1966 - Li’l Abner

An original musical comedy by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank

Based on characters created by Al Capp

Lyrics and Music by Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul

Synopsis

Daisy Mae is bent on capturing L'il Abner for herself on the next Sadie Hawkins Day when the women make the running. However, things are not quite as simple as that. Daisy Mae has a rival for Abner's affections, Appassionata von Climax. She has engaged a professional aide to help her win the race. It is Evil Eye Fleagle who produces his own distraction for the men, Stupefyin' Jones. But, a cloud hangs over Dogpatch. The US Government want to use the town where they all live as a site for atomic bomb experiments. Dogpatch was chosen as nothing important or historical ever took place there.

The men-folk are taken away from the town for scientific experiments to make them handsome but they become completely uninterested in the opposite sex.

Eventually, the men are restored to their former selves, ugly but potent. Marryin' Sam meanwhile has unearthed some salient facts about the founder of the town, the sensible but cowardly Jubilation T. Cornpone, with a catalogue of his civil war disasters. This historical reference means the town can be saved and even though the Sadie Hawkins Day race doesn't turn out quite as planned (Earthquake McGoon catches Daisy and Appassionata von Climax gets Abner) by the end of the show Abner and Daisy Mae are married to each other, the ceremony being performed, of course, by Marryin' Sam.

Songs

• The Country's In the Very Best Of Hands
  
  
• If I Had My Druthers
  
  
• I'm Past My Prime
  
  
• It's A Typical Day
  
  
• Jubilation T. Cornpone
  
  
• Love In A Home
  
  
• Namely You
  
  
• Oh Happy Day
  
  
• Progress Is the Root Of All Evil
  
  
• Put 'Em Back
  
  
• Rag Offen the Bush
  
  
• There's Room Enough For Us
  
  
• Unnecessary Town
  
  
• The Way To A Man's Heart
  
  
• What's Good For General Bullmoose (Is Good Enough For the USA)

Cast

Photos

Description	Photo	Contributed By
A typical rehearsal in Dogpatch...er, Boy Scout Hall		Gloria Kirwan Gick
(l to r) Music Director Bobbi Hendsey, Youth Secretary Sharon Prince, Assistant Production Manager Dorothy Hurley and Production Manager Betty Emery discuss the show during a rehearsal at the Boy Scout Hall.		Gloria Kirwan Gick
If Jeff Schlichter had his druthers...		Gloria Kirwan Gick
Mammy Yokum (Sue Burke) confronts Earthquake McGoon (Bob Francis)		Gloria Kirwan Gick
(l to r) Nancy Burke, Joe Quinn and Nancy Crocket		Gloria Kirwan Gick
Kathy Coffey (left) chats with Gloria Kirwan during a break from rehearsal.		Gloria Kirwan Gick
Adult advisors Frank Coffey & Marj McDermott look over membership list with Youth President Ron Ingram and Director Mike Hurley.		Gloria Kirwan Gick

Memories