted by a cavalcade of clowns shilling for Cap’n Marvell’s Showboat Circus, and before he could stop himself, he followed the parade down to the riverside joined the troupe. Within a few years Bartie had made a name for himself playing a variety of mustachioed villains in riverboat melodramas, but finding himself unemployed in 1914 when the Floating Palace sank off St. Louis, Bartie joined a vaudevillian act as straight man for Penelope’s Performing Poodles. The dog act wintered in Edendale, California, where Bartie made the acquaintance of famed film director Mack Sennett, who began to use him in minor roles. Ironically, his greatest notoriety came playing Bishop Bittles, the tipsy priest in a series of Fatty Arbuckle shorts. In 1923, he married Penelope, and believing there was no future in the movie industry, in 1928 moved his wife and poodles to New York, where he has been a fixture of local theatre, radio and dog grooming ever since, and is proud to be the volunteer chaplain at the Ziegfeld Home for Aged Vaudevillians.
Bartholomew “Bartie” Redmond grew up in rural Tennessee, the only son of well-known Presbyterian evangelist “Rev. Hellfire” Redmond and temperance leader Sarah Mae Angle. Expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, in 1905 on the afternoon of his sixteenth birthday, while testifying at a tent revival in Memphis on the sins of youthful whimsy, Bartie was interrupted by a cavalcade of clowns shilling for Cap’n Marvell’s Showboat Circus, and before he could stop himself, he followed the parade down to the riverside joined the troupe. Within a few years Bartie had made a name for himself playing a variety of mustachioed villains in riverboat melodramas, but finding himself unemployed in 1914 when the Floating Palace sank off St. Louis, Bartie joined a vaudevillian act as straight man for Penelope’s Performing Poodles. The dog act wintered in Edendale, California, where Bartie made the acquaintance of famed film director Mack Sennett, who began to use him in minor roles. Ironically, his greatest notoriety came playing Bishop Bittles, the tipsy priest in a series of Fatty Arbuckle shorts. In 1923, he married Penelope, and believing there was no future in the movie industry, in 1928 moved his wife and poodles to New York, where he has been a fixture of local theatre, radio and dog grooming ever since, and is proud to be the volunteer chaplain at the Ziegfeld Home for Aged Vaudevillians.
Bettina Biltmore...(aka Valerie Gilbert*) as Sally Cato, Vera Charles and more....
Bettina Biltmore (Valerie Gilbert)
was born in Newport and raised in Greenwich. She was schooled in Paris, London, Geneva, and MonteCarlo. After dancing with Nijinsky in the Ballet Russes, Bettina left ballet for burlesque, performing with the Folies Bergeres and Josephine Baker. Ever avid for new experience, she moved on to tap dance back in the States and starred in A Big Blowsy Ballroom with Fred Astaire. The Marx Brothers entreated her to star in A Mask for the Mistaken which was sadly, not released. By then Bettina had caught the comedy bug and there was no turning back. Ms. Biltmore maintains residences in Paris, London, New York, Chicago, Boise, San Francisco and Points D’Esprits in the Seychelles Islands. She tends to her physical temple with absinthe, champagne, deep, vigorous breathing, and light salads. A devotee of the occult, she is preparing to depart this life via automatic writing and soul suspension. Bettina is assisted in her work by her Brussels Griffon, Fauchon, who has a basic understanding of calculus.
Bettina Biltmore (Valerie Gilbert)
was born in Newport and raised in Greenwich. She was schooled in Paris, London, Geneva, and MonteCarlo. After dancing with Nijinsky in the Ballet Russes, Bettina left ballet for burlesque, performing with the Folies Bergeres and Josephine Baker. Ever avid for new experience, she moved on to tap dance back in the States and starred in A Big Blowsy Ballroom with Fred Astaire. The Marx Brothers entreated her to star in A Mask for the Mistaken which was sadly, not released. By then Bettina had caught the comedy bug and there was no turning back. Ms. Biltmore maintains residences in Paris, London, New York, Chicago, Boise, San Francisco and Points D’Esprits in the Seychelles Islands. She tends to her physical temple with absinthe, champagne, deep, vigorous breathing, and light salads. A devotee of the occult, she is preparing to depart this life via automatic writing and soul suspension. Bettina is assisted in her work by her Brussels Griffon, Fauchon, who has a basic understanding of calculus.
Robbie Robertson... (aka Jack Milazzo) as Young Patrick
Is making his radio debut in Auntie Mame. Robbie’s Broadway debut was made last year when he appeared as Annie Oakly’s younger brother in Annie Get Your Gun.
Is making his radio debut in Auntie Mame. Robbie’s Broadway debut was made last year when he appeared as Annie Oakly’s younger brother in Annie Get Your Gun.
Dean 'Dinkie' Keyman ...(aka Kurt Hellerich*) as Patrick
Dean “Dinkie” Keyman (Kurt Hellerich)
is no stranger to radio, Dinky got his start at 12 on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour and immediately became part of Major Bowes Vaudeville Tours. Spending a few years in Hollywood, he was seen in Babes in Arms and Girl Crazy. Dinky has most recently been touring with Carousel in the role of Billy Bigelow. He came to the attention of Richard Rodgers when singing with Harry James and his Orchestra.
He is delighted to be returning to his radio roots with Gotham.
Dean “Dinkie” Keyman (Kurt Hellerich)
is no stranger to radio, Dinky got his start at 12 on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour and immediately became part of Major Bowes Vaudeville Tours. Spending a few years in Hollywood, he was seen in Babes in Arms and Girl Crazy. Dinky has most recently been touring with Carousel in the role of Billy Bigelow. He came to the attention of Richard Rodgers when singing with Harry James and his Orchestra.
He is delighted to be returning to his radio roots with Gotham.
T.G. 'Culp' Culpepper....(aka John Moss*) as O'Bannion and Mother Burnside
was born in Chester, England, but his family moved to Philadelphia when his father was offered the opportunity to condense The Federalist Papers for popular consumption. Encouraged by his mother, he began appearing on stage as “Runaway Tom,” the singing newsboy. He introduced the song, “Ex-Tree! Ex-Tree!," which later became a hit for Rudy Vallee. Silent Hollywood beckoned, where he starred along side Billy Bevan in Dumb Luck Dopes, Charley Chase in Lucky, Dopey and Dumb and Vernon Dent in No Such Luck.
He can be seen soon as Winston Churchill in the Universal release, Abbott and Costello Meet The Axis.
was born in Chester, England, but his family moved to Philadelphia when his father was offered the opportunity to condense The Federalist Papers for popular consumption. Encouraged by his mother, he began appearing on stage as “Runaway Tom,” the singing newsboy. He introduced the song, “Ex-Tree! Ex-Tree!," which later became a hit for Rudy Vallee. Silent Hollywood beckoned, where he starred along side Billy Bevan in Dumb Luck Dopes, Charley Chase in Lucky, Dopey and Dumb and Vernon Dent in No Such Luck.
He can be seen soon as Winston Churchill in the Universal release, Abbott and Costello Meet The Axis.
Margaret Miller...(aka Megan Mekjian) as a Peegan and Gloria
Margaret Miller (Megan Mekjian) was “born in a trunk” in Kansas City, Missouri. Her mother and father, the famed duo “Miller and Miller”, were headliners on the Orpheum Circuit. Margaret got her first taste of show business performing as the “Soft-Shoe Sweetie” in their act. A talent scout spotted her, and Margaret quickly made her Broadway debut as a “Ziegfeld Girl” in the summer revue, Fool Me Once. After appearing in several Broadway revues, Margaret decided to move to Hollywood and pursue her dream of becoming a star of the ‘silver screen’. She made her film debut as an un-credited extra in the film His Dame Tuesday. In 1935, she signed her first film contract and immediately became a star for her role in the box-office hit Ingrid, Irma, and Esther. Margaret met her husband, Matthew Bartolini, on the set of her next film My Darling Tangelo. Today they live happily with their cat, Fabulous Mr. Fox, in their Beverly Hills Bungalow.
Margaret Miller (Megan Mekjian) was “born in a trunk” in Kansas City, Missouri. Her mother and father, the famed duo “Miller and Miller”, were headliners on the Orpheum Circuit. Margaret got her first taste of show business performing as the “Soft-Shoe Sweetie” in their act. A talent scout spotted her, and Margaret quickly made her Broadway debut as a “Ziegfeld Girl” in the summer revue, Fool Me Once. After appearing in several Broadway revues, Margaret decided to move to Hollywood and pursue her dream of becoming a star of the ‘silver screen’. She made her film debut as an un-credited extra in the film His Dame Tuesday. In 1935, she signed her first film contract and immediately became a star for her role in the box-office hit Ingrid, Irma, and Esther. Margaret met her husband, Matthew Bartolini, on the set of her next film My Darling Tangelo. Today they live happily with their cat, Fabulous Mr. Fox, in their Beverly Hills Bungalow.
Director: Sydnie Gale...(aka Sydnie Grosberg Ronga)
Sydnie Gale (Sydnie Grosberg Ronga) began her career as a stage manager, most notably for Sarah Bernhardt's American tour. Miss Bernhardt brought her back to France, but not knowing the language Miss Gale moved to London. She spent the next few years touring with plays by Shaw and Wilde. While working with the Gaiety Players she was asked to direct Shaw's The Philanderer. The tour was a great success and she became the company's regular director bringing some American plays into their repertoire. In 1928 the Gaiety Players toured the United States and Miss Gale decided to stay. She directed for The Theatre Guild bringing the works of Shaw, Molnar and Pirandello to the American Stage. As radio became more popular she often adapted her productions for broadcast. Miss Gale has been the primary director for Gotham Radio
Sydnie Gale (Sydnie Grosberg Ronga) began her career as a stage manager, most notably for Sarah Bernhardt's American tour. Miss Bernhardt brought her back to France, but not knowing the language Miss Gale moved to London. She spent the next few years touring with plays by Shaw and Wilde. While working with the Gaiety Players she was asked to direct Shaw's The Philanderer. The tour was a great success and she became the company's regular director bringing some American plays into their repertoire. In 1928 the Gaiety Players toured the United States and Miss Gale decided to stay. She directed for The Theatre Guild bringing the works of Shaw, Molnar and Pirandello to the American Stage. As radio became more popular she often adapted her productions for broadcast. Miss Gale has been the primary director for Gotham Radio
Actors with *, appear as a courtesy from Actors Equity Association