AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE {JOHN BUBBLES} {PART 2 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
Continued from T:54239. Part two of two. 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. The second of a two-part program devoted to the career of veteran song-and-dance man John Bubbles begins with the entertainer singing "Lucky to Me" from the show "Blackbirds." He recalls the period of the early 1930s when he and his partner Ford Buck played in the Ziegfeld Follies, performed in England, and toured the vaudeville circuit. His primary accomplishment during this period, however, was originating the role of "Sportin' Life" in "Porgy and Bess." Bubbles discusses how George Gershwin taught him each of the opera's songs note by note since he could not read music, and reminisces about his first opera and what it was like to portray a character other than himself for the first time. After recounting a major mishap on opening night, he reprises Sportin' Life's "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York" from "Porgy and Bess." Bubbles sings "Lady Be Good," which he once performed at the London Palladium for the king and queen of England, and looks back over his movie career, particularly "Cabin in the Sky," from which he performs "Shine." Discussing some of the songs he has composed, he sings his "Somebody's Gonna Make You Fall in Love." Finally, Bubbles dances, first without musical accompaniment, to illustrate the artistry and rhythm of tap dancing, and then taps to the tune of "Me and My Shadow." This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the GRAMMY Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: WCBS-TV
- DATE: February 12, 1961 12:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:43
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:54150
- GENRE: Music; Education/Information; Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American entertainers; Biography; Blacks in the performing arts; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Tap dancing; Vaudeville; African-American Collection - Music; African-American Collection - News/Talk
- SERIES RUN: WCBS (New York, NY) - TV series, 1959-1965
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ned Cramer … Producer
- Ethel Burns … Associate Producer
- Neal Finn … Director
- Howard Smith … Conductor
- American Musical Theatre Jazz Eight, The … Music Group
- Jim Morske … Host
- John Bubbles … Guest, Singer, Dancer
- Ford Buck
- George Gershwin