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44-461: The show is remembered for its acclaimed cast of newcomers, including Bert Convy and Ken Berry . Barnes continued to produce successful revues in Los Angeles. In 1952, actress Joyce Jameson graduated from UCLA and married songwriter Billy Barnes. Their first collaboration was a new musical comedy called Baby Face O'Flynn , for which she wrote the book and played the lead role and he wrote

88-649: A Broadway actor, starring as Perchik in the original cast of Fiddler on the Roof (1964), appearing in The Impossible Years (1965), and creating the role of Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret (1966). He also appeared in the Roger Corman film A Bucket of Blood , playing Lou Raby, and in the soap opera Love of Life , playing Glenn Hamilton, a rapist. He also appeared on The Partridge Family , playing

132-849: A Mattress (1974), She also appeared at the Welk Dinner Theater in San Diego, California in Same Time, Next Year in 1985, Call Me Madam at the California Music Theatre, Pasadena, California, in 1987, and Nunsense at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, La Mirada, California, in 1991. In 1989, Worley returned to Broadway to appear in Prince of Central Park , but the show

176-486: A contract when he was just 17 and he played two years of Minor League Baseball in 1951–52. He later joined the 1950s vocal band The Cheers , who had a top-10 hit in 1955 with " Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots ". Convy attended UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television , where he received a bachelor's degree. After a two-season stint in the Philadelphia Phillies ' minor league system with

220-615: A musical revue based on Mad Magazine . In 1967, Worley's stint on Griffin's show led to her discovery by George Schlatter , who soon cast her in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In . In 1970, Worley left Laugh-In to pursue other projects and has made guest appearances on several television series, including Love, American Style , The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson , The Andy Williams Show , Adam-12 , Emergency! , Murder, She Wrote , The Middle , and different game shows such as Super Password , Hollywood Squares , and

264-454: A new play, The Flowering Cherry . The production ran for a total of 87 performances. The Off Broadway cast reprised their roles on Broadway. Later cast replacements in the off Broadway production included Jo Anne Worley , Charles Nelson Reilly and Larry Hovis . One of the show's songs, "Too Long At The Fair" was recorded by Barbra Streisand , Sue Raney and Patti Page , among others. Decca Records released an Original Cast Album of

308-678: A rowdy comedienne." In 1964, she was selected to appear as a stand-in on the original Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! One year later, Worley created her own nightclub act in Greenwich Village , where she was discovered by Merv Griffin in 1966. Impressed by Worley's talents, Griffin engaged her to be one of his primary guest stars on his show, where she made approximately 40 appearances on The Merv Griffin Show . In 1966, she appeared Off-Broadway in The Mad Show ,

352-528: A week's worth of pilot episodes for a revival of Match Game that Goodson was attempting to sell to ABC. Convy was supposed to have been the host when the series made it to air in 1990, but had to drop out after being diagnosed with brain cancer. He was replaced by Ross Shafer . Convy turned to acting full-time in 1956 and was in the musical The Billy Barnes Revue in Los Angeles before moving to New York City. He appeared in 10 Broadway shows, including Nowhere to Go but Up , Cabaret (in which he originated

396-479: Is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. Jo Anne Worley Jo Anne Worley (born September 6, 1937) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. Her work covers television , films , theater , game shows , talk shows , commercials , and cartoons . Worley is widely known for her work on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In . Worley

440-526: The Broadway musical , The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre from July through December 2007. She then reprised the role of Mrs. Tottendale at The Cape Playhouse from June to July 2015. From January 8 until August 24, 2008, Worley played the role of Madame Morrible in the Los Angeles production of Wicked . Worley is an animal lover. For more than 40 years she has been involved with

484-1051: The Carnegie Hall Playhouse . Ironically, the promotional appearance on Playboy's Penthouse by the original cast members did not air until Saturday, December 5, one week after the show had closed. On 28 March 1960 the British theatre producer Harold Fielding presented The Billy Barnes Revue at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh , and a week later, on 4 April, it opened at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith , West London. It closed on April 23, after just 23 performances. American cast members Ann Guilbert, Joyce Jameson, Jackie Joseph and Patti Regan were joined by British comedians and actors Ted Rogers , Ronnie Stevens , Terence Cooper and Richard Owens. Several of

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528-577: The Klamath Falls Gems , Miami Eagles , and Salina Blue Jays , Convy began his career in the entertainment business as a featured performer and singer in the Billy Barnes Revues of the 1950s and 1960s. Bert portrayed a CBS usher on Art Linkletter's House Party in 1956. He appeared in the 1961 Warner Bros. drama Susan Slade , playing Troy Donahue ′s rival for the affections of Connie Stevens . Convy went on to become

572-553: The Pasadena Playhouse . She was soon given her first musical role in a production of Wonderful Town . In 1961, Worley received her first major break when she appeared in the musical revue Billy Barnes People in Los Angeles; this production moved to Broadway , where it ran for only six performances. However, the New York Times reviewer wrote: "Jo Anne Worley has an earthy style that suggests she could be

616-692: The horror film Jennifer (1978), Hanging by a Thread (1979), Racquet (1979), The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979), Hero at Large (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), and the television movie Help Wanted: Male (1982). Convy tried his hand at directing with the comedy Weekend Warriors (1986). In 1980, Convy produced and directed the Goodspeed Musicals premiere of Zapata , with music and lyrics by Harry Nilsson and Perry Botkin Jr. and libretto by Allan Katz . Convy

660-526: The 1960s. In 1956, Barnes and sketch writer/director Bob Rodgers opened The Billy Barnes Revue at the "hole-in-the-ground" Cabaret Concert Theatre in Los Angeles . According to Barnes, "It's a nightclub, and people said that’s where we belonged. We were advised not to get ambitious." Producer Paul Gregory planned to bring the production to New York in January 1957 under the title Focus No. 1 , but

704-452: The 1980s. Their first production was a game show titled Win, Lose or Draw , which made its debut in 1987 as part of the NBC daytime lineup and in nightly syndication. Convy hosted the syndicated edition of Win, Lose or Draw for its first two seasons, then left the show to host another of his company's productions, the syndicated 3rd Degree . When 3rd Degree went to pilot, Peter Marshall

748-870: The Beast: Belle's Magical World (1998), and the voice of the Wardrobe in the video game Kingdom Hearts II (2005). She remains involved with Disney, making cameos in several Disney Channel sitcoms such as Kim Possible playing the role of Bonnie Rockwaller's mother, Wizards of Waverly Place , and Jessie . Worley performed in regional theater, such as the Melody Top Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she appeared in Gypsy: A Musical Fable as Rose (1984), Annie Get Your Gun (1982), Hello Dolly! (1980), Anything Goes (1978) and Once Upon

792-624: The Broadway musical Nine when Julia went on vacation. Convy guest-starred in an April 1960 episode of Perry Mason titled "The Case of the Nimble Nephew". In the 1960–1961 season, Convy guest-starred on Pat O'Brien 's short-lived sitcom Harrigan and Son and the series 77 Sunset Strip in the role of David. In 1961, he appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "Museum Piece". He portrayed Roxy in

836-478: The Tuesday, October 27 performance. As a result, the Tuesday night performance was cancelled and $ 800 had to be returned to the ticket holders. Eckstein sent a telegram to the producers stating that the cast had made a "frantically conscientious effort to return to New York by curtain time as numerous impartial witnesses can testify; a dispatching error resulted in misconnections," but rather than simply recognizing

880-619: The actress Binnie Barnes . "It's discouraging to stand in front of the theatre before the show," Barnes told a reporter, "and hear people say, 'I'm looking forward to seeing Binnie Barnes again. I haven't seen her in years.'" To make way for the British revue, At the Drop of a Hat , the show closed on September 26, 1959 at the Golden and transferred on September 28 to the Lyceum Theatre , where it had to close on October 21 to make way for

924-613: The cast, he added "...Too often are the performers superior to the writers and the composers." Overall, however, the reviews were largely positive, and 35 additional investors contributed the extra money needed to move the show from the York Playhouse to Broadway. The Billy Barnes Revue transferred to the John Golden Theatre on August 4, 1959. Barnes was so unknown in New York, that many people confused him with

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968-499: The fourth edition of Password (called Super Password ) (1984–1989) and Tattletales (1974–1978, 1982–1984), for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1977. In 1979, he appeared on Password Plus with fellow celebrity contestants such as Elizabeth Montgomery , Carol Burnett , Phyllis Diller , Judy Norton Taylor , Marcia Wallace , and Elaine Joyce . Convy and Burt Reynolds formed their own production company, Burt and Bert Productions, during

1012-542: The many versions of Pyramid . She continued working in various movies, television series, and theatrical performances (original productions and revivals alike) over the years. Worley also became known for her work as a voice provider for several cartoons, animated movies, and video games. Her voice work includes Nutcracker Fantasy (1979), the Disney movies Beauty and the Beast (1991), A Goofy Movie (1995), Beauty and

1056-476: The music and lyrics. The show opened in the summer of 1952 at the Gallery Stage Theatre in Los Angeles. The run of the show was cut short when Jameson became pregnant. For the next few years, Jameson found work, first by writing television scripts, and then by playing small parts in films and on television shows. She and Barnes were divorced during this period, but continued to work together into

1100-461: The original cast members (Berry, Joseph, Jameson and Regan) returned to Los Angeles and began work on a new revue, The Billy Barnes People . The Billy Barnes People opened on Broadway at the Royale Theatre on June 13, 1961 and closed four days later after only seven performances. Bert Convy Bernard Whalen " Bert " Convy (July 23, 1933 – July 15, 1991)

1144-405: The pilot episode of The New Phil Silvers Show in 1963, although the role went to Pat Renella for the remainder of the series' run. He was also cast on an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Mary's friend Jack Foster, alongside future Alice star Beth Howland . In 1973, Convy was a guest star in two episodes of Hawaii Five-O . In 1974, Convy portrayed Lieutenant Steve Ostrowski,

1188-433: The pilot episode). On The Love Boat , Season 2 Episode 11: "Legal Eagles" (1978), he played Danny Holt, a divorced man who falls for his ex-wife's lawyer. In 1983, Convy was cast as Neil Townsend on the sitcom It's Not Easy , playing opposite Ken Howard . Convy had joined the project when it was recast after its intended premiere in the 1982–83 season was delayed; he earned the role originally given to Larry Breeding, who

1232-676: The police officer nephew of elderly amateur sleuths on the short-lived series The Snoop Sisters . Convy attempted a short-lived variety series called The Late Summer Early Fall Bert Convy Show in 1976. In 1979, he appeared with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in their eponymous television movie. Throughout his career, Convy was a frequent guest star on series such as Bewitched , Hawaii Five-O , The Partridge Family , Mission: Impossible , The Silent Force , The New Phil Silvers Show , Fantasy Island , Charlie's Angels , and Murder, She Wrote (including

1276-420: The producers, Samuel J. Friedman, denied that their decision was a retaliatory action, two weeks later, the entire cast (except Virginia de Luce, who had replaced Jameson) was replaced by Ronnie Cunningham, Arlene Fontana, Jane Johnston, Larry Hovis , James Inman, Charles Nelson Reilly and Tom Williams. The cast change proved to be a major mistake and the show closed on November 28, 1959 after just six weeks at

1320-745: The production in September 1959. Following its three-week run at the Lyceum Theatre , rather than closing down for good, the show moved off-Broadway again to the Carnegie Hall Playhouse on October 20, 1959. Producers George Cayley, George Brandt and Samuel J. Friedman acquired the rights from Eckstein, who remained with the production as stage manager and performed the role vacated by Bert Convy. A controversy erupted when Barnes, Guilbert, Berry, Joseph, Regan, Rodgers, Weinrib and Eckstein flew to Chicago to tape an episode of ABC-TV's Playboy's Penthouse , produced by Hugh Hefner 's Playboy Magazine , and failed to make their flight back to New York in time for

1364-470: The role of Cliff, a fictionalized Christopher Isherwood ), and The Impossible Years . He played reporter Hildy Johnson in a 1969 Broadway revival of The Front Page , which starred Robert Ryan . In the original Broadway cast of Fiddler on the Roof with Zero Mostel , Convy played Perchik the Student and sang "Now I Have Everything". He filled in for Raul Julia in the lead role of Guido Contini in

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1408-457: The role of politician Richard Lawrence in the 1972 episode "A Likely Candidate". In the 1960s and 1970s, Convy was a popular semiregular panelist on several game shows, including What's My Line? , To Tell the Truth , Match Game (he later starred as the host of the pilot for Match Game '90 in 1989), and Password . He soon took the podium himself as host of several game shows, including

1452-470: The run for a total of 48 weeks. The Billy Barnes Revue , with original cast members Joyce Jameson, Bert Convy, Patti Regan, Ken Berry, Ann Guilbert , Jackie Joseph , Len Weinrib and sketch writer/director Bob Rodgers, opened at the York Playhouse in New York City on June 9, 1959. The production was produced by George Eckstein (Ann Guilbert's husband) in association with Bob Reese. Billy Barnes

1496-569: The show to pursue her television career, returned to Los Angeles from New York City (where she had been appearing as the "honey girl" on The Steve Allen Show and as a regular on Spike Jones ' NBC series, Club Oasis ). She rejoined the cast of the show when it opened at the Las Palmas Theater in October 1958. When the original cast took the show to New York City eight months later, a new cast, including Jo Anne Worley , continued

1540-683: The transfer did not happen. At one point, some producers decided to tour the show throughout California with just the music and no sketches, a venture which was quickly dropped. Meanwhile, the original show continued performances at the Cabaret Concert Theatre for nearly two years. It then played briefly at the Mocambo and the Crescendo in Los Angeles and at the hungry i in San Francisco . In 1958, Jameson, who had left

1584-543: The value of the network television publicity, the management filed a complaint with Actors' Equity Association and the American Federation of Musicians (of which Barnes was a member). "There’s no excuse for missing a show," declared the producers' lawyer, Benjamin Schankman. "They shouldn't have gone to Chicago if they could not arrange to get back in time. An agreement is an agreement." Although one of

1628-470: Was an American actor, singer, game-show panelist, and host known for Tattletales , Super Password , and Win, Lose or Draw . Convy was born in St. Louis, Missouri , the son of Bernard Fleming and Monica (née Whalen) Convy. Convy's family moved to Los Angeles when he was 7 years old. He later attended North Hollywood High School , where he was an all-around athlete. The Philadelphia Phillies offered him

1672-529: Was born on September 6, 1937, in Lowell, Indiana , the third child of Rose Irene (née Gardner) and Joseph Lauraine Worley. In 1962, her parents divorced and her father remarried, having four children with his second wife, Nancy. Always known for her loud voice, Worley once said that when she attended church as a little girl, she never sang the hymns but would only lip sync them for fear that she would drown out everyone else. Before graduating from high school, she

1716-428: Was brought in to be the host. When the series was picked up for syndication, however, Convy decided to leave his position as the host of the syndicated edition of Win, Lose or Draw and take Marshall's place on 3rd Degree . Marshall filed a lawsuit against Convy for the action, but later dropped it after Convy's cancer diagnosis was made public. In 1989, Convy was called upon by Mark Goodson Productions again to host

1760-738: Was canceled after four performances. She was cast as the Wicked Witch of the West in a 1999 musical production of The Wizard of Oz , directed and adapted by Robert Johanson, with Mickey Rooney playing the eponymous role. The production had a limited run at the Pantages Theater , Hollywood, California, and at the Theater at the Theater at Madison Square Garden , and she also joined the limited US tour. Worley played Mrs. Tottendale in

1804-415: Was killed in a car accident in September 1982 after the first pilot had been shot. Convy also starred in several movies, perhaps most memorably Semi-Tough (1977), in which he played a caricature of Werner Erhard named Friedrich Bismark. His other film credits included A Bucket of Blood (1959), Susan Slade (1961), Philippe de Broca 's Les Caprices de Marie (1970), SST: Death Flight (1977),

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1848-672: Was married twice. He married Anne Anderson in 1959; together they had three children: Jennifer, Joshua, and Jonah. Convy and Anderson divorced in 1991. Convy married his second wife, Catherine Hills, five months before his death. In April 1990, Convy was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after collapsing while visiting his mother, who had been hospitalized for a stroke. He was diagnosed with glioblastoma , an aggressive and mostly deadly brain cancer, which forced him into retirement. On July 15, 1991, Convy died at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles , eight days before his 58th birthday. He

1892-529: Was named school comedienne. After graduating from high school in 1955, Worley moved to Blauvelt, New York , where she began her professional career as a member of the Pickwick Players. This led to a drama scholarship to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas . After studying at Midwestern for two years, Worley moved to Los Angeles to study at Los Angeles City College and

1936-594: Was the musical director, with Armin Hoffman on the second piano. The New York Times review by Lewis Funke was mixed: "A crisply played and highly polished little entertainment called The Billy Barnes Revue arrived at the York Theatre on First Avenue last night..." but Funke found the material lacking "...the trouble is that they have not given the material the edge, sharpness and point of view that would have made it truly comic". Although Funke had high praise for

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