Larry Blyden-one of the gays?

damn, I meant she said he was killed by bandits!!!!!!!

Easy mistake, OP. Most bankers ARE bandits . . .

He was once married to legendary Broadway dancer Carol Haney, which could make him gay.

Barbara Rush once said in an interview that she received lots of mail intended for Barbara Bush.

He was a big ol' nasty, AIDS infested, mutha fuckin' HO-MO-sex'yul

I remember him. An affable host, but I can't say he pinged to a young gayling.

I was watching one of the “What”s My Line?” shows from the early 70s, and looked him up online. His death is interesting.

Befote starting a new talk show, Larry took a two week vacation (alone, apparently) to Marrakesh. At first, it was reported that he died in a car crash. Then it was reported he was the victim of a carjacking gone wrong.

Considering Morocco is the prostitution and human trafficking capital of the world, the real story is probably a lot more interesting!

I always thought his death in Marrakesh was gay related.

R8 In what way do you feel it was gay related?

I once said I suspected he was gay here, like ten years ago. I was told NO, he was married to Carol Haney. In reality, Carol was so sauced most of the time she probably didn't remember marrying him.

[quote]r1 damn, I meant she said he was killed by bandits!!!!!!!

I was imagining very aggressive bill collectors.

I always thought he was cute. He also starred in two episodes of "The Twilight Zone" back in the '60s.

His and Haney’s son, Joshua Blyden, was traumatized first by his mom’s death when he was seven, then by losing his dad when he was eighteen. He had a very unhappy life and died young himself, at 42, of AIDS.

I should like an explanation for THIS

Larry Blyden was servicing Bert Lahr for years. It’s what sent Carol Haney into a drunken stupor that killed her.

She was probably afraid to accept jobs, too (at least out of town), and that stalled her career.

For anyone interested, they're showing one of his "TZ" episodes on SyFy right now.

Carol Haney was one of the most extraordinary and underrated performers ever to grace the Broadway stage. For younger members who may be unaware, she originated the role of Gladys in “The Pajama Game,” introduced the world to the dances of Bob Fosse, which she executed like no other. (Check out the film version some time). She won the 1954 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She had worked for 6 years as Gene Kelly’s assistant at MGM, with extensive contributions to films such as “On The Town,” “An American in Paris,” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Her diagnosis of diabetes during the filming of “The Pajama Game” in 1956 gradually impaired the physical strength and resiliency which was so quintessential to her dancing. This brought her to choreography, the skills of which she lent to shows such as “Flower Drum Song,” “Bravo Giovanni,” “She Love Me,” and lastly “Funny Girl.”

While it was known that Carol enjoyed drinking, it should be noted that she was not the incorrigible, sloppy ass drunk that Blyden often liked to depict her as, particularly after her death. Just as the deaths of both Larry and Josh Blyden remain highly questionable, so do the details surrounding Carol Haney’s untimely demise on May 10, 1964. There were rumors spread regarding suicide, the diagnosis of breast cancer, an infection on her foot due to dropping a cup of hot coffee, which caused a second degree burn that was not healing. That, for a diabetic dancer, portended a fate worse than death.

But the details become sketchy with the persistent story that she was found unconscious down on the Bowery. She was reportedly taken to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood NJ near hers and Blyden’s Saddle River home, and then transferred back to New York Hospital later in the day. Now let me ask you something. If someone were found unconscious on the Bowery, why the fuck would you not ambulance them to the nearest hospitals which would have been Bellevue or St. Vincent’s? Try driving the route from the Bowery to Ridgewood, NJ, and tell me if it fits the most conducive route for managing a health care emergency. Blyden, decapitated in Marakesh in 1975, under VERY questionable circumstances, was not the upstanding character he might have wanted people to believe. Morocco in the 1970s was a smorgasbord for closeted gay American men as well as a haven for drug trafficking and prostitution. Use your imagination. Blyden and Haney were said to have divorced in 1962, though it has been speculated that the divorce was still pending at the time of Haney’s death. She was fighting him for the 3-acre Achenbach house where they both lived in Saddle River, NJ, as well as for custody of the children and other assets. Granted Haney was grappling with alcoholism and diabetes, which was well known in the theatrical community. But she was hardly destitute and out of command with her faculties. She had returned to NY on May 1, 1964 after having staged the London production of “She Loves Me,” which proved to be a resounding success, more so in London that in NY. She was adored by the cast and was already being enlisted for future West End productions. She was also developing a Broadway project that she had hoped to direct, which would star her old pal Gene Kelly. Her buddy and dance partner Buzz Miller had spoken to her when she returned from London on May 1 and said she was in good spirits. She spoke brightly of the success of "She Loves Me" and upcoming projects. It was the last time they would speak.

What goes on in someone’s mind and heart is very complex. But if an individual had nefarious intentions and sought to profit by another’s demise, it wouldn’t be outrageous to craft a slight nudge over the edge, which would, of course, be attributed to alcohol toxicity, diabetic ketoacidosis, and resultant pneumonia. Just sayin.

R13 Kindly produce your documentation that Josh Blyden died of AIDS.

[quote]after having staged the London production of “She Loves Me,” which proved to be a resounding success, more so in London that in NY.

That’s not accurate at all. The 1964 London production got mixed reviews and ran for 133 performances. The 1963 Broadway production ran for 302 performances. The fact that you would pass off misinformation as fact makes one wonder about the accuracy of the rest of your claims, including that nonsense about Larry Blyden being decapitated.

R20 Before you assign it to "nonsense," do some research and realize his "accident" took place on May 31, 1975. The official date of death is June 6, 1975, for the reason being that he incurred brutal trauma and couldn't even be identified. It was being discussed in theatrical circles as decapitated. The exact details are to this day unknown, as are the exact details of Haney's death. But there are many holes and inconsistencies in both stories. Perhaps, neither of them achieved sufficient enough fame to warrant further scrutiny; and many of their peers, who might actually still care, are sadly no longer with us. Haney's niece has been trying for years to compile a book about their unusual and tragic lives and careers, but has hit similar roadblocks.

"The Perry Como Show" with Carol Haney and Lena Horne.

Also Larry Blyden never remarried after Haney's death. While he didn't ping for me either I can't say it was unlikely. After all, he was in the theatre.

That's actually The Kraft Music Hall, R22. Perry Como was only the running host for a few years.

I could kick myself for not running to see the Silvers/ Blyden Funny Thing.

Carol Haney was definitely one of the most done in and underrated talents in show business history. Her assistant, Larry Fuller, gives a great interview on his time with her on "Funny Girl" before the cunt had her fired.

[quote] damn, I meant she said he was killed by bandits!!!!!!!

"Killed by bandits" is just as odd.

A most unfortunate wardrobe and hairstyle choice when Larry was hosting the syndicated "What's My Line?".

Those coke bottle glasses and 1970s male wigs were enough to warrant euthanasia.

Carol Haney was smart to dump his ass. Blyden said that after her death, she haunted the house that he ended up inheriting. He would smell the aroma of brownies, which were Carol's favorite. She should have done a number, instead, on the cesspool!

I can't believe that no one here has yet mentioned that Carol Haney was the Broadway star who missed a performance of The Pajama Game because of a sprained ankle the night that a big Hollywood producer was in the audience, thereby giving her understudy Shirley MacLaine the opportunity of a lifetime.

Shirley owes her career (and her early iconic hairstyle) to Carol Haney.

Carol Haney is also the brilliant partner to Bob Fosse in the best section of that "From This Moment On" number in the MGM film of Kiss Me Kate (sorry not to provide a link but I've gotta get to work).

He co-starred with Streisand in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever".

Miss MacLaine's serendipitous ascension to stardom at the expense of Carol Haney is another show business myth that warrants some re-evaluation and analysis. More to come.

Well, yes. One wonders, had Jerry Wald seen Haney in Pajama Game instead of MacLaine, would Haney have been offered the same Paramount multi-deal contract?

But try explaining that to Carol!

Is it true that people used to fuck the brilliant Bert Lahr in his facial folds? He was, after all, known as "The Cheeky Puss of Broadway."

R34 It's interesting that you mention Janis Paige, because that brings me back to that infamous night of June 29, 1954, when Carol supposedly broke her ankle, broke her leg, strained a ligament, pulled a tendon. Depends upon who's telling the story, and as it's been "documented" in so many different permutations, it makes even the most gullible soul question its veracity. I've been researching Carol Haney for 3 decades, and have felt that her life and work warrants what can be an amazing book. I have interviewed nearly 100 people who have known her and worked with her. Many have shared delightful anecdotes, remembrances, frightening details, along with many uncertainties regarding her and her ex-husband Blyden.

Most remarkably, It should be noted that on June 29, 1954, Shirley MacLaine was indeed the understudy who went on for Carol. However, also absent that night, curiously, was Janis Paige in the role of Babe. Funny that the two leads ended up in absentia on the very same night. Destiny tapping Shirley on the shoulde, I suppose.

Bottom line: though MacLaine was new to the game and a mere 20, she was being groomed for high position in the business. The Broadway harpies created a myth of the understudy stealing the thunder, when the substitution was likely planned weeks in advance. Sources were reliable and documentary in inferring that both Haney and Paige were told to be absent for that night, so Wallis could revel in the rapture of this 20 year old smartass who didn't need a psychic, since she already had a pretty influential godfather that was scripting her meteoric rise to rat pack slut and frau soothsayer.

Haney went into "hiding" for about a month until her "ankle" or "leg" or "tendon" or "ligament" healed while MacLaine flapped her way up to Hollywood stardom. Carol, likely forced to comply with this charade, was undoubtedly rewarded with multiple lucrative TV appearances, club gigs, the Tony, and the subsequent film. Paige was also rewarded with MGM's Silk Stockings, though it wasn't she who took the brunt of the humiliation. Carol never spoke publicly of this "legendary tale" during her lifetime. It would have been interesting, had she lived longer, to hear her rendition of this magical feat of destiny on an Oprah or a Dinah or a Baba Walters. MacLaine has a lot to be thankful for, courtesy of Carol Haney, and hardly just the pixie hairdo. And so does her pimp brother Warren who equally fucked Carol over to his own advantage in "A Loss of Roses" a few years hence. More to come.

Carol who was working as Gene Kelly's assistant was supposed to be the "Dream Girl" in the Broadway sequence in Singing in the Rain. But the producers decided she wasn't attractive enough and insisted she be replaced. What a burn.

Carol Haney was a hoyden!

R37 That was Metro's demon fagaleh Arthur Freed's decision. Gene Kelly insisted she would be perfection in that role and certainly would have been. One of Carol's greatest attributes was her humility and loyalty to those with whom she worked, even if deep down she was abominated. She honorably taught Cyd Charisse the entire routine and went through all the motions with her, as she had done for countless others at Metro including Leslie Caron, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Vera Ellen, Georges Guetary, Louis Jourdan, and Gloria DeHaven, among others.

The "From This Moment on" dance with Bob Fosse in "KIss Me Kate" was the highlight of the film and the greatest indication of how underused she was a performer. While not a raving beauty, she had a raw earthy sensuality and could be made attractive with the right makeup, wardrobe, and lighting.

Is Carol Haney seen in any more of Kiss Me Kate besides the brief dance with Fosse?

For me, Cyd Charisse, as beautiful as she was, looks kind of grotesque and mannish in that awful wig and severe makeup in Singin' in the Rain (actually, I think she often was made up and wigged/coiffed to her disadvantage in MGM musicals). I can't imagine Carol Haney could have looked worse. But then I'm a gay man.

Robert Q. Lewis was the poor man's Larry Blyden.

Or maybe it was Russell Nype.

R41, Arthur Godfrey would often criticize Robert Q. Lewis on his radio show. Convinced he was gay, he would ask "I wonder what the "Q" stands for? ".

R36 write that book!

R43 godfrey was a mean SOB. I think Facei in the Crowd was based on him.

IIRC, the town of Agadir was mentioned in the obit.

I saw that revival of A Funny Thing.....with Phil Silvers and Larry Blyden and I don't remember much about it. Of course it was, what? Over 50 years ago? Nevertheless I have great memories of Dolly, Funny Girl, Fiddler,etc.

R44 A book is certainly warranted on both Carol and Larry, their marriage, their bizarre relationship, and their young and untimely deaths. This includes their son Josh who passed at the age of 42. Their daughter Ellen is the only remaining family member living in Blyden's home state of Texas. She has not been forthcoming with any personal information of either parent and is not in show business.

The problem with Carol is that after her death in 1964, she slipped into nearly total obscurity, aggravated by the inaccurate details Blyden perpetuated about her addictions, health, early demise and selfishness which would leave her two children without a mother. And of course, him as the hero father who would come to their rescue as a single widowed parent. The kids were 6 and 3 at the time of Carol's death. Blyden, a convincing Sammy Glick, was apparently swaying many in the theatrical community in that direction and sympathy in his. Note: His career escalated after Carol's death with "Luv" and "The Apple Tree," all of course for being such a diligent and attentive stay at home dad.

Despite the turnout of nearly 700 people at the memorial for Carol held at the Winter Garden on the morning of May 13, 1964 (10 years to the date after the opening of "The Pajama Game"), and after she lost the posthumous Tony to Gower Champion a couple of weeks later, her memory faded. She would not be mentioned by Blyden on his many TV appearances. Many of the TV shows that she had appeared in did not going into re-runs and movies like "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Pajama Game" were rarely seen until the advent of the VHS/DVD markets years later. Blyden's death in 1975 made people remember he had once been married to a dancer named Carol Haney. But ironically, it was Shirley Maclaine's success in Terms of Endearment and franchise of books that re-ignited interest in that extraordinary dancer whose shoes she had risen to fill on that "fateful" night when she "broke her ankle." Gradually, the theatre brethren started to rediscover her work, as films became available, and rightfully began to wonder why they hadn't heard more of this phenomenal talent and why she hadn't been used to greater advantage at MGM and in films. Carol performed regularly in the plethora of jazz clubs on 52nd St during the 1950s and according to Buzz Miller, cultivated an interesting relationship with Duke Ellington, the result of which was his thrilling arrangement of "Satin Doll," that Carol choreographed. That arrangement is still sought after today by dance students and the exact choreography performed and reinterpreted by new generations.

There is much to tell, yes and a book would be the perfect forum. No pun intended, Larry.

I can't imagine there was any surprise that Haney would lose a 1964 Best Choreography Tony for Funny Girl (in which much of her work was probably replaced by the uncredited yet well-publicized Jerry Robbins) to Gower Champion for the mega-hit Hello Dolly! which he also directed.

R48 Totally agreed. Had Carol, by some twist of judgment, won the Tony award posthumously it would have been a greater humiliation than her firing by Miss Pitkin Avenue. Jerry Robbins tossed at least 50% of Carol's choreography, but as he became more focused on the cross-eyed star of the show, he needed help with the finishing touches on "Sadie, Sadie" and "Rat Tat Tat Tat." He called Carol back for assistance, but she never returned. She was abroad staging the London production of "She Loves Me" and never attended the opening night of "Funny Girl" on March 26,1964. Nor would she likely have wanted to.

In all the many interviews with La Streisand throughout the years, she speaks glowingly of the "Funny Girl" film; Omar Sharif and how he found her magically sexy; Harry Stradling and how he made an anteater look like Aphrodite; Willie Wyler who learned so much about his craft from this hubris-laden geshreyer. But she has rarely spoken of the stage version and the ruthlessness and heartlessness that accompanied it. This was a 21 year old beast trained and primed to attack to her own advantage. Anyone and everyone was expendable at the price of this schnorer's stardom.

I wonder if she would even remember Carol Haney. Though she has been referenced in Streisand's bios, Miss Ptomaine has never once publicly spoken of her and the way she busted ass as much as anyone to get Streisand's ass to move in step and to make the show a hit, which it would become, unfortunately, without her.

[quote] The fact that you would pass off misinformation as fact makes one wonder about the accuracy of the rest of your claims, including that nonsense about Larry Blyden being decapitated.

You tell 'em, Outraged Scolding Dowager!

Well, perhaps, it took attention away from the original OP question, which is a legitimate speculation. But far less important than the many to this day enigmatic aspects to Larry Blyden's life and death as well as that of his only spouse. If you've learned anything at all about the theatre, you'd know that everyone was gay at least once.

Flower Drum Song was the only time Larry and Carol worked together.

Carol Haney on "Password" in 1962.

That is the best video of Carol that exists; it shows she can be attractive in an unusual sense with a sparkling fun personality and a nice helping of intelligence. She should have guested on many more episodes!

When Larry Blyden was hosting the syndicated game show The Movie Game in the early 1970's (three "stars" would try to guess answers to questions about movies, sometimes their own) - loud mouth Shelley Winters once suddenly lit up and said to him: "Oh.....oh....you're married to that dancer...that lovely girl....Carol....."

Blyden just said wryly: "I used to be....yes."

Best contestants: Burt Reynolds and Vera Miles. Worst contestants: Kathryn Grayson and Ralph Bellamy.

Clip of “The Movie Game”. With Larry Blyden.

R55, That's right up there with the Kathie Lee/Martin Short awkward moment.

R55 I know an actor who was in Minnie's Boys, with Winters. One night she kept moving behind him on stage. When he asked her about it later, she said that there had been someone in the audience with a gun.

Happy 94th Birthday to Larry Blyden! (June 23, 1925)

Thanks for that clip R56 - that might have been the same episode where Shelley made her statement....LOL....

Two teams of three! Wow.....all the "stars".....of course I sent in my postcard, but my name was never drawn.

Was 1971 the worst year ever in men's fashions?

Oh God. Now we have a Carol Haney troll.

R62 Why is someone who comments on or takes interest in a particular performer's career considered a troll? It's doubtful there's been much speculation on the life and work of Carol Haney on DL, and she remains one of the most forgotten and undercelebrated talents in the theatrical world. Why shouldn't she have her due! Along with her husband Larry Blyden, who is almost as forgotten. If you don't like it, go read about the Instaho pin-ups or Aaron Schock's contributions to humanity.

I haven't read all of the posts, granted , but has anybody mentioned "Personality" which he hosted? The campiest show ever on TV. The dregs and has beens of show business would get together and try to guess things about each other. The facial expressions Rita Moreno would use! Yes, Gordon MacRae slightly knew Hedy LaMarr. And I have never been more embarrassed for anybody than poor Joan Fontaine being on there and guessing about CHelsea Brown! I could go on for pages , but I'll spar3 the DLers the agony. I'll close with Totie Fields truly believed she hadn't cheated her fans.

I mad my mind up playing Personality with Chelsea...

Here's a "Personality" from 1969.

I wouldn't consider Jack Cassidy, Joan Rivers or Flip Wilson dregs or has beens of show business.

r66, one swallow does not make a summer.

I have absolutely no knowledge or memory of these Blyden game shows Personality and The Movie Game. These were during my college age when I was mercifully trapped in a dorm with no easily available TV.

R58, that's very funny.

R68 would have to BE at least 68.

70, actually.

r66, Selma Diamond, Chester Morris, Betsy Palmer, Jack E Leonard (who attested that fellow Personalityer Frank Sinatra JUNIOR called him Uncle Jack), Milt Kamen, Totie Fields, Jack Carter, Corbett Monica, Patricia Harty, the immortal Barbara McNair, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Edward Mulhare, Peter Lawford way down on his downward spiral, and of course Jacqueline Susann. Such great pillars of show business!

I don't remember PERSONALITY - but now I'm afraid NBC will bring it back with Steven Baldwin hosting.....

I always felt bad for him that only number he sang from "On a Clear day," "Wait Till We're 65" was cut--he sings it charmingly with Streisand on the audio track. Without that number his part in the movie doesn't even really make sense--there's no good reason why Daisy should not be throwing herself at her shrink. since Warren becomes such a non-entity with nothing to offer her.

He was a musical star, but most musicals did not use him very well--it was so strange he played a Chinese-American in "Flower Drum Song." He did have a pleasant voice, though it was very reedy and nasal. His best part was as the Snake in "The Apple Tree."

Personality would accost people at JFK Airport and ask them dumb questions about aforementioned show business losers. Then the dopes would have to guess what these people said about them.

Fuck Larry Blyden !!! I'm the current game show queen.

^^^ John Michael Higgins

R75 cont'd, which of the these three types would be a Corbett Monica spy? Fortunately I don't remember the options.

Good post, R49. It's known that Streisand hated the Funny Girl original cast album, but loved the over produced movie soundtrack. With me it's the other way around.

>> He co-starred with Streisand in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever".

Un, no. Blyden was a supporting character, he didn't co-star. Even if his song wasn't cut he'd still be a supporting character. Btw, if you're writing American English, the period goes inside the quotation mark, not outside it!

Carol Haney, as choreographer for "Flower Drum Song," obviously employed some nepotism in getting her husband cast when Larry Storch was proving unfunny and cumbersome in the rehearsals. Blyden's previous musical offering had been in "Wish You Were Here." I wonder if Streisand and Blyden chatted about Carol at all. It seems they got along much better with one another than either did with the divine Miss Haney. Plenty of unpleasant remembrances, I'm sure. Ironically, Gene Kelly who had directed Streisand in "Hello, Dolly" later understood the pressure in working with Babs that ultimately did in Carol. But he cast an interesting character type in the role of Gussie Granger/Ernestina "Simple" (actress Judy Knaiz) that reminded him of one his most favorite people in the world, Carol Haney, who he said would have been his first choice for that role. As the song goes from another show: "Too late now."

[quote] Un, no. Blyden was a supporting character, he didn't co-star. Even if his song wasn't cut he'd still be a supporting character. Btw, if you're writing American English, the period goes inside the quotation mark, not outside it!

"Un"???

You are so ungenerous concerning the tiniest of punctuation errors (and how do you know the other poster is not British, which would mean the punctuation was correct?) and slight mischaracterizations that you deserve absolutely no mercy yourself.

R81 = bad punctuation practices, must defend others

What are these horror stories about Haney and Streisand on Funny Girl about anyway?

She barely danced in the Broadway show. I saw it and remember her walking her way through much of it.

Yeah, cuz she was a lox.

And I apologize to all DLers for omitting theirs Personality-playing goddess. Personality would not have been the same without Vivian Vance. She played it with great presence and authority. Oh, her past friendships just flowed.

I would call R85's response stream of consciousness, but I'm not sure.....

[quote]While not a raving beauty,

Understatement of the year.

The bullshit on this thread, courtesy of r36, is galling. It’s all bullshit. And it’s usual for this idiot. He makes up stories and tries to pass them off a truth, but usually gets caught in his lies.

R88 = Shirley MacLaine

robert q lewis was a gay

Classic DL. Cheers!

More on Carol Haney, please.

R10

You'd be sauced to if I was your understudy !

Stop making Carol out to be a drunk!

R94, she died of pneumonia "complicated by diabetes and alcoholism." Alcoholism = drunk.