Eve Arden (April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990) When Carol Channing left the first National tour of Hello, Dolly! to film Thoroughly Modern Millie in 1966, Eve Arden stepped into the shoes of Dolly Levi opposite Milo Boulton as Horace. Interestingly enough, Carol was Eve Arden's understudy in Let's Face It in 1941!
Arden did okay in Chicago for 17 weeks in the summer and fall of 1966 as Miss Channing’s replacement.
Ms. Arden said the reason Mr. Merrick wanted her for this job was that she fit into Carol’s costumes!
The cast embraced her immediately. While playing Dolly in Chicago, Miss Arden one evening experienced what is now called a “wardrobe malfunction” just as she started down the Harmonia Gardens stairway.
With perfect aplomb and the dry delivery for which she was noted, Arden stopped, said “Waiter, bring me some pins,” and after putting her dress back in order, continued her song.
Also in Eve Arden’s Dolly company was Danny Lockin (as Barnaby Tucker) who did 6 traveling tours of Dolly (as well as the film). Danny did it on Broadway with Phyllis Diller and Ethel Merman. In addition to touring with Eve Arden, he toured in productions led by Betty Grable, Ginger Rogers, Dorothy Lamour, and Anne Russell.
Audiences loved Eve and she received a Sarah Siddons Award in Chicago for Dolly.
