Chapter 3 I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ (1931 – 1942)

Overture Stock market crash – Ziegfeld lost $3 million July 1932, Ziegfeld dies Wife Billie Burke sold the name “Ziegfeld Follies” to the Shubert Brothers

Broadway and the Depresison 1932, 1/3 of NYC factories forced to close Nearly 1/3 New Yorkers unemployed Social criticism and political satire emerging in the American Musical Many theatres closed or turned into more successful movie houses Only 187 productions in

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime Words by E.Y. Harburg Music by Jay Gorney From show New Americana Recorded by Bing Crosby – became a major hit Closely identified with the depression

Ethel Merman She can hold a note as long as the Chase Manhattan Bank Born Ethel Zimmerman in 1909 Worked as a secretary Changed last name to Merman, as Zimmerman is a marquee buster First show – Girl Crazy

Ethel Merman, cont. Song “I Got Rhythm”, the crowd went crazy Held the “money note” for 10 seconds Her celebrity did not translate to movies Show Anything Goes, written by Porter Song “You’re the Top”

Ethel Merman, cont.

Of Thee I Sing George S Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind Show Of Thee I Sing – political satire Centers around presidential candidate John P Wintergreen, chooses “Miss Whitehouse” and will marry her if elected (similar to today’s Bachelor.) Instead, marries contest organizer, brought up for impeachment before congress – wife saves by announcing pregnancy

Of Thee I Sing, cont. Ran 441 performances First musical to win the Pulitzer Prize Prize shared by Kaufman, Ryskind and Ira Gershwin only…not George (literary prize, not music) Political satire more prominent in the 30s Shows like The Cradle Will Rock, Pins and Needles, I’d Rather Be Right

Ethel Waters Ethel Waters – sang “Suppertime,” “Heat Wave,” and “Stormy Weather” Known as a teen as “Sweet Mama Stringbean” Show As Thousands Cheer – Hart and Berlin Concept of a daily newspaper “Suppertime” and “Heat Wave” by Waters

Cole Porter Born 1892 in Peru, Indiana Went to Yale, wrote the football fight song Married Linda Lee Thomas, considered the most beautiful woman in Europe Porter was gay, but still loved his wife deeply Linda was rich, as well as Cole

Cole Porter, cont. Composer/lyricist for Paris – immediate success Songs “Let’s Do It” and “Let’s Misbehave” Song “Love for Sale” banned from radio for 25 years In 1932 Gay Divorce, hit song for Fred Astaire “Night and Day” 1934 – Anything Goes, 420 performances

Cole Porter, cont.

Cole Porter, Act II Horseback riding accident Broke both legs Went through dozens of surgeries, only delaying the inevitable for 2 decades Porter had to be carried into the theatre Wrote 4 shows for Ethel Merman: Du Barry Was a Lady, Panama Hattie, Something for the Boys, Anything Goes

Porgy and Bess Based on DuBose Heyward’s book “Porgy” Al Jolson originally wanted to play Porgy George Gershwin went and lived on Folly island with Gullah people to write the music Porgy – Todd Duncan, music professor Bess – Anne Brown, julliard trained Named Porgy and Bess to distinguish from play/novel

Porgy and Bess, cont. Folk Opera Scaled down revival in 1942 became a Bway success Show’s theme – Love will conquer all George and Ira went to Hollywood George died July 11 at age 38 John O’Hara says “George Gershwin died today, but I don’t have to believe it if I don’t want to.”

The Cradle Will Rock WPA – Works Progress Administration Created a show to get jobs for actors and provide entertainment for the country Show held a strong message People tried to close the theatre, so they moved show down the block and actors performed from the audience

Rodgers and Hart in the 1930s Show Babes in Arms – 1937 Songs “My Funny Valentine” and “The Lady is a Tramp” Show I’d Rather Be Right – 1937 Book by Kaufman and Moss Hart Brought George Cohan out of retirement to star

Rodgers and Hart in the 1930s, cont. Show The Boys from Syracuse first musical to be based on Shakespeare (The Comedy of Errors) Jumbo On Your Toes 11 shows in 8 years!

Irving Berlin’s This is the Army WWII – 1941, govt. wants new patriotic tunes Berlin creates This is the Army Cast 300 enlisted men, spoof army life in skits, jokes, songs and dances Song “Oh! How I Hate to get up in the Morning” Raised $9.8 million for war effort

Irving Berlin’s This is the Army