The Electric Eartha Kitt and Jolly's Progress

On May 16th, 1952, a new play "New Faces of 1952" had a reading at the Metropolitan Opera House Lounge. The play starred Eartha Kitt and Ronny Graham and received positive reviews. Franchot Tone attended a party that was given in honor of the play. He was photographed sharing the good reviews with Eartha and Ronny on the steps of the opera house. Everyone gravitated toward Eartha that night, including Franchot, who called her "the most electric personality I've ever seen" and, according to Jet Magazine, blushed when a photographer asked to take their photo.

Seven years later, Franchot was set to costar with Eartha in "Jolly's Progress." In September 1959, Jet published that Eartha was resting briefly before going into rehearsals with Franchot, but by September 18th, the New York Times revealed that Franchot had already dropped out of the play. There seems to be some debate as to why he dropped out. Franchot told reporters that he had an additional work commitment that he couldn't discuss at the time. The word around town, though, was that Franchot left the play because he wasn't pleased with the way Coleman's dramatization had turned out. Franchot had liked Coleman's book, but felt the characterization was lacking in the play's script. Columnist Dorothy Kilgallen hinted that Eartha, having gone through the deterioration of several romantic relationships in previous months, was having "temperamental outbursts" throughout the process of casting and rehearsals. It was also rumored that Franchot left due to a billing dispute.

Perhaps, it's a good thing that Franchot dropped out. Reviewer Peter Dee, in his 1959 Second Balcony column suggested that the playwright "thought that if he combined ideas from 'Pygmalion' and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' he'd have a great play. He doesn't, but surely has an arresting one." Dee would go on to say that Eartha's "electric histrionics cannot hide the fact that this play needs such judicious fixing-up..." Wendell Corey took Franchot's place in the play, which ran for 9 performances from December 5th through December 9th on Broadway.

Getty has an even better photo of Franchot and Eartha here: Getty Images

Sources:
Dee, Peter. "Second Balcony: Jolly's Progress." The Heights. November 13, 1959.
"Eartha Kitt, Franchot Tone to Costar in Play." Jet Magazine. September 10, 1959.
Internet Broadway Database: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/jollys-progress-2803
"Round Up." Jet Magazine. September 17, 1959.
"Star is Acclaimed by Celebrities." Jet Magazine. July 31, 1952.
"Tone Withdraws from Role Opposite Eartha Kitt." Jet Magazine. October 1, 1959.
Zolotow, Sam. "Corey May Take Role Tone Quit." The New York Times. September 18, 1959.