• Hollywood, 2 March 1945, Phil marries Jo-Carroll Dennison. Superior Judge Edward R Brand conducts the ceremony in his chambers. Phil’s brother Harry holds up a telephone so that the proceedings can be relayed to their mother Sarah in Brooklyn.
• Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph, 10 March 1946. Jo-Carroll would feature in The Jolson Story later in the year.
• In July 1946, Phil and Jo-Carroll were part of a troupe of Fox players that undertook a four city promotional tour for the musical Centennial Summer. As the film dealt with events in Philadelphia in the Centennial Exposition year of 1876, its world premiere was held in that city.
IN PHILADELPHIA
• What’s the craic? Three days of activities preceding the premiere included entertaining injured veterans, a civic luncheon and visits to historic sites. At Liberty Hall, Phil and Jeanne Crain pay particularly close attention. (Miss Crain is wearing a summer frock of white crepe, with an oriental print of green, fuchsia and grey; white spectator pumps; a double strand of pearls with her engagement and wedding rings).
• Posing for a team photo, having fought their way through an enthusiastic crowd.
IN PITTSBURGH
• I don’t know, "Keep Your Hands on the Wheel"?
IN DETROIT
• Vivian and Phil’s picture If I’m Lucky would be released in September.
• The events in both Detroit and Philadelphia included a motor “Parade of Hollywood Stars”.
ENLARGE
An undated snapshot of Phil, this almost certainly shows him on Fox promotional duties in the mid 40s.
ENLARGE
9 July newspaper advertisement.
Fox
Philadelphia
10 July 1946
Centennial Summer world premiere
MC Phil Silvers
With Jeanne Crain, Carol Landis, Kurt Kreuger, Margo Woode, Jo-Carroll Dennison, David Street, Otto Preminger
ENLARGE
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 July 1946.
They’re coming, check, they’re here, arriving in Pittsburgh the day before the premiere.
ENLARGE
12 July newspaper advertisement.
J. P. Harris Theater
Pittsburgh
12 July 1946
Centennial Summer Pittsburgh premiere
MC Phil Silvers
With Kurt Kreuger, Jo-Carroll Dennison, David Street
Film Premiere
KQV, Pittsburgh / 12 July 1946 / 30min
KVQ will broadcast a half hour program dedicated to the western Pennsylvania premiere of “Centennial Summer” at 8 p.m. tonight.
The first fifteen minutes will feature all the Jerome Kern music sung by the cast of the picture including Cornell Wilde, Jeanne Crain and Linda Darnell.
At 8:15 the broadcast will switch to the J. P. Harris lobby when the stars who appear on the stage will broadcast. Phil Silvers, Kurt Kreuger, Jo-Carroll Dennison and David Street are the personalities who are in Pittsburgh for the premiere.
ENLARGE
19 July newspaper advertisement.
Fox
Detroit
19 July 1946
Centennial Summer Detroit premiere
MC Phil Silvers
With Vivian Blaine, Kurt Kreuger, Jo-Carroll Dennison, David Street
From a 20 July 1946 review of the film in the Detroit Free Press.
The other city was Washington.