IRVING BERLIN TRIBUTE (RADIO)
Summary
This special pays tribute to Irving Berlin after his death. The narrator opens the program by describing the early years of the composer, born Israel Baline, including such details as his family's immigration from Siberia to the United States, the economic hardships faced after "Izzy's" father Moses died, and the reasons for which Izzy had to drop out of school in the second grade. The program goes on to discuss Berlin's life and legacy; narration is interspersed with song clips and comments from Berlin himself. The composer is heard describing the first song he wrote and his reasons for writing it. His first successful song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," is played. The narrator goes on to sum up Berlin's financial success and the essence and omnipresence of his legacy. Berlin talks about the genesis of his military musical show, "Yip Yap Yaphank," and a song from that production, "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," is played. Segments of several more songs are featured, including "Cheek to Cheek"; "Remember"; "How Deep Is the Ocean?"; "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody"; "Play a Simple Melody"; and "Always." The narrator reflects on the different emotions and meanings conveyed by Berlin's songs. "Easter Parade," "White Christmas," "There's No Business Like Show Business," and "God Bless America" are played in part. Snippets of songs from "Annie Get Your Gun" are then sung in foreign languages to indicate the wide appeal of the composer's music. The program closes with Al Jolson's rendition of "When I Leave the World Behind." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: September 22, 1989
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:35
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:8320
- GENRE: Radio - Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Composers; Music - Analysis, appreciation; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: Radio - CBS, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ligneto, Jan (audio i.d. only) … Associate Producer
- Muller, Dick (audio i.d. only) … Director
- Charles Osgood … Writer, Narrator
- Irving Berlin … Music by
- Moses Baline
- Al Jolson