The Q — Charles Coburn
This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about history of The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls.
Glens Falls Mayor Milton O. Tibbitts on July 21, 1955 presented actor Charles Coburn with a Key to the City at a luncheon at The Queensbury Hotel.
“Mr. Coburn delighted the fortunate guests at the affair with his keen sense of humor, his ready wit and his Ingratiating personality,” reported Marilyn Nason of The Post-Star.
Master of Ceremonies Arthur P. Irving, publisher of The Post-Star and Glens Falls Times, called Coburn “one of the nice people of the theatre.”
The 78-year-old Coburn, known as a southern gentleman, was in Glens Falls to promote the comedy movie “How to be Very, Very Popular,” which was showing at The Rialto Theatre.
Coburn starred with Betty Grable and Sheree North in the movie about two California show girls who run away after witnessing a murder and hide out with a fraternity.
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Later that afternoon Coburn held a meet-and-greet at The Rialto.
At 7:15 p.m. he was interviewed for 15 minutes on WWSC radio.
Coburn also was performing that week in the play “You Can’t Take It With You” at the Spa Summer Theatre at Saratoga Springs.
Coburn, born in Savannah, Georgia, began acting at age 13 and made his Broadway debut in 1901.
He switched from stage to film, and later television, in 1937 at age 60, after the death of his first wife and acting partner.
Sources: The Post-Star July 22, 1955; IMDb
Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.
