Guys and Dolls Special Feature Part 1



Damon Runyon is one of those legendary figures in American history that remains larger than life even to this day.  This newspaper reporter, short-story writer and humorist captured the essence of New York City's Times Square through his depiction of its colorful and sometimes rough inhabitants.  In so doing, Runyon elevated New York's regional slang to prominence while his own name became synonymous with the moods and characters he created.  The adjective "Runyonesque" refers to his typical free-wheeling gangster characters as well as to the type of situations and dialogue he depicted.

Runyon's short stories, in particular, The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown served as the basis for one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Guys and Dolls. With music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls is considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy.

A recent article in The New Yorker written by Adam Gopnik wonderfully illustrates some of the "Runyonesque" qualities that make up the man behind the mystique.

For more information or to license, visit Guys and Dolls on MTIShows.

To “click” with other Guys and Dolls fans, visit MTI ShowSpace.