AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE: EARLY STARS {WILLIAM
GAXTON, EILEEN BARTON} (TV)
Summary
One in this educational public affairs series that
traces the origins and development of the American
musical theater and examines the careers and
contributions of the creative artists who have made the
musical a native American art form. In an informal
workshop setting, New York City high school students
meet the composers, lyricists, and performers who have
shaped the American musical and question them about
their work. In this edition, host Jim Morske discusses
the stars of the musical theater's early days. He
begins with the theater owner B.F. Keith, who later
joined by partner E.F. Albee, developed vaudeville into
a circuit format where complete variety shows traveled
around the country to different theaters. After the CBS
Orchestra plays a medley of Harry von Tilzer tunes to
recreate the music of the times, Morske mentions Gus
Edwards and his act "School Boys and Girls" from which
many future headliners were launched. Eileen Barton
then sings the song that gave vaudeville star Eva
Tanguay the nickname of "The I Don't Care Girl." Next,
Morske introduces former vaudevillian William Gaxton,
who relates how his career began; describes "furniture
actors" and "cuff shooters;" recounts how B.F. Keith
hired a man to impersonate himself, and how Will Rogers
developed his comic technique; gives his opinions as to
why vaudeville died; and recalls the spectacular shows
of the period including those of Florenz Ziegfeld.
Barton follows this by singing "Shine on Harvest Moon"
made famous by Nora Bayes, Lillian Lorraine's signature
"Up, Up, Up in My Aeroplane," and Fanny Brice's popular
"My Man." After Gaxton recalls an anecdote about Sarah
Bernhardt appearing in "The Ziegfeld Follies," the
orchestra closes the show with "Let Me Call You
Sweetheart."
Cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant
from the GRAMMY Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: WCBS-TV
- DATE: December 27, 1959 12:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:32
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:55218
- GENRE: Music; Education/Information; Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music, popular (songs, etc.); Musical revues, comedies, etc. - Excerpts
- SERIES RUN: WCBS (New York, NY) - TV series, 1959-1965
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ned Cramer … Producer
- Ethel Burns … Associate Producer, For the Board of Education
- Neal Finn … Director
- Alfredo Antonini … Conductor
- CBS Orchestra, The … Music Group
- Jim Morske … Host
- Eileen Barton … Singer
- William Gaxton … Guest
- E.F. Albee
- Nora Bayes
- Sarah Bernhardt
- Fanny Brice
- Gus Edwards
- B.F. Keith
- Lillian Lorraine
- Eva Tanguay
- von Tilzer, Harry
- Florenz Ziegfeld