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Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History: August 26
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Lightnin'
Broadway
Original
Lightnin'
Broadway
Original
Gaiety Theatre
1547 Broadway at W. 46th St., New York, NY, New York, NY
SYNOPSIS:
playwright:
Winchell Smith
,
Frank Bacon
People (40)
Bessie Bacon
Mrs. Harper
(Original)
Frank Bacon
Lightnin' Bill Jones
(Original)
E. J. Blunkall
Everett Hammond
(Original)
Sidney Coburn
Teddy Peters
(Original)
Samuel Coit
Nevin Blodgett
(Original)
Fred Conklin
Liveryman
(Original)
Harry Davenport
Rodney Harper
(Original)
Mary Duryea
Mrs. Brainerd
(Original)
William F. Granger
Walter Lennon
(Original)
Frances Kennan
Mrs. Starr
(Original)
James C. Lane
Hotel Clerk
(Original)
Thomas MacLarnie
Lemuel Townsend
(Original)
Beth Martin
Freda
(Original)
Ralph Morgan
John Marvin
(Original)
Beatrice Nichols
Mildred Buckley
(Original)
Jane Oaker
Margaret Davis
(Original)
Minnie Palmer
Mrs. Jordan
(Original)
Jessie E. Pringle
Mrs. Jones
(Original)
Phyllis Rankin
Mrs. Moore
(Original)
George Spelvin
Zeb Crothers
(Original)
Oscar Nelson
(Replacement)
Paul Stanton
Raymond Thomas
(Original)
Helen Story
Mrs. Brewer
(Original)
George Thompson
Oscar Nelson
(Original)
Zeb Crothers
(Replacement)
Ruth Towle
Mrs. Corshall
(Original)
Sue Wilson
Emily Jarvis
(Original)
Julio Brown
Mrs. Corshall
(Replacement)
Margaret Campbell
Mrs. Brewer
(Replacement)
Walter Ducart
Liveryman
(Replacement)
John Hamilton
Rodney Harper
(Replacement)
Helen Hutchens
Mrs. Starr
(Replacement)
William Lamb
Teddy Peters
(Replacement)
Georgie Drew Mendum
Mrs. Moore
(Replacement)
Alice Quigley
Emily Jarvis
(Replacement)
Jason Robards, Sr.
John Marvin
(Replacement)
Beth Varden
Freda
(Replacement)
View All Current Cast
Bessie Bacon
Mrs. Harper
(Original)
Frank Bacon
Lightnin' Bill Jones
(Original)
E. J. Blunkall
Everett Hammond
(Original)
Sidney Coburn
Teddy Peters
(Original)
Samuel Coit
Nevin Blodgett
(Original)
Fred Conklin
Liveryman
(Original)
Harry Davenport
Rodney Harper
(Original)
Mary Duryea
Mrs. Brainerd
(Original)
William F. Granger
Walter Lennon
(Original)
Frances Kennan
Mrs. Starr
(Original)
James C. Lane
Hotel Clerk
(Original)
Thomas MacLarnie
Lemuel Townsend
(Original)
Beth Martin
Freda
(Original)
Ralph Morgan
John Marvin
(Original)
Beatrice Nichols
Mildred Buckley
(Original)
Jane Oaker
Margaret Davis
(Original)
Minnie Palmer
Mrs. Jordan
(Original)
Jessie E. Pringle
Mrs. Jones
(Original)
Phyllis Rankin
Mrs. Moore
(Original)
George Spelvin
Zeb Crothers
(Original)
Paul Stanton
Raymond Thomas
(Original)
Helen Story
Mrs. Brewer
(Original)
George Thompson
Oscar Nelson
(Original)
Ruth Towle
Mrs. Corshall
(Original)
Sue Wilson
Emily Jarvis
(Original)
View All Cast
Frank Bacon
Writer
Winchell Smith
Writer
Henri Bendel, Inc.
Miss Oaker's Costumes
P.E. McCoy
Stage Manager
Edward G. Cooke
General Manager
John Golden
Producer
View All Production Team
Pro Info
Opening Date
Aug
26
1918
Closing Date
Aug
27
1921
Performances
1,291
as of Nov 29, 2025
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Other Broadway Productions
Lightnin'
- Sep 15, 1938
John Golden Theatre (Revival)