1920s broadway (finished)
TRANSCRIPT
Broadway in the 1920sBroadway in the 1920s
By Ava SkolnikBy Ava Skolnik
And Sarah FasanoAnd Sarah Fasano
Why Did We Pick Broadway?Why Did We Pick Broadway?
Broadway was– and Broadway was– and still is– a huge part still is– a huge part of entertainmentof entertainment
Has influenced Has influenced theater, music, and theater, music, and film everywherefilm everywhere
Entertainment Entertainment capitalcapital
Broadway (The Street)Broadway (The Street)
Times Square in NYTimes Square in NY
70-80 theaters70-80 theaters
Reached its prime Reached its prime in the 1920sin the 1920s
Post-WWI Post-WWI gathering placegathering place
A Broadway celebration
Broadway TheatersBroadway Theaters
Lawrence Langer’s Lawrence Langer’s Theater Guild Theater Guild influenced worldinfluenced world
+50 new musicals +50 new musicals opened in 20sopened in 20s
Thriving form of Thriving form of entertainment in entertainment in the “Roaring 20s”the “Roaring 20s”
The theaters of Broadway
Major 1920s Broadway ShowsMajor 1920s Broadway Shows
Bronze Advertisement for a Broadway show from 1920 1920s Playbill
ShowboatShowboat Premiered December Premiered December
27, 192727, 1927
Ziegfeld TheatreZiegfeld Theatre
Music: Jerome KernMusic: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Oscar Lyrics/Book: Oscar
Hammerstein IIHammerstein II
Themes: Mixed Themes: Mixed marriage, gambling, marriage, gambling, infidelity, illegitimacyinfidelity, illegitimacy
No, No, NanetteNo, No, Nanette
First produced on First produced on Broadway Broadway September 16, 1925September 16, 1925
Ran for 321 showsRan for 321 shows
Well-known songs: Well-known songs: “Tea For Two” and “I “Tea For Two” and “I Want To Be Happy”Want To Be Happy”
Film remake of play from 1930
Lady, Be GoodLady, Be Good
Opened December 1, Opened December 1, 1924 (Liberty Theatre)1924 (Liberty Theatre)
Music: George GershwinMusic: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
(older sister)(older sister)
Written by Guy BoltonWritten by Guy Bolton
First starred Fred Astaire First starred Fred Astaire and older sister, Adeleand older sister, Adele Stillframe from 1941
film remake
Major Broadway ComposersMajor Broadway Composers
George Gershwin
Cole Porter
George Gershwin ( 1898 – George Gershwin ( 1898 – 1937 )1937 )
AKA: Jacob Gershovitz AKA: Jacob Gershovitz
““Rhapsody in Blue” Rhapsody in Blue” composercomposer
Wrote Wrote Lady Be GoodLady Be Good, , Funny FaceFunny Face, many , many othersothers
Died at age 38 from Died at age 38 from a brain tumor a brain tumor
Rogers and HartRogers and Hart
Richard Rogers and Richard Rogers and Lorenz HartLorenz Hart
Composed Composed “Manhattan” and “Manhattan” and “Blue Moon”“Blue Moon”
Wrote about 30 Wrote about 30 musicals togethermusicals together
Cole Porter ( 1891 – 1964 )Cole Porter ( 1891 – 1964 )
Wrote mostly Wrote mostly musical comediesmusical comedies
Wrote Wrote Kiss Me, Kiss Me, KateKate and and Anything Anything GoesGoes
Composed “I Get a Composed “I Get a Kick Out of You” Kick Out of You” and “I’ve Got You and “I’ve Got You Under My SkinUnder My Skin
VaudevilleVaudeville
Entertainment Entertainment closely linked with closely linked with BroadwayBroadway
Included music, Included music, dance, comedy, dance, comedy, animals, magic, etc.animals, magic, etc.
From "voix de ville", From "voix de ville", or "voice of the city" or "voice of the city"
1929 Vaudeville show Lamb Chops
The Theatre GuildThe Theatre Guild
Founded in 1919 by Founded in 1919 by Lawrence LangnerLawrence Langner
Has produced 228 Has produced 228 Broadway playsBroadway plays
Nearly 200 under Nearly 200 under LangnerLangner
Greatly contributed Greatly contributed to Broadway to Broadway success in the 20ssuccess in the 20s
Theatre Guild Logo
Broadway TodayBroadway Today
More and more More and more musicalsmusicals
Ticket prices have Ticket prices have soared, now not as soared, now not as available to lower available to lower classclass
Most plays are more Most plays are more sophisticated, sophisticated, narrower audiencenarrower audienceBroadway advertisements