“The Broadway Musicals Yearbook” will be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 at 5pm on Sunday 21st November and repeated at 11pm on Monday 22nd of November. The show is produced and narrated by Len Power, Canberra theatre critic, music critic and radio presenter.
This week – the musicals of 1940
1940 was a memorable year on Broadway with Irving Berlin’s ‘Louisiana Purchase’, Cole Porter’s ‘Panama Hattie’ with the great Ethel Merman and Ethel Waters in the all black musical, ‘Cabin In the Sky’ with music by Vernon Duke. It was also the year of Rodgers and Hart’s ‘Pal Joey’ and Al Jolson’s last show on Broadway, ‘Hold On To Your Hats.’
Songs in this program include ‘Bewitched, (Bothered And Bewildered)’ (from ‘Pal Joey’), ‘Honey In The Honeycomb’ (‘Cabin In The Sky’), ‘What Chance Have I With Love?’ (‘Louisiana Purchase’) and ‘I’ve Still Got My Health’’ (‘Panama Hattie’).
Performers in this program include Ethel Merman, Bobby Short, Debbie Gravitte, Lena Horne, Bing Crosby, Kim Criswell and Vivienne Segal.
