#Chauncy Olcott

[outoftowninac]

ONCE UPON A TIME

1917

Once Upon A Time is a four-act play by Rachel Crothers. It featured four songs written and performed by Chauncey Olcott. It was originally produced by Cohan and Harris starring Mr. Olcott. 

The play is set in a small western town and New York City.

Terry O'Shaughnessy is jilted by his sweetheart. He Is a dreamer with the heart of a child. After years spent as a miner seeking to perfect an invention that will make him a fortune, he Is on the eve if starting for New York in search of a promoter, when the orphaned child of a forgotten brother is thrust upon him and there is no alternative but to take it along. The great invention turns into a success, but the simple Terry parts with it for a song, finding his compensation in the consciousness of having contributed to the sum of human happiness and happy In the love of the little child and the affection of his repentant sweetheart.

Chuancey Olcott (1858-1932) was an Irish-American actor, writer, composer, and lyric tenor who appeared extensively on Broadway. He was co-lyricist for the standard “When Irish Eyes Are Smilin’” and wrote both music and lyrics for “My Wild Irish Rose” in 1898. In 1913, Olcott had a number one hit singing "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)". Olcott's life story was told in the 1947 motion picture My Wild Irish Rose starring Dennis Morgan as Olcott.

Once Upon a Time premiered in Atlantic City at Nixon’s Apollo Theatre on November 12, 1917. Olcott was a regular visitor to Atlantic City, having just been at the Apollo in March 1917 in The Heart of Paddy Whack. 

After Atlantic City, the play continued try-outs in Wilmington DE, Allentown PA, Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Brooklyn NY, New Haven CT, Philadelphia PA, Buffalo NY, Bronx NY, Newark NJ, Rochester NY, Pittsburgh PA, Chicago IL, Munster IN...

Detroit MI.... 

and Lansing MI. Next stop - Broadway. 

Once Upon a Time opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre (210 West 46th Street) on April 15, 1918. It opened as a strictly limited engagement of three weeks and closed on May 11, 1918. 

About the Venue: Built in April, 1911 as a dinner theatre named the Folies Bergère, it was quickly remodeled and renamed the Fulton. In 1955, it was renamed again for Helen Hayes. In 1982, it was torn down (along with five neighboring theatres) to make room for the new Marriott Hotel and Marquis Theatre.

“Rachel Crothers can write better plays than ‘Once Upon a Time’ and has written them, but it is a good job under the circumstances. Olcott's audiences make certain demands which do not help the playwright much. It is not the easiest thing in the world to provide that the star shall sing three or four times in the course of a comedy. Miss Crothers has arranged this deftly.” ~ HEYWOOD BRAUN

“A somewhat thin and old-fashioned play, but one having many moments of touching pathos and gentle humor.” ~ HARTFORD COURANT

The play returned to the road for further engagements. 

In March 1920, Olcott returned to Atlantic City and the Apollo in Macushla... but that’s another blog.