He was studying a sheet of paper. “Your medical report shows that you have a herniated disc.”
“Yes, sir. But they knew that when I had my first examination and they—”
He interrupted me. “They had no business accepting you. If you suffered an attack during a combat engagement, you could endanger not only yourself, but everyone around you. That is not acceptable.”
“Sir—”
“I’m marking you 4F.”
I was speechless.
“I’ll notify your draft board in California. You’re dismissed.”
I sat there for a long moment, stunned, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Then I got up to leave.
As I walked toward the door, he said, “And take off that uniform.”
I was a civilian again.
It was with a feeling of unreality that I went into a clothing store that afternoon and bought two suits, some shorts, shirts, and ties. I was ready to go back to work being a playwright.
On August 4, 1943, The Merry Widow opened at the Majestic Theatre, and it turned out to be one of the most successful revivals ever to play on Broadway. The reviews were raves.
The New York Times: “A worthy revival.”
The Herald Tribune: “Gives the town something to be proud of and happy over.”
The Mirror: “Beautiful, opulent, tasteful and tuneful.”
The Journal-American: “A lovely, relaxing, charming, laughing love story.”
Walter Winchell: “August had a first night boom. The Merry Widow was revived into a sellout.”
Howard Barnes: “The new season has been gladdened by a delicious revival. The Merry Widow has been brought to the Majestic with taste, melodic eloquence and pageantry.”
Frank Sullivan: “I’m happy to report that The Merry Widow book has been dusted off and reupholstered very deftly by the Messrs. Sidney Sheldon and Ben Roberts.”
One down, two to go.
The show ran on Broadway for nearly a year and toured for another two years. On opening night, after the show, the whole company went to Sardi’s to celebrate. Vincent Sardi was standing near the door.
I walked up to him and said, “I can pay you back now, Mr. Sardi.”
He smiled. “You’ve already paid me back. I saw the show tonight.”
CHAPTER 15
Dorothy Kilgallen was a bright, creative woman with a nice sense of humor. She was a joy to collaborate with.
Having first found fame as a crime reporter, Dorothy went on to become a powerful Broadway and Hollywood columnist. She later returned to her top-notch investigative reporting and was crucial in helping to secure a new trial for Dr. Sam Shepard, whose murder case was the basis for the popular TV series The Fugitive.
While Dorothy and Ben worked on Dream with Music, Guy Bolton and I finished the libretto of Jackpot. Vinton Freedley decided to send the show on tour before its Broadway opening, and it turned out to be a long and profitable run. Along with Allan Jones and Nanette Fabray, the show now starred Jerry Lester and Betty Garrett.
On January 13, 1944, at the Alvin Theatre, Jackpot opened on Broadway. Most of the critics loved it.
The Herald Tribune: “Jackpot dances along at a smart pace, an elegant production.”
The Mirror: “Jackpot has pleasing-to-the-ear songs and a bang up cast. Nanette Fabray is a delight. Jerry Lester and Benny Baker are top-flight laugh provokers.”
The New York Post: “Another hit from the Freedley factory.”
Ben and I had another triumph. We went to Sardi’s to celebrate. It was a month before my twenty-seventh birthday.
We all knew that our biggest hit was coming up.
It was obvious to everyone from the beginning that Dream with Music was destined to be a gigantic success. Unlike Vinton Freedley, Richard Kollmar was sparing no expense to create one of the most elaborate productions Broadway would ever see. Stewart Chaney designed the intricate sets, Miles White created the beautiful period costumes. George Balanchine was the choreographer. The production contained a flying carpet on which Ronald Graham, our leading man, would make his entrance. A treadmill circled the entire stage, and the sets included a Baghdad palace, a bazaar, and a colorful game preserve with dancing animals.
Ben and I stayed on the same working schedule. I wrote with Dorothy Kilgallen during the day, in her beautiful penthouse apartment, and Ben and I worked at night in my hotel room, when he could get away from Fort Dix.