How can I get a picture of Wynn Murray?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Mar 2006 05:07 PST

There is a fair amount of newspaper coverage about Wynn Murray,
particularly her Broadway career (Babes in Arms was her first) and her
courageous USO appearances during WWII.

Ann Landers devotes an entire column to her memory.

However, I only came across a single picture, and a pretty grainy one
at that.  Let me know if this suits your purpose:


http://esnips.com/web/GoogleAnswers 


Just click on the file labelled Wynn Murray, and let me know what you think.

pafalafa-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Mar 2006 05:59 PST

At the same link, I've added a second photo of Wynn Murray as
well...again, let me know what you think.

paf

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Clarification of Question by andy4-ga on 19 Mar 2006 15:56 PST

for: pafalafa-ga you are the best yet, first pictue could be the
answer, but I did't see a second one?  What do I do next?

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Clarification of Question by andy4-ga on 19 Mar 2006 16:36 PST

for: pafalafa-ga  This clarification #2, Please confirm that the
second picture was a group shot from Babes in Arms? This a NO. So
we're left with the oval
face shot. Let's aee if anything better ahows up. I prefer a full length shot.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Mar 2006 16:48 PST

Andy,

Yes, it's the group shot all right.  

When you say it's a 'NO', can you let me know a bit more just what you
mean.  If there are particular types of photos that are or are not
acceptable, then the task at hand becomes a lot more challenging.

If that's the case, though, please let us know as clearly as possible
what is/isn't acceptable to you.

Meanwhile, the search goes on....!


paf

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Mar 2006 19:04 PST

I did manage to find another, still grainy, but a full-length photo of
Ms. Murray just the same.

At the esnips link, the file is:


wynn murray full length.htm 


Let me know your thoughts at this point.


paf

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Clarification of Question by andy4-ga on 19 Mar 2006 21:46 PST

for pafalafa-ga: To clarify my question; I personally met Wynn Murray
in Dec. 1942 on the NYC/Staten Island Ferry when she jumped out of a
Limo, curious about
the open-stake truck of US Navy sailors in fron of the Limo. She came
right up to the side of the truck and asked if anybody waa from
Scranton. Then she asked
for a cigarette and I was the first to get out my pack of Lucky Strike fror her.
She said she was in a Broadway show and wanted to give us a song.
Suddenly she whipped off her full lenghth mink and belted out a song
in a strapless evening
gown, and the freezing cold night of NY Harbor. I was 17, now 81 and I'll never
forget. I just recently learned who she was. So, I want a full length picture in
an evening gowna, hopefully at her age 20 in 1942, as she was that night.

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Clarification of Question by andy4-ga on 20 Mar 2006 09:15 PST

for pafalafa=ga  I'd want to see full-length photo of Wynn Murray that
you mentioned. You said: "At the esnips link, the file is:"  But there
was no file name.  Pls advise.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 20 Mar 2006 09:39 PST

Andy,

What a wonderful tale.  I'm a Brooklyn boy myself, and have ridden the
ferry more times than I can count, but don't have any stories that can
quite match that one.

I wish I could find exactly the sort of picture you're seeking, but
I'm afraid there's a limit to what's out there.

I put three photos of Wynn Murray together at a single link:


http://h1.ripway.com/dsarokin/wynn-murray.JPG


Click on this, and you should go right to all three pictures.  

If the pictures appear smallish, move your cursor around on the page
until a funny-looking arrow pops up towards the bottom right
corner....click on this arrow to enlarge the pictures.


Let me know what you think.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by andy4-ga on 21 Mar 2006 11:32 PST

For pafalafa-ga: I like the Waist-up picture, but it's too dark. For my info,
how is this proceduure finalized, i.e. do I simply declare that a download
picture is and O.K.and approve payment or het a snail mail photo-what is the
procedure?

Fpr probonopublico-ga: I went to your "theatermania" site and saw no picture??
Pls clarify.

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Clarification of Question by andy4-ga on 22 Mar 2006 21:56 PST

for pafalafa: Please post your comments as an ANSWER as soggeted by Bryan.
I want you to be paid the $100.00. Does this do it?

Andy,

Yes...this does it.  And thanks so much for allowing me to post my
information as an answer.

I found one more shot of Wynn Murray.  Once again, it's grainy beyond
belief (a real problem with archived newspaper photos), but you may
enjoy it just the same, particularly as it's from her Sons O' Fun
days:


http://h1.ripway.com/dsarokin/wynnmurrayheadshot.jpg 


All the best, and thanks again for sharing your wonderful story with us.


paf


search strategy -- searched numerous newspaper and magazine archives
for [ wynn murray ]

Search for "Wynn Murray" on Google Images.

There's a guy sitting there of that name.

Whether it's the right guy or not I wouldn't know.

Well, maybe not!

It seems that the image appeared because GI picked up on a Twilight
Zone episode that starred Ed Wynn and Murray Hamilton.

Actually the 1941-43 Broadway Musical was called 'Sons o' Fun' and I
now suspect that Wynn was a lady!

http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=1142

Wynn was a lady!

She died in 1957 from a heart attack. She was only 35.

She is remembered here:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wmrau.htm

I am sure that her family has pictures. However, it is possible that
many public pictures of her are gone:
A Bit of Broadway Is Lost Amid the Ruins 
<http://www.broadwayarchive.com/news_dailynews_sep01.asp> 

Now I am really mad at AlQaeda...

Wynn Murray was indeed a young lady, 16 or 17 when she was spotted for Broadway.

Here is all I found, but I am pretty sure the photo is of Mitzi Green,
the female lead.
http://www.nwamorningnews.com/pdfarchive/2000/August/07/8-7-00%20D5.pdf

http://www.prigsbee.com/Musicals/shows/babes.htm

Question 151780, here, also asks about Wynn, but also no photo.

Hey ... Look at this!

QUOTE:

Now for the pictures, most of which I've never seen. God bless the
collaborators for spending eye-blinding hours searching through shots
at PhotoFest, the Billy Rose Theatre Collection of the New York Public
Library at Lincoln Center, and the Goodspeed Opera House Library --
and for coming up with alternate shots from the ones we all know. Wait
till you see the expression of disgust on Streisand's face when she
looks in the mirror during "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" and the
ain't-I-hot-stuff look that Wynn Murray gives in "Sing for Your
Supper."

UNQUOTE

See:

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/5322

I've just ordered the book in question:

Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik's 'Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest
Shows of All Time'

Because I like the sound of it anyway.

When it comes, I will report back.

All the Best

Bryan

Wow, Andy, What a memory!

Wynn must have been truly amazing.

I'd never heard of her before you posed your question but I recall
having seen a tribute to Rodgers & Hart that appeared on tv a few
years ago entitled 'The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty'
(1999).

In this tribute, the songs were performed by today's top artists but
presented with the original arrangements.

The showstopper from 'The Boys From Syracuse' (1938-1939) was 'Sing
For Your Supper' in a 'jazz' version arranged by Hugh Martin. It had
two encores.

In the Broadway show, Wynn played the part of Luce, one of the three
singers who performed 'Sing For Your Supper'.

The 1999 version was great, so the original was probably just as good
or maybe even better.

Sadly, when Hollywood made the very disappointing movie version (1940)
with Martha Raye playing Luce, Hugh Martin's fabulous arrangement was
ditched.

Hugh Martin who has turned 90 is still around. 

Good luck with your quest!

I am so pleased that Paf is doing a tuly wonderful job for you.

All the Best

Bryan

Hi, Again, Andy

Unbelievably, the book that I ordered Mar 19 has just arrived by courier!

It's HUGE and it's GREAT!

And, as expected, there's a piccy of Wynn singing 'Sing for Your
Supper' but, unfortunately, her mouth is contorted as she gives voice.
Fortunately, the piccy's not at all grainy.

I searched through the Photo Credits without finding the source.

If you are interested, I recommend your getting the book.

Thanks for bringing Wynn to my notice which has led to my finding the book.

All the Best

Bryan

pbp-ga,

Is this the photo you're referring to?


http://h1.ripway.com/dsarokin/wynnmurray.bmp 


I didn't see mention of Wynn Murray's name, but it certainly looks
like it could be her (in a somewhat unflattering shot, I fear).

paf

Hi, Paf

Yes that's her!

Well done.

Bryan

Hi Andy

No ... there was no picture on the 'theatermania' site but it did
point me to the book that I have since acquired and that does have a
picture, albeit not a very flattering one, as you can see from
pafalafa's link to:

http://h1.ripway.com/dsarokin/wynnmurray.bmp

I am pleased that you liked the 'waist-up' picture and I agree that
it's too dark but I doubt if you will be able to get hold of anything
better unless, as cynthia suggested, you contact Wynn's family.

What I suggest is that you should:

1: Close this question, allowing pafalafa to collect his well deserved reward.

2: Post a further question directed at pinkfreud-ga, as follows:

Subject: For the attention of Pinkfreud

Hello Pink

Please take a look at Question 708917 and advise me if you can work
some Photoshop magic on the picture of Wynn Murray 'from the
waist-up'.

I would price this @ $2 and, if Pink can work some magic, reward her
with a juicy tip.

On the other hand, Pink is very telepathic and I would not be
surprised if she jumped in on this question even before I've finished
typing.

All the Best

Bryan

CORRECTION!

Sorry, Andy, I should not have said 'Close this Question'!

What I should have said is 'Ask pafalafa to post his Comments as an Answer'.

Oops!