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Melva Niles has come to eBay!
This plucky, darling little octogenarian has officially come to eBay! The photo above was taken as part of a production advance advert w-a-a-a-y back in 1945, when this lovely lady of the theater was just getting started on Broadway! I was barely being born, and she was already the toast of Light Opera, starring in some of the world's most lavishly produced offerings, back in the days when the bright lights of Broadway lit the way to fame and fortune.
Melva Niles starring in "The Great Waltz" at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Theater in 1949
It isn't often that we get celebrities selling on eBay...most of the time, we get tidbits from the estates of these wonderful performers being sold off by estate buyers...but Melva is alive and kicking, and turning 83 soon. The glory days of six figure incomes are a dim memory now (back in the old days, six figures added up to today's eight figure incomes) and Ms. Niles has been forced to part with some of her personal treasures. Of course, I suggested my favorite haunting grounds...eBay!
A few fortunate eBay buyers have managed to come up with one of Melva's few surviving old vinyl albums, from a 1968 concert tour that she and her dear friend, Robert Peterson (Camelot/Man of LaMancha) cut together at the Valley Music Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ms. Niles laughing with the press outside the Valley Music Hall in 1973.
Those of us familiar with that famous old music hall knew it had the finest acoustics anywhere in the western United States back in its glory days. You could drop a pin on stage, and it would be heard clear up into the balcony! If they knew the rarity of this album, I'm pretty sure the sellers wouldn't be listing it for under a buck! :)
"A Stunning Voice!"...Chicago Daily Times
Melva Niles as Nina Grieg in Edwin Lester's fabulous production of "The Song of Norway" 1947
at Chicago's Famous Schubert Theater
One of her offerings on eBay currently is the fantastic 1949 original Rail Road Hour Presentation of The Song of Norway, singing opposite the beloved motion picture star of "Oklahoma", "The Desert Song", and "Carousel", Mr. Gordon MacRae. Ms. Niles has graciously autographed these CD's, and includes a stunning portrait of herself as a thank-you gift to buyers.
She hopes to add another extremely rare recording to the eBay consignment list soon...a wonderful Christmas album produced by her husband, Cliff Barborka, with a very limited original pressing of only 100 records, given only to family and dear friends as a Christmas gift 40 years ago! Lucky eBay collectors will have the very first shot at buying this impossible to find treat when it is offered, autographed, of course.
Melva Niles with husband and producer Cliff Barborka Jr. at a publicity photo shoot in 1970
Melva Niles and husband Cliff Barborka Jr. in a 1973 clipping from the Brigham Young University's Idaho Campus Newspaper. They often chose BYU Idaho Campus as a favorite spot to produce wonderful off-Broadway musical shows such as The King and I with James Shigeta (Flower Drum Song) and Kiss Me Kate with Robert Peterson (Camelot and Man of LaMancha).
and 
Melva Niles and James Shigeta Melva Niles and Robert Peterson
in some pre-show publicity shoots during rehearsal.
Melva Niles and Robert Peterson
It isn't often that we get celebrities selling on eBay...most of the time, we get tidbits from the estates of these wonderful performers being sold off by estate buyers...but Melva is alive and kicking, and turning 83 soon. The glory days of six figure incomes are a dim memory now (back in the old days, six figures added up to today's eight figure incomes) and Ms. Niles has been forced to part with some of her personal treasures. Of course, I suggested my favorite haunting grounds...eBay!
A few fortunate eBay buyers have managed to come up with one of Melva's few surviving old vinyl albums, from a 1968 concert tour that she and her dear friend, Robert Peterson (Camelot/Man of LaMancha) cut together at the Valley Music Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ms. Niles laughing with the press outside the Valley Music Hall in 1973.
Those of us familiar with that famous old music hall knew it had the finest acoustics anywhere in the western United States back in its glory days. You could drop a pin on stage, and it would be heard clear up into the balcony! If they knew the rarity of this album, I'm pretty sure the sellers wouldn't be listing it for under a buck! :)
"A Stunning Voice!"...Chicago Daily Times
Melva Niles as Nina Grieg in Edwin Lester's fabulous production of "The Song of Norway" 1947
at Chicago's Famous Schubert Theater
One of her offerings on eBay currently is the fantastic 1949 original Rail Road Hour Presentation of The Song of Norway, singing opposite the beloved motion picture star of "Oklahoma", "The Desert Song", and "Carousel", Mr. Gordon MacRae. Ms. Niles has graciously autographed these CD's, and includes a stunning portrait of herself as a thank-you gift to buyers.
She hopes to add another extremely rare recording to the eBay consignment list soon...a wonderful Christmas album produced by her husband, Cliff Barborka, with a very limited original pressing of only 100 records, given only to family and dear friends as a Christmas gift 40 years ago! Lucky eBay collectors will have the very first shot at buying this impossible to find treat when it is offered, autographed, of course.
Melva Niles with husband and producer Cliff Barborka Jr. at a publicity photo shoot in 1970
Melva Niles and husband Cliff Barborka Jr. in a 1973 clipping from the Brigham Young University's Idaho Campus Newspaper. They often chose BYU Idaho Campus as a favorite spot to produce wonderful off-Broadway musical shows such as The King and I with James Shigeta (Flower Drum Song) and Kiss Me Kate with Robert Peterson (Camelot and Man of LaMancha).
and Melva Niles and James Shigeta Melva Niles and Robert Peterson
in some pre-show publicity shoots during rehearsal.
So search eBay for Melva Niles...and collect some wonderful memories!
Guide created: 07/04/08 (updated 07/11/08)
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