Did Poppy Go To The Theatre?

1958 behind the house on Theodore.  L > R Sister Pearl, Kristin (me), Mershell “Poppy”, Aunt Mary V. Cousin Marilyn in the front and Cousin Barbara in the back

While looking for news stories about my ancestors, I came across this little item at newspapers.com. Mershell C. Graham was my maternal grandfather. I do not imagine that he went to the play.  I wonder if he even saw this announcement and how they came to pick him.

Mershell C. Graham
6638 Theodore, Detroit

You have won two free tickets to “Once Upon A Mattress” at the Shubert Theatre. Call Miss Lee at Classified Advertising, The Free {ress, WO 2-9400, extension 13, between 8:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Monday.
The Detroit Free Press, 1960

The play was an adult version based on the fairy tale, The Princess and The Pea For an over view of the musical, click ->  Once Upon A Mattress.

The Shubert in 1963 – a year before it was demolished.  Photo from the Burton Historical Collection.
The Shubert was demolished in 1964. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library
Click to see more Sepia Saturday offerings

Other posts about Mershell C. Graham

Poppy Could Fix Anything
Mershell’s Notebook
Graham Turner Wedding 1919 Montgomery
From Montgomery To Detroit – Founding a New Congregational Church
Poppy The Worker
Poem for Poppy

12 thoughts on “Did Poppy Go To The Theatre?

  1. It’s a funny musical with lots of good songs. Do you think he’d have enjoyed it? I think newspapers’ classified advertising departments used to choose winners for such contests from the paper’s subscribers. A test to get people to read the fine print.

    1. I don’t think so. I don’t remember him going to a movie or the theatre. Any place but church and church activities. Wish someone was around that I could ask.

  2. A shame if he didn’t see the play. I saw it a few years ago performed by one of our local theatre groups. It was hilarious fun and well done.

    1. I don’t remember him ever finding anything laugh loud and hilarious funny. He smiled and was pleasant but hilarious? I don’t remember that.

  3. I thought you were going to tell us that Mershell died before he could use his free tickets! If he’d seen the notice perhaps he would have gone, just to experience something new, and he must have entered the competition or draw somehow, unless a relative such as a granddaughter put his name in for it.

    1. Interesting to find that Promo coupon now…and not have any way to chase down the cause/reaction. I believe you knew him well enough to guess pretty accurately the outcome. The theatre didn’t put it’s efforts into decoration on the outside, but it had some ornate details inside. There are so few of those old theaters kept up and used these days. A loss of beautiful architecture.

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