Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas died on Wednesday, Feb. 5. He was 103.
Douglas known for his film and stage work in such hits as “One Who Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, “Spartacus,” “A Letter to Three Wives,” “Paths of Glory,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” got his start in theater in the borough of Nuangola in Luzerne County.
In the summer of 1941, Douglas appeared in several summer stock productions at the Grove Theatre in Nuangola.
Collection of Grove Theatre advertisements from the Hazleton Standard Sentinel for plays that film legend Kirk Douglas performed in during the summer of 1941. Times-Shamrock Archives
Douglas performed in nine productions at the Grove – “The Male Animal,” “Out of the Frying Pan,” “Broadway,” “Ladies of the Eveing,” “Little Foxes,” “Mr. and Mrs. North,” “My Fair Ladies,” “Shanghai Gestures” and “Victoria Regina.”
Here a few reviews of shows that he was apart of. The reviews all appeared in the Hazleton Standard Sentinel (known today as the Hazleton Standard Speaker) –
“Mr. and Mrs. North”
Hazleton Standard Sentinel – August 29, 1941
“Broadway” – Douglas had the lead role in this 1926 play by George Abbott and Philip Dunning
Hazleton Standard Sentinel – August 21, 1941
“Little Foxes”
Hazleton Standard Sentinel – Sept. 10, 1941
Kirk Douglas played a French commanding officer in Stanley Kubrick’s World War I film “Paths to Glory.” AP
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast