The production involved the efforts of several current or future entertainment-world luminaries: music and lyrics were by
Jule Styne and
Sammy Cahn, and it was staged and directed by
Busby Berkeley, with
choreography by
Valerie Bettis, set and light design by
Howard Bay, and costumes by
Travis Banton.
Phil Silvers had been planned for the starring role ("Glad to see you" was Silvers'
catchphrase), of a nightclub entertainer who tours USO clubs in the
Pacific Theater of Operations, but proved unavailable. The role was filled by comedian Eddie Davis, who had written the
book (script) with Fred Thompson.
Jane Withers and
June Knight also starred, and other players included
Sammy White and a young
Gene Barry. The production was not a success. It tried out in
Philadelphia, opening at the
Schubert Theatre (now the Miller) on November 13, 1944, where it was poorly received. Shortly after the opening, Davis was sidelined in a car crash, and lyricist Cahn himself served as a temporary replacement. The production then moved on December 13 to the
Opera House in Boston, where Berkeley left the show to return to Hollywood (being replaced by Charles Conaway) and
Eddie Foy, Jr. was drafted for the starring role. It closed there on January 6, 1945, having never made it to
Broadway. == In popular culture ==