Musical Theatre: A History
Suggested Web Videos
Edited by John Kenrick
These
videos are suggested accompaniments to my book
Musical Theatre A History (2nd Edition 2017).
Because videos posted on the web come and go without notice, I
apologize for any links here that may suddenly lead nowhere. Please let
me know if you encounter any problems and I will update the page.
These pages are under construction and will be completed by the first week in October 2017. Thanks for your patience!
- 8. Herbert, Cohan & Berlin
- 9. Revues - Ziegfeld’s Follies
- 10. Jerome Kern & American Ascendance
- 11. Career in Profile: Al Jolson
- 12. 1920s - Hot Times, Great Talents
- 13. Show Boat
- 14. 1930s - Depression Era Miracles
- "I Can't Do the Sum" from Babes in Toyland - This song has fun with the intricate math problems found in elementary school textbooks. Annette Funicello is seen here in Disney's heavily revised 1961 film version.
- "March of the Toys" from Babes in Toyland - Still familiar today, this Herbert melody reflects the composer's classical training as well as his gift for catchy melody.
- "In Old New York" from The Red Mill - Herbert put this musical comedy song in a 1906 operetta -- he saw the forms as close relatives. It is performed here by Eddie Foy Jr., who starred in the smash hit 1945 revival.
- "Art Is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress - This comic song from one of Herbert's failures has become a concert showpiece for sopranos -- performed here by Jennifer Larmore.
- "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was Irving Berlin's first international hit. Nell Carter performed it at a 1992 Carnegie Hall gala celebrating the composer's 100th birthday.
- "Play a Simple Melody" from Watch Your Step was Berlin's first counterpoint showstopper. It is performed by NYU Steinhardt alumni Sam Brooks and Shane O'Neill.
- "You'd Be Surprised" from The Ziegfeld Follies of 1919 - A Berlin gem introduced by Eddie Cantor, performed here by Madeline Kahn.
- "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up" from Yip Yip Yaphank performed here by Irving Berlin in the 1943 film This is the Army.
- "God Bless America" was written for Yip Yip Yaphank but not publicly performed until 1939. Here Berlin sings it backed by a choir of Boy and Girl Scouts, the groups he donated all profits from this song to.
- "Yankee Doodle Dandy" from Little Johnny Jones performed by James Cagney, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
- "Give My Regards to Broadway" from Little Johnny Jones performed by James Cagney in the 1942 film Yankee Doodle Dandy.
- Cohan Medley - For the 1986 rededication of the Statue of Liberty, Joel Grey recreated his acclaimed performance as Cohan in the 1968 Broadway musical George M!
9. Revues - Ziegfeld’s Follies
- "Chasing the Blues Away" performed Ziegfeld-style by Doris Day in the 1955 film Love Me or Leave Me.
- "Will-o-Mania" from The Will Rogers Follies was Tommy Tune's tap-happy homage to Ziegfeld.
- Glorifying the American Girl - Ziegfeld produced a tedious screen drama about a girl trying to break into his Follies. Here is a long lost color sequence from this 1929 talkie.
- Fanny Brice is seen clowning and singing with her third husband Billie Rose and a bevy of chorus girls in this 1929 Movietone News clip.
- "My Man" was introduced in the Ziegfeld Follies by Fanny Brice, who won stardom playing Brice in Funny Girl.
10. Jerome Kern & American Ascendance
- "How'd You Like to Spoon With Me?" was a Kern interpolation written in 1905 for the Broadway version of the British hit The Earl and the Girl. Here it is sung by Angela Lansbury in MGM's Till the Clouds Roll By (1946).
- "They Didn't Believe Me" from The Utah Girl (1914) redefined the sound of Broadway. It was performed by Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson in MGM's 1949 film That Midnight Kiss, with no less than Ethel Barrymore silently looking on.
- Leave It to Jane medley performed by June Allyson and ensemble in MGM's Till the Clouds Roll By.
- "Look for the Silver Lining" from Sally (1920) was performed by Judy Garland in MGM's Till the Clouds Roll By.
- "Wild Rose" from Sally (1920) features original star Marilyn Miller in the 1929 screen version. Miller's acting and singing leave a lot to be desired, but her dancing brings the screen to life despite primitive film technology.
- "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" from Show Boat (1927) The kitchen scene integrates song, dialogue and even dance. Here it iserformed by the original lead Helen Morgan and a stellar supporting cast in the 1936 film version.
11. Career in Profile: Al Jolson
- "Toot, Toot, Tootsie!" - Jolson ignited the sound film era when he performed his longtime hit in The Jazz Singer (1928).
- "Mammy" - Jolson reprised his most memorable hit song to provide The Jazz Singer with a powerful finale.
- "Swanee" - Jolson made this George Gershwin song a hit when he interpolated it in Broadway's Sinbad in 1919. Here he reprises the song in the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue.
- "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" was one of Jolson's signature hits, and he provided the voice that actor Larry Parks lip-synched to in the wildly successful film The Jolson Story (1946).
- "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby" was a Jolson hit that Judy Garland adopted with exciting results.
- "Mammy" became Liza Minnelli's moving tribute to her mother, proving yet again that Jolson's hits can still delight contemporary audiences/
12. 1920s - Hot Times, Great Talents
- "Stouthearted Men" from The New Moon (1928) is a rousing operetta showpiece with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is performed here by Nelson Eddy in the 1940 MGM film version.
- "Wanting You" from The New Moon (1928), sung by Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in the same film.
- "The Physician" from Nymph Errant is a Cole Porter song introduced by Gertrude Lawrence. Julie Andrews portrayed her and did this version of the song for the 1968 film Star! Written in 1933, it is a superb Porter "list" song with a lyric featuring multiple languages.
- "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is performed by composer Noel Coward.
- "Someone to Watch Over Me" from Oh Kay! (1926) was written for Gertrude Lawrence, and was reprised by Julie Andrews in the film Star!
- "I Want to Be Happy" from No, No Nanette (1927) as performed by screen legend Ruby Keeler in the 1971 Broadway revival.
- "The Best Things in Life Are Free" from Good News (1927) gets a charming performance here.
- "The Varsity Drag" from Good News (1927) performed by Sandy Duncan. Her dance partner, Don Correia, later became her husband.
- "Thou Swell" from A Connecticut Yankee (1927) - This Rodgers & Hart favorite is performed in a 2002 concert by Rebecca Luker and Douglas Sills.
- "To Keep My Love Alive" from A Connecticut Yankee - Written for the 1943 revival, Lorenz Hart's last lyric is performed here by Mary Testa.
13. Show Boat
If you can, view the full 1936 film verion -- its by far the strongest, and features several original Broadway cast members.
- "Only Make Believe" performed by Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel in the 1951 MGM version. Kern and Hammerstein in full operetta mode
- "Ol' Man River" performed by Paul Robeson in the 1936 film version.
- "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" in 1998, a very young Anna Kendrick and the Kit Kat Girls from the revival of Cabaret gave this Show Boat song a fresh and hilarious new twist.
- "Bill" has original Broadway star Helen Morgan recreating her moving rendition in the 1936 Universal Studios film version.
- "After the Ball" was an actual 1890s song that was interpolated in Show Boat to provide period atmosphere. Irene Dunne sings it in the 1936 film, with original Broadway star Charles Winninger recreating his performance as Captain Andy Hawks.
- "Kim's Charleston" was a dance sequence created for director Hal Prince's acclaimed 1995 Broadway revival. Chorehgraphy by Susan Strohman.
14. 1930s - Depression Era Miracles
- "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy (1930) - a Gershwin brothers gem as performed by Jodi Benson, Harry Groener and the cast of Crazy for You (1992) at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.
- "Who Cares" from Of Thee I Sing (1931) features Karen Ziemba and Ron Raines in a 1997 Carnegie Hall tribute to lyricist Ira Gershwin.
- "I Wish I Were in Love Again" from Babes in Arms (1937) - This song was cut from the 1939 screen version, but Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney got to sing it in the 1948 film Words and Music.
- "Zip" from Pal Joey (1940) - In her 2002 one woman show, Elaine Stritch recreated the performance that brought her Broadway stardom in the 1952 revival of Pal Joey.
- Anything Goes medley - Ethel Merman performes three songs from this Cole Porter score, with assists from Sylvia Fine Kaye and Rock Hudson.