Really Big Shoe

KOCE, which is the secondary PBS outlet serving Southern California, has been running the Ed Sullivan compilations that were assembled a few years ago by Andrew Solt.  On them, one sees great acts with the occasional long-forgotten performer.  (Whatever happened to comedian Irwin C. Watson?)  The most interesting moments are often not the acts but Mr. Sullivan's brief references to what was then going on in show business, as well as his introduction of celebrities planted in the studio audience.  On the one that aired last night, he asked Dean Jones — "the star of the Broadway play, Company" — to take a bow.  And Dean Jones, who just happened to be in an aisle seat down front, did.

Jones was not the star of that historic musical for long.  He reportedly did not like the show or his role in it and was only able to get himself through opening night because he had the producers' assurance that they'd replace him at the earliest opportunity.  They did.  The show opened on Sunday, April 26, 1970 and on May 29, Larry Kert assumed the pivotal role of Bobby.  On last night's Sullivan retrospect, Ed referred to Company as having just won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.  Those awards are usually announced the first week of May…so this clip was probably from the Sullivan show of 5/10/70, by which point Larry Kert was either in rehearsal or just starting.  Dean Jones was there doing publicity for Company, knowing full well his departure was about to be announced.

Odd thing about that cast replacement: Jones recorded the album shortly after the show opened.  The CD currently available is from that version.  When Company opened in England some time later, they issued a "London cast" which was the same recording but with Kert replacing Jones's vocals…though not completely.  Dean can still be heard in some of the group numbers.  This version is said to be coming out shortly on CD, which will perhaps baffle those who purchase both.