Monday, February 12, 2007
2/10 In Musical Theater History
On this day at the Astor Theater The George M. Cohan Revue of 1916 (165p) opens, starring Charles Winninger. Written and directed by Cohan himself, he pushes the format further along by using short sketches and a tap-dancing chorus to speed up the show. Soon, Ziegfeld and other producers of later...
Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, February 9, 2007
2/9 In Musical Theater History
Singer/Entertainer Sophie Tucker dies on this date in 1966. She appeared in numerous revues, including Ziegfeld Follies of 1909 and The Earl Caroll Vanities in 1924. She was 82. On this date in 1970, composer Noel Coward is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. When asked by The Times...
Sign in to see full entry.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
2/8 In Musical Theater History
Opening on this date at the Winter Garden Theater, in 1913, is The Honeymoon Express (158p), starring Al Jolson and Fanny Brice. On this date in 1918, the same Al Jolson is given a song by a composer new to Broadway, which song he plans to use in his soon-to-open Winter Garden show. The song:...
Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
2/7 In Musical Theater History
Opening on this date in 1923, in the Casino Theater, is Wildflower (477p), starring Edith Day, with a book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Herbert Stothard and Vincent Youmans. Oscar Eagle stages the society plot, as the musical is a successful hit. On this day in...
Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
2/6 In Musical Theater History
Irving Berlin becomes an American citizen on this date in 1917. Opening at the Plymouth Theater on this date in 1946 is the Oriental musical Lute Song (142p). Composed by Raymond Scott (better known for the music he wrote for Warner Brothers cartoons), the show stars Mary Martin and Yul Brynner...
Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, February 5, 2007
2/5 In Musical Theater History
(I apologize for today's short entry. I'm getting to the point in my Webseed archives at which I stopped doing research for my former Broadway website, so there isn't a great deal of information in this entry. From here on out in this blog, every bit of information is based on original research...
Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
2/4 In Musical Theater History
Opening today at the Imperial Theater in 1931 is Franz Lehar’s Frederika (95p), starring Dennis King. The operetta is the last original work of Lehar’s to open before WWII; however, operetta is out of favor in the depths of the Depression, and the work is a fast 4 month failure. Opening this day at...
Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
2/3 In Musical Theater History
On this day in 1908 opening at the Garrick Theater is George M. Cohan’s Fifty Miles From Boston (40p). Cohan invites pioneering Broadway performer Ned Harrigan to the opening and is surprised to find that not only a character in the musical is named after himself but as well as the hit song...
Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, February 2, 2007
2/2 In Musical Theater History
The last of the Kern, Bolton and Woodhouse Princess Theater musicals opens this day in 1918. Oh, Lady! Lady! (219p) stars Vivienne Segal, but Jerome Kern wants to move on to other things, so the series ends. However, with the 7 Princess musicals, Kern has changed musical comedy on Broadway forever....
Sign in to see full entry.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
2/1 In Musical Theater History
On this day in 1896 Puccini’s opera La Boheme premiers in Turin, Italy. The opera will later be the source for the Broadway musical Rent. The Fair Co-ed (122p) opens at the Knickerbocker Theater today in 1909. Elsie Janis stars as the only female student enrolled at Bingham College and she helps her...
Sign in to see full entry.
