world over. Edens produced a number of films after the mid-1950s, and wrote special material for Garland's Palace Theatre debut in 1951 and her London Palladium concerts the same year. Birthday parties Edens and Kay Thompson had the same birthday (November 9). From 1942–1957 they gave joint birthday parties where each presented a surprise production number with special material featuring their friends, including Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Dandridge, Maureen O'Hara, Ray Bolger, Ann Sothern, Phil Silvers, Danny Kaye, Charles Walters, Cole Porter, Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. They never told the other what the other was going to present. Show Boat Edens and producer Arthur Freed were the guiding forces behind MGM's 1951 screen version of Show Boat. Edens headed the search for the right singer-actor to play Joe, the key supporting character who sings "Ol' Man River", and discovered William Warfield after reading a rave review of his performance in a New York song recital. Edens also supervised the film's reediting when the producer and director found the original cut too slow. Personal life Before moving to California, Edens was married to Martha LaPrelle, but they spent much time apart and eventually divorced. By the time he knew Judy Garland, he was living as a gay man. In the latter part of his life, Edens was in a long-term relationship with screenwriter and playwright Leonard Gershe. (Gershe denied he and Edens were ever lovers, though he admitted many people assumed they were; he said, "We weren't lovers because I didn't have enough closet space.") Edens died of cancer in Los Angeles, California on July 13, 1970. Awards Nominated: Academy Award for Best Scoring, 1939: Babes in Arms, with Georgie Stoll Academy Award for Best Scoring, 1940: Strike Up the Band, with Georgie Stoll Academy Award for Best Song, 1940: "Our Love Affair" from Strike Up the Band (music and lyrics) Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, 1942: For Me and My Gal (film), with Georgie Stoll Academy Award for Best Song, 1947: "Pass That Peace Pipe" from Good News (music and lyrics) with Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin Won: Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, 1948: Easter Parade, with Johnny Green Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, 1949: On the Town, with Lennie Hayton Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture,