Nationwide Theatrical Ad – November 2, 1968

Remember my posts about Nationwide Theatrical Agency?

I first wrote about the Lorain company that booked entertainment acts for all occasions on this 2012 post. The agency booked singers, dancers, magicians, recording stars, novelty acts, comedians, jugglers, accordionists, ventriloquists, hypnotists, and more.

Last year, the current owners of the building on Broadway that was home to Nationwide Theatrical Agency discovered a treasure trove of old showbiz posters, postcards and pinups. They shared them with me, and were featured on this post.

Anyway, I recently found this ad (below) for the agency, which ran in the Lorain Journal on November 2, 1968. What grabbed my attention was the drawing of Snoopy from the Peanuts comic, which was enjoying tremendous popularity at that time.

It’s a strange drawing of Snoopy to use in an ad, however unauthorized it may be. (I can’t remember in the original comic strip if Snoopy was imitating a lion or other beast, or if he was yawning.)

Nevertheless, I wondered: who was (or is) Arlene Colyer? And what kind of act did she do as Snoopy the Musical Dog?

Fortunately, the internet provided the answer.

Arlene Colyer had been enjoying a great career as an entertainer since the early 1950s, performing xylophone selections and eventually becoming nationally known as “Queen of the Marimba.”

In 1965, she added realty to her specialities, becoming a realtor with an agency in Steubenville, Ohio.

From the July 15, 1965 Wintersville Citizen

But in November 1968, she was still performing, listed with Nationwide Theatrical. I’ll bet it was a cute act, with her dressed as Snoopy, playing the xylophone.

Arlene still has a connection with dogs, although none as famous as Snoopy. According to a September 2015 article in the Herald-Star, she keeps busy as a founding member and volunteer at the Jefferson County Animal Welfare League.

Here’s hoping Arlene is still doing well.

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The ad also includes JoAnn Castle, “direct from the Lawrence Welk Show.” JoAnn was known as the “Queen of Ragtime Piano.” According to her Wiki entry, she replaced Big Tiny Little on the show. (My Grandmother had one of his LPs – you don’t forget a name like that.)

And here she is, performing on Lawrence Welk in 1968, courtesy of YouTube. She’s terrific!