Panama Hattie is a theater musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva. It is also the title of a 1942 MGM musical based upon the play.
The play opened in New York City on 30 October 1940 and closed on 3 January 1942 witha total of 501 performances. Ethel Merman played Hattie, Betty Hutton (I) was Flo, Rags Ragland originated his movie role, Arthur Treacher played the butler, James Dunn (I) was Bulliet, and future film stars, June Allyson, Lucille Bremer and Vera-Ellen were dancers.
Pierre Watkin (Admiral Tree) and Stanley Andrews (I) (Colonel John Briggs) were in studio records for those roles, but never appeared. Lester Dorr was listed as a cast member in a news item but was not seen in the movie.
