More than a hundred singers and dancers in the golden years of their lives are rehearsing for the Spectacular Senior Follies which will raise money for the Majestic Theatre preservation fund. For tickets click here:
http://www.SeniorFollies.com
Spectacular Senior Follies performance dates:
Friday, Sept. 11th at 8pm
Saturday, Sept 12th at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday, Sept. 13th at 2pm
“I saw some great stars and still in today’s world there’s been some stars presented at the Majestic,” said actress Rose-Mary Rumbley.
Hollywood A-listers like Bob Hope and John Wayne would come to town to promote their movies at the Majestic located in downtown Dallas on Elm Street.
“The Majestic is really the only survivor member of what they call Theater Row that was so famous back in the twenties and thirties,” said author and historian Mark Rice.
In 1921 the Majestic opened its doors during the Vaudeville era. Over the years it has had its showbiz ups and downs.
“All the great films of the 1930’s and 40’s happened and then of course as time went on the Majestic didn’t fade,” said Rumbley. “Movies just moved out into the suburbs.”
Now the theatre enters a new era. Last month it lost its star tenant. The Dallas Summer Musicals have decided it can no longer afford to renew its lease putting the financial future of the Majestic in the spotlight.
“It would be a tragedy in this city if anything happened to the Majestic,” said Rumbley.
The talented singers of the Spectacular Senior Follies have memories of the Majestic which is rich with history.
“I think it’s really neat to be able to get inside the place like the Majestic and show people what seniors are about,” said singer B.J. Maclin.
The musical production features nostalgic song and dance classics from the 1930’s and 40’s as well as elaborate costumes reminiscent of the legendary Ziegfeld Follies.
“So many people remember these wonderful songs from the great American song book like Cole Porter, Gershwin and Irving Berlin,” said artistic Spectacular Senior Follies artistic director Mark Carroll. “So many songs you don’t get to hear anymore. People are starving to hear that kind of music.”
You have to be at least 55 to be in the show. Music keeps the Senior Follies performers young at heart.
“I’m excited,” said Steven Cralle. “I think we’ve got the cream of the crop this year.”
“My mother was born in Dallas in 1894,” said Rumbley. “She was there when they built the Majestic. She was there for the first showing. It’s a part of our heritage.”
There are 4 performances for the Spectacular Senior Follies. They’ll be honoring a legendary Dallas site during intermission of each performance which includes Ebby Halliday.
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August 17th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Incredible collaboration between editor and reporter! This makes me feel like I was there during the 20s and 30s during the height of the Majestic. I’m so glad there’s a group focusing on keeping it alive; Dallas needs to protect our history.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I just couldn’t agree more with Daniel. I am so sad the Dallas Summer Musicals moved out of the Majestic.
There is a documentary filmmaker in Houston whom I have been working with since the mid-’90s on the documentary about the Interstate Theatre chain of which the Majestic was the first one (the Lakewood [1938] and the Inwood [1947] are examples of Interstate’s neighborhood theaters that one lady was talking about). If we lose the Majestic, that will be quite the tragedy in Dallas. You will find me as one of those people who stands in front of bulldozers if it comes to that. This is something that I am very passionate about, if you can’t tell.
Thanks for sharing this story in trying to save our collective heritage and a beautiful piece of true Americana.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Nice peice! Good mix of history and today.
Tickets are on sale at the Dallas Summer Musicals Box Office and at Ticketmaster locations. A portion of every ticket sold goes to the preservation fund for the Majestic. Any net proceeds will be given to various “senior arts” groups in North Texas, with the majority going to the VNA’s Meals-on-Wheels program.
Buy a ticket, see a great show, support the folks who keep live music alive, and those who help seniors who can’t get out and about.