Joe Callaway

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Portrait by Paul Hesse


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actor
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critic
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director
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lecturer


Joe callaway

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Robert Taylor and Callaway in Honolulu where Callaway lectured at the Academy of Arts and the Covernor's Mansion

joe a. callaway

THE BEST YOUNG LECTURER ON THE THEATRE TODAY
With a background of over 6,000 stage performances, the direction of numerous theatrical productions, and hundreds of appearances before the microphone, Joe Callaway is not only one of the most experienced young actors, directors and lecturers today, he is also one of America's leading radio educators.  But in spite of impressive training and academic position, he thinks of himself primarily as an entertainer.

Few young men can remember entertaining so often, so well, in so many roles and in so many activities.  A recent supplement of Who's Who in America reveals that Callaway directed a professional stock company at Miami Beach, founded the Marquette (Mich.) summer theatre and directed it for four successful seasons, has directed more than 150 radio plays and acted in many NBC and CBS productions, and was featured in sixteen plays of Shakespeare with the famous Globe Theatre company.  In this company, which played to over two million people and provided the springboard to stardom for David Wayne and Sam Wanamaker, Callaway shared the spotlight with Carl Benton Reid, Arthur Kennedy, Peter Cookson, and Rhys Williams.  Martha Scott, with whom Callaway has appeared in a dozen plays, says Joe Callaway brings to the lecture platform the wit of a comedian, the knowledge of a director and the perception of a critic; for he has been superb as all three.  Add to this record that Callaway is now an associate professor at Michigan State College, where his duties allow him to continue his professional activities as lecturer, actor and director.

Callaway's career combines two widely separated fields, the academic and professional.  Most actors have not been educated at such leading institutions as the University of Oklahoma, the Goodman Theatre, Northwestern University and the University of Southern California.  Most teachers have not appeared in New York plays directed by Margaret Webster, who says of Callaway, He is an actor of exceptional talent and varied experience.  Most professors have been unable to be guest directors with the ABC network.  Most radio directors do not find themselves presiding in crowded classrooms.  The combination is rewarding to Callaway's audiences and his students.

But Callaway knows what role to play in which costume.  The clown frolics in Shakespeare and in tights; the teacher instructs in the classroom and the doublebreasted suit; the lecturer combines a little of both, and adds a lot more.  As a teacher Callaway salts his instruction with entertainment; as a lecturer he peppers his entertainment with instruction.





presenting callaway in
BROADWAY PLAY BY PLAY is as vigorously entertaining as the theatre itself.  Indeed, it is theatre, critically interpreted and brilliantly acted.  Mr. Callaway sees all of the Broadway shows and his recreation of scenes from the current favorites and classical revivals have delighted and amused audiences on every occasion.  No other lecturer on the platform today is able to combine acting with criticism with such effectiveness.  Since this is a new lecture from season to season, many groups have asked for repeat performances again and again.  Everyone can read reviews but few people can attend the theatre.  It hardly seems necessary to do either after such an entertaining recreation of the Broadway scene.  Broadway Play by Play brings Broadway to you.

SHAKESPEARE A LA MODE.  Snatching Shakespeare from the pedants, Callaway develops the conception of the playwright as our contemporary, by showing how many of the lines are as fresh as today's news, how much of the language is our own speech, how most of the characters are our own neighbors, and by enacting in costume scenes that are at once great and human.  It has been estimated that Callaway has acted in more Shakespearean performances for his age than any other actor who has ever lived.  Such experience with classics as living theatre, not classroom labor, qualifies Callaway to present Shakespeare as the magnificent human entertainer he truly was.  With splendid acting and illuminating comments, Callaway in this lecture recital has proved most entertaining for all kinds of groups on all occasions.  Famous schoolroom lines become vivid, refreshing and delightful when he enacts scenes from such plays as Julius Caesar, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, and Macbeth, as well as the great final scene from Dr. Faustus, by Shakespeare's contemporary, Christopher Marlowe.  This program is at its effective best when presented on an adequately equipped stage.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIKE Radio with all its greatness remains the problem child of the arts.  Callaway knows its good days, and its bad, when it is good and when it is awful.  Norman Corwin, radio's foremost writer and director, says Joe Callaway, colleague past, present and future …
 I have great respect for his contributions to this needy medium.  A receiver of the award from the University of Oklahoma as its outstanding alumnus in the field of radio education, and director of radio education at one of America's finest colleges, Callaway has spent much time as well behind the professional microphone acting with stars of the networks, announcing and directing.  In this amusing and forthright lecture, he takes us behind the scenes of broadcasting to show us the great diversity of talent a good radio show requires, discusses the horizons offered by FM and television and examines honestly the role of the public in making radio what it is, a challenging medium of entertainment and education.


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Joe callaway AS JULIUS CAESAR




from the press

PAY SUITABLE ATTENTION TO JOE CALLAWAY.
Brooks Atkinson, New York Times


OUTSTANDING!
Robert Coleman, New York Daily Mirror


Callaway left the campus in an hilarious uproar over his devastatingly amusing presentations from the Broadway stage.
Evergreen, Washington State College


Twentieth Century Club members were polled and Callaway was the entertainer members most wanted for a return engagement.  He lives up to his reputation as the best lecturer on the theatre today.
Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada

Callaway has been a favorite at our annual ladies nights for Jaycees throughout the country, and there couldn't have been a better choice.  He is a knockout!

Paul Bagwell, National Vice-President U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce

Joe Callaway has consistently proved that he is not only sensitive to Shakespeare the poet, but is exceedingly well qualified to evoke Shakespeare the man of the theatre.

John William Rogers, Book Editor, Chicago Sun


Callaway is the first artist ever requested by the Criterion Club to give a repeat performance.  Those who heard him before renewed their praise and those hearing him for the first time echoed new praises.
Wichita Daily Times, Wichita Falls, Texas


Windsor's playgoers gave an ovation to tall, handsome Joe Callaway, whose portrayal of choice roles currently attracting Broadway audiences sparkled his informal lecture.
The Daily Star, Windsor, Ontario


Callaway's talent for characterization shook the audience with laughter.  For more than an hour he held his audience spellbound with his witty observations.
Daily Barometer, Oregon State College

Mr. Callaway's brilliant acting of scenes from current Broadway shows proved to be the best entertainment we have had in the long history of our club.

Mrs. F. H. Swaffin, pres., Ginter Park Woman's Club, Richmond, Virginia

Professor Callaway is a delightful entertainer.  We enjoyed him so much that a repeat engagement is a must!

Herald R. Clark, Dean Brigham Young University

Mr. Callaway entertained at three Christmas Parties given for our personnel and all agreed that his was the most outstanding program that we have ever booked in this area for any occasion.

E. R. Lehman V. Pres., West Point Mfg. Co., West Point, Ga.

Management:
THE REDPATH BUREAU
Kimball Building
Chicago 4, Illinois
Phone Harrison 8723


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