Pete The Pup (archy and Mehitabel) - Theatre and Film

Theatre and Film

A musical version of the Archy and Mehitabel was recorded July 7, 1953 & April 9, 1954 titled archy and mehitabel with Carol Channing as Mehitabel and Eddie Bracken as Archy. It was followed by echoes of archy, recorded August 31, 1954. The credits read: Words - Joe Darion, Music - George Kleinsinger. It was originally released as Columbia Masterworks ML 4963 in 1955, and was rereleased on CD, combined with the unrelated work Carnival of the Animals, as part of the Columbia Masterworks series.

The music and lyrics from the album were the basis of a short-lived 1957 loud and brassy Broadway musical titled Shinbone Alley and starring Eddie Bracken as Archy and Eartha Kitt as Mehitabel. It was based on the columns and on the Columbia Masterworks album, but with additional music by Kleinsinger and dialog by Mel Brooks.

On May 16, 1960, an abridged version of the musical was broadcast under the original title archy & mehitabel as part of the syndicated TV anthology series Play of the Week presented by David Susskind. The cast included Bracken, Tammy Grimes, and Jules Munshin.

Some of the songs from the album were used in 1971 in an animated film, also called Shinbone Alley. Directed by John Wilson, written by Mel Brooks, and starring Eddie Bracken and Carol Channing, it was not a commercial success.

Actor Jeff Culbert toured a solo show to Fringe festivals across North America during 2009 to 2011. The show, called "archy and mehitabel", was based on Archy's writings and involved Culbert playing the characters of Archy and Mehitabel.