Meet the Navy
Encyclopedia
Meet the Navy was a musical revue produced by the Royal Canadian Navy
during World War II
. Directed by Hollywood producer Louis Silver and Broadway choreographer Larry Ceballos, the production premiered in a private performance for servicemen on 2 September 1943 at Toronto's Victoria Theatre. The first performance open to the public was given on the following 4 September. The production toured Canada in 1943-1944, entertaining approximately a half-million Canadians. It then toured to 11 cities in England
, and to cities in Wales
and Ireland
in 1944-1945; beginning in Glasgow on 23 October 1944 and ending at the Hippodrome, London
on 7 April 1945. The show subsequently toured to the Théâtre Marigny
in Paris, the Vauxhall, Brussels
, and the Carré Theatre in Amsterdam's Carré. The production's final performance was on 12 September 1945 at the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
in Germany. The National Film Board of Canada
produced the movie Meet the Navy
which was filmed in November 1945 in Britain and released in 1946. Although plans for a Broadway run were made, they never materialized.
A recreation of the original production was staged in Nova Scotia during the summers of 1980, 1981 and 1982, produced by Targe Productions and presented by the Province of Nova Scotia through the department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness. It was directed and choreographed by the original production's performers, Alan and Blanche Lund. It also featured another original cast member, John Pratt reprising his song, 'You'll get used to it.' In 1982, the production presented two musical numbers in a 90 minute musical celebration for Canada's new constitution, with Queen Elizabeth II attending. Her Majesty saw the original production when she was 18. The Gala was presented at the National Arts Centre and broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Directed by Hollywood producer Louis Silver and Broadway choreographer Larry Ceballos, the production premiered in a private performance for servicemen on 2 September 1943 at Toronto's Victoria Theatre. The first performance open to the public was given on the following 4 September. The production toured Canada in 1943-1944, entertaining approximately a half-million Canadians. It then toured to 11 cities in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and to cities in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1944-1945; beginning in Glasgow on 23 October 1944 and ending at the Hippodrome, London
Hippodrome, London
The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square in the City of Westminster, London. The name was used for many different theatres and music halls, of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few survivors...
on 7 April 1945. The show subsequently toured to the Théâtre Marigny
Théâtre Marigny
The Théâtre Marigny is a theatre in Paris, situated near the junction of the Champs-Élysées and the Avenue Marigny, in the 8th arrondissement. It was originally built to designs of the architect Charles Garnier for the display of a panorama, which opened in 1883...
in Paris, the Vauxhall, Brussels
Vauxhall, Brussels
The Vauxhall was an entertainment building in Brussels Park in Brussels, Belgium. It is named after the pleasure gardens of Vauxhall in London, which only became known to the inhabitants of Brussels in 1761, when a ballet entitled Le Phaxal was put on at the Théâtre de la Monnaie...
, and the Carré Theatre in Amsterdam's Carré. The production's final performance was on 12 September 1945 at the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater
Oldenburgisches Staatstheater is a German theater in Oldenburg.- Intendant :* Irene de Noiret * Otto Daue * Albert Lippert * Jost Dahmen * Gerd Briese * Fred Schroer...
in Germany. The National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
produced the movie Meet the Navy
Meet the Navy (film)
Meet the Navy is a 1946 British musical comedy film based on the Canadian musical revue Meet the Navy. Filmed in England in November 1945, it was directed by Alfred Travers and produced by British National Films. It starred Lionel Murton, Margaret Hurst and John Pratt...
which was filmed in November 1945 in Britain and released in 1946. Although plans for a Broadway run were made, they never materialized.
A recreation of the original production was staged in Nova Scotia during the summers of 1980, 1981 and 1982, produced by Targe Productions and presented by the Province of Nova Scotia through the department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness. It was directed and choreographed by the original production's performers, Alan and Blanche Lund. It also featured another original cast member, John Pratt reprising his song, 'You'll get used to it.' In 1982, the production presented two musical numbers in a 90 minute musical celebration for Canada's new constitution, with Queen Elizabeth II attending. Her Majesty saw the original production when she was 18. The Gala was presented at the National Arts Centre and broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).