Memories of Melody Top: Remembering Milwaukee’s Summer Stock Theatre

The following links will take you to Google's free online archive of articles from The Milwaukee Sentinel and/or Journal. The articles below are arranged by publication date, from earliest to most recent. There are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of interesting pieces in the archive, including complete reviews for many productions. Melody Top and its performers were often mentioned in the popular columns of Buck Herzog and Alex Thien. Please remember the archive is not complete, and some issues of the newspapers may not be available. Begin your search here: news.google.com.

Equity Performers Vote End to Melody Circus — August 21, 1956

Canvas Raised at Melody Top — June 8, 1963

Purchase of Swan Theater Called Off — October 16, 1964

Melody Top Landlord Bids in Equipment — April 2, 1966

Melody Top's His Favorite 'Tune' — October 19, 1966

Talent Abounds in Chorus at Melody Top — September 6, 1967

Melody Top Survives Them All — May 31, 1968

Too Many Cooks? Not for Regner — November 20, 1968

Lured Here by 'Mom's Cooking' — Melody Top Gets Manager — March 28, 1969

Musical Job a Baton Plus — July 25, 1969

Gigi at Melody Top

A color image from GIGI (1974). Courtesy of Jo Jean Retrum.


Melody Top Boss Quitting – for Sure — June 20, 1970

Wiviott Will Run Theater Elmer's Way — August 18, 1970

Melody Top's 'Fiddler:' No, Possibly, Maybe... — March 16, 1971

Melody Top Mail Sings, Too — March 1, 1972

Their Top's Tops — April 11, 1973

Melody Top Must Do Without a Tune – Tommy — May 2, 1973

Tent Proves Cozy Home for Director of 50 Shows — June 13, 1974

Grease Paint Covers All — November 20, 1975

Melody Top's Majordomo Wears Jeans — May 29, 1977

John Fricke — A Connoisseur of Right Places and Times — September 16, 1977

Finian's Rainbow at Melody Top

The vivid setting for FINIAN'S RAINBOW (1974). Courtesy of Jo Jean Retrum.


Melody Top Sports New Hard Top in '78 — November 26, 1977

New Producer Named for Melody Top — January 23, 1979

Bishop Likes Top's Formula for Success — February 18, 1979

Melody Top Readies Rousing 'Lullaby' — August 9, 1979

Dreams Come True in Hollywood... — November 13, 1979

'Soap' Royalty Upstages Weather at Melody Top — August 5, 1980

Phew! Skunk Made Stop at the Melody Top — August 23, 1983

Melody Top's 'Oliver!' Is Artful Production — June 20, 1984

Melody Top to Continue, But Next Season's Profits... — October 19, 1984

Melody Top Working to Improve Sound Quality — July 6, 1985

Once Upon a Mattress at Melody Top

The colorful court of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (1974). Courtesy of Jo Jean Retrum.


Melody Top's New Look Worth a Second Look — August 17, 1986

Melody Top Owners Cancel 1987 Season — October 4, 1986

Melody Gone Along with the Costumes — March 18, 1987

Auctioneer Plays Melody Top Swan Song — March 19, 1987

Melody Top Gap Has Yet to Be Filled — August 21, 1987

Melody Top Star Having Busy Career — March 10, 1989

Melody Top Would Be Open Year-Round Under Plan — September 14, 1990

Two Hope to Buy Site for Theater — December 30, 1991

Brothers Choose Germantown Site for Theater — January 21, 1992

Melody Top: Where Are They Now? — July 20, 1993

Jo Anne Worley in Once Upon a Mattress

Jo Anne Worley as Princess Winnifred, trying to get some rest, in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (1974). Courtesy of Jo Jean Retrum.

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