Once Upon a Mattress 60 years old

The Broadway hit comes to the small screen with its original star!

Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. The musical story of THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, this television adaption of the 1959 Broadway hit was videotaped in black and white in front of a live audience and featured Burnett, Bova, Gilford, and White from the original Broadway cast, as well as new principals Bill Hayes as the Minstrel, Shani Wallis as Lady Larken and Elliott Gould (in his first appearance on any screen) as the Jester. Due to the reduced running time of 90 minutes, several songs and scenes were either cut or shortened. The conflict concerning Sir Harry and Lady Larkin was downplayed so that they were married in secret.

Credits

Once Upon a Mattress Cast

Name Character
Elliott Gould He was 25, now 86 years old as Jester
Jack Gilford He was 56, 82 years old when he died as King Sextimus
Shani Wallis She was 31, now 91 years old as Lady Larken
Carol Burnett She was 31, now 91 years old as Princess Winnifred
Bill Hayes He was 38, now 99 years old as Minstrel
Michael Bennett He was 21, 44 years old when he died as Ensemble
Joseph Bova He was 40, 81 years old when he died as Prince Dauntless

Once Upon a Mattress Crew

Name Department
Joe Layton as Director. He was 33 (63) years old when He died Directing
Once Upon a Mattress (60 years)

The Broadway hit comes to the small screen with its original star!

  • Release day: Wednesday, June 03, 1964
  • Runtime: 90 minutes