Research Catalog

Interview with Mary Mon Toy

Title
  1. Interview with Mary Mon Toy [sound recording].
Published by
  1. 2001.
Author
  1. Mon Toy, Mary, 1916-2009.

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Available by appointment at Performing Arts Research Collections - Dance

FormatAudioAccessUse in libraryCall number*MGZTL 4-2721Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Dance

Details

Additional authors
  1. DeFrantz, Thomas.
  2. Oral history archive.
Found in
  1. Popular Balanchine collection.
Description
  1. 1 sound disc (ca. 64 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.
Summary
  1. [Begins abruptly.] Mary Mon Toy speaks with Tommy [Thomas] DeFrantz briefly about not being a trained dancer as well as being the only non-African American in the cast of the musical comedy House of flowers; DeFrantz identifies himself, Mon Toy, and the purpose, date, and location of the interview; [Mon Toy locates her scrapbooks]; Mon Toy identifies some of the people and items in her albums; speaks about her Japanese and Chinese Hawaiian heritage; being interned in a camp first in Washington and then in Idaho during World War II; her scholarship to the Juilliard School and her life as a student; working at the nightclub China Doll; working in a nightclub in Paris and then in the Latin Quarter in New York City; helping Diahann Caroll prepare for her first performance at Latin Quarter; how she and Caroll were recruited for House of flowers; performing in the show World of Suzie Wong on tour; an anecdote about David Merrick; meeting George Balanchine at the first reading rehearsal; anecdotes about her relationship with Pearl Bailey; Balanchine's not requiring her to be in the dance set to the Turtle song; her friendships with cast members Juanita Hall and Glory Van Scott; identifies people from photographs of the show; very briefly, speaks about working with Balanchine; reminisces about Marlene Dietrich, who was frequently backstage; the dance set to the song Madame Tango's tango; a costume she wore that was deemed shocking at the time; more about Pearl Bailey; reminisces about various people in the production including Herbert Ross, Oliver Messels, and Truman Capote; very briefly, Arthur [Mitchell] and Walter [Nicks]; more on Pearl Bailey including her role in Balanchine's being asked to restage numerous scenes [short gap]; more on Balanchine; closing night [last ca. 13 min. of the recording consists mainly of Mon Toy and DeFrantz discussing briefly various people who had been involved with the show and looking at photographs from Mon Toy's scrapbook while commenting on them].
Donor/Sponsor
  1. Marianna L. Collins, 2010-2011.
Alternative title
  1. Popular Balanchine collection Audio materials.
Subject
  1. Musicals > House of flowers
  2. Bailey, Pearl
  3. Audiotapes > Mon Toy, M
  4. Mon Toy, Mary, 1916-2009
  5. Arlen, Harold, 1905-1986 > House of flowers
Call number
  1. *MGZTL 4-2721
Note
  1. Interview with Mary Mon Toy conducted by Thomas DeFrantz on Sept. 7, 2001, in New York City. The interview was conducted as part of DeFrantz's research of the musical comedy House of flowers in connection with the Popular Balanchine project.
  2. Sound quality is good overall. There are occasional short interruptions as well as extraneous noise.
Funding (note)
  1. Preservation was funded by Marianna L. Collins, 2010-2011.
Source (note)
  1. George Balanchine Foundation.
Linking entry (note)
  1. Forms part of: Popular Balanchine collection. Audio materials.
Author
  1. Mon Toy, Mary, 1916-2009. Interviewee
Title
  1. Interview with Mary Mon Toy [sound recording].
Imprint
  1. 2001.
Original version
  1. Original format : 1 sound cassette (ca. 64 min.); 2 channels; 1 7/8 ips. Originally recorded in 2001.
Funding
  1. Preservation was funded by Marianna L. Collins, 2010-2011.
Linking entry
  1. Forms part of: Popular Balanchine collection. Audio materials.
Local note
  1. Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-2721
  2. Related materials including a transcript of all or part of this interview may be found in the Library's archival collections cataloged under the subheading House of flowers, in Popular Balanchine dossiers, 1927-2004; call number: *MGZMD 146. The transcript was prepared by the George Balanchine Foundation and may have been edited.
Source
  1. Gift. George Balanchine Foundation.
Added author
  1. DeFrantz, Thomas. Interviewer
  2. George Balanchine Foundation. Donor
  3. Oral history archive.
Added title
  1. Popular Balanchine collection Audio materials.
Found in:
  1. Popular Balanchine collection.
Research call number
  1. *MGZTL 4-2721
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