John Barrymore Last Performance

John's very last acting performance was a rehearsal for show # 82 of the Rudy Vallee Sealtest Program on May 19th 1942. His last words spoken were from Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET.
Shortly after, he collapsed. "I guess this is one time I miss my cue." he said to Vallee.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• john
• barrymore
• rudy
• vallee
• stu
• urwin
• joan
• davis
• sealtest
• radio
• romeo
• juliet
• shakespeare
• last
• words
• spoken

[pi27366]

The images look like a young Lionel, not John....

[clementinemonkey]

@pi27366 Err, I think you need glasses

[fromthesidelines]

This wasn't a "rehearsal" recording, 'clementine'. Rudy's radio show at that time had a format in that it PRETENDED to be a "rehearsal", while it was actually on the air. Everything concerning each broadcast was "informal", as though Rudy and his cast were "preparing" for the "actual show"...which it was.

[clementinemonkey]

@fromthesidelines So where's the audience laughter if this is the actual show?

I have many of these rehearsal programs where clearly there are too many mistakes being made by the cast, missed cues etc for it to be the actual show itself and the only laughter you can hear are from the cast and crew - no audience!

[mxylpx]

I think there is a tendency to hang too much crepe on the old Master for he did have a wonderful sense of comedy and irony and certainly enjoyed his long stay under the sun and affection of his audience and peers.

[NYVoice]

Wow! So sad that, like Flynn, JB became a parody of his former great prolific self. It's like he hated being who he was because the audience didn't accept him on HIS terms. Life isn't always fair but avoid the drink and keep your perspective. Many actors are like that TODAY. They have personality disorders and can only convey emotion through written scripts.

[Luke7304]

Wow. Morbidly fascinating.

Someone should post clips of Barrymore's Mercutio in the 1936 version.