Inside U.S.A.

Last updated
Inside U.S.A.
Music Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics Howard Dietz
Book Arnold M. Auerbach
Moss Hart
Arnold B. Horwitt
BasisBook by John Gunther
Productions1948 Broadway

Inside U.S.A. is a musical revue by Arthur Schwartz (music) and Howard Dietz (lyrics). It was loosely based on the book Inside U.S.A. by John Gunther. Sketches were written by Arnold M. Auerbach, Moss Hart, and Arnold B. Horwitt.

Contents

Production

After a three week tryout in Philadelphia at the Shubert Theatre starting with the world premier on Monday, March 29, 1948, [1] the revue opened on Broadway at the New Century Theatre on April 30, 1948, transferred to the Majestic Theatre on September 23, 1948, and closed on February 19, 1949 after a total of 399 performances. [2] The show then returned to Philadelphia for two weeks at the Shubert Theatre, with Beatrice Lillie and Jack Haley, starting Monday, March 14, 1949. [3]

The sketches were directed by Robert H. Gordon, dances and Musical numbers were staged by Helen Tamiris, the production design was by Lemuel Ayers, costume design was by Eleanor Goldsmith, Beatrice Lillie's costumes and gowns were by Castillo and mask design was by John Robert Lloyd. The cast included Jack Haley, Beatrice Lillie, Valerie Bettis, Talley Beatty, Jack Cassidy, John Tyers, Jane Lawrence, Carl Reiner, and Nellie Hill. [2]

Synopsis

The revue consists of a number of sketches related only in that they generally focus on a particular State. The opening is a serenade to the United States by the company ("Inside USA"). Lillie provides a "mocking madrigal" that praises the industry in Pittsburgh ("Come, Oh Come to Pittsburgh"). A woman loses her boyfriend to the horses at Churchill Downs ("Blue Grass"). In one sketch, a superstitious maid unnerves an actress on a Broadway opening night, using a ouija board and numerology (written by Moss Hart). New Orleans is featured in "At The Mardi Gras", with Lillie as the Queen. Wisconsin is featured in "First Prize At The Fair." Lillie and Haley, costumed as New Mexico Indians, declare "We Won't Take It Back." The romantic "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" turns into a ragtime number and names the most famous products of various states. In the Western number "My Gal Is Mine Once More" a cowboy celebrates remarriage to his first wife. Haley teaches apprentice waiters to make dining customers unhappy. Lillie is the "priggish, unimaginative leader of a choral society" and a mermaid with a strange romantic life. Herb Shriner, without harmonica, provides a wry Western themed monologue as "A Feller from Indiana." [4] [5] [6]

Songs (partial)

Sources: Playbill Vault; [2] [7]

The biggest success from the musical was Haunted Heart, [8] with which Perry Como and Jo Stafford had hit recordings. [9] It was also the title track of an 2005 album by Renee Fleming.

Blossom Dearie recorded "Rhode Island is Famous For You" as did Rebecca Kilgore, among others." [10]

Critical response

Reviews were favorable from Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times ("keen and impeccable") and Robert Coleman of the Daily Mirror ("a handsome hit"). However, the only song that became a hit was Haunted Heart. A strike by ASCAP delayed the recording and radio play from the show, which may have been the reason for the lack of more hit songs. [11] The Time Magazine reviewer wrote that the revue was the "least enjoyable Bea Lillie show in a long time. Not that it is really bad or botched: it is all thoroughly professional. It is also thoroughly unoriginal and unexhilarating; it not only fails to shed light of its own, but even dims the cherished Lillie luster." [12]

Awards and nominations

Valerie Bettis (winner)
Estelle Loring (winner)

Television

A television show titled Inside U.S.A. With Chevrolet , was based on this revue, with music, comedy, and dance that showed different states. The TV show aired on the CBS network from September 29, 1949 through March 16, 1950, with Schwartz and Dietz providing original music and Peter Lind Hayes the Master of Ceremonies, with name guest stars. Margaret O'Brien was the first guest and Joan Blondell the last, with Lucille Ball and Ethel Merman also guesting.

Recording

Inside U.S.A.'s original cast recording was recorded before the production was fully cast in order to beat the 1948 ASCAP strike. The 1948 musical revue 'Inside U.S.A.' was commemorated with a 78 rpm album consisting of four records released by RCA Victor Records featuring the show's principals, Beatrice Lillie and Jack Haley, as well as performances by non-cast member Billy Williams and Perry Como's hit recording of "Haunted Heart." Russ Cass and his Orchestra provided the music.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gertrude Lawrence</span> English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer (1898–1952)

Gertrude Lawrence was an English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beatrice Lillie</span> Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedic performer (1894-1989)

Beatrice Gladys Lillie, Lady Peel, known as Bea Lillie, was a Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedic performer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Schwartz</span> American composer and film producer (1900–1984)

Arthur Schwartz was an American composer and film producer, widely noted for his songwriting collaborations with Howard Dietz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Dietz</span> Musical artist

Howard Dietz was an American publicist, lyricist, and librettist, best remembered for his songwriting collaboration with Arthur Schwartz.

Rhode Island is a state of the United States, located in the New England region. The first organ said to be designed for church use was installed at Trinity Church in Newport in 1733.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Bagley</span> American record producer (1933–1998)

Ben Bagley was an American musical producer and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles B. Cochran</span> English theatrical producer (1872-1951)

Sir Charles Blake Cochran, generally known as C. B. Cochran, was an English theatrical manager and impresario. He produced some of the most successful musical revues, musicals and plays of the 1920s and 1930s, becoming associated with Noël Coward and his works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Knight (radio)</span> American dramatist

Raymond Knight was an American actor, comedian and comedy writer, best known as a pioneer in satirical humor for network radio.

Alive and Kicking is a musical revue with sketches by Ray Golden, I.A.L. Diamond, Henry Morgan, Jerome Chodorov, Joseph Stein, Will Glickman, John Murray, and Michael Stewart; music by Hal Borne, Irma Jurist, Sammy Fain, Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Rome, Sonny Burke, Leo Schumer, and Ray Golden; and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, Ray Golden, Harold J. Rome, Leonard Gershe, Sid Kuller, and Michael Stewart.

<i>Lend an Ear</i>

Lend an Ear is a musical revue with a book, music, and lyrics by Charles Gaynor and additional sketches by Joseph Stein and Will Glickman.

<i>At Home Abroad</i>

At Home Abroad is a revue with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz. It introduced the songs "Love Is a Dancing Thing", "What a Wonderful World" and "Got a Bran' New Suit", among others. The revue follows a bored couple who flee America and go on a musical world tour.

<i>Set to Music</i>

Set to Music is a musical revue with sketches, music and lyrics by Noël Coward.

<i>Walk a Little Faster</i>

Walk a Little Faster is a musical revue with sketches by S. J. Perelman and Robert MacGunigle, music by Vernon Duke, and lyrics by E. Y. Harburg.

<i>The Little Show</i> Musical

The Little Show was a musical revue with lyrics by Howard Dietz and music by Arthur Schwartz. It was the first of 11 musicals that featured the songs of Dietz and Schwartz. The revue opened at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway on April 30, 1929 and ran for 321 performances until February 1930.

<i>The Second Little Show</i>

The Second Little Show is a musical revue with lyrics by Howard Dietz and music mostly by Arthur Schwartz.

<i>The Band Wagon</i> (musical)

The Band Wagon is a musical revue with book by Walter Thomson and Howard Dietz, lyrics also by Dietz and music by Arthur Schwartz. It first played on Broadway in 1931, running for 260 performances. It introduced the song "Dancing in the Dark" and inspired two films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerie Bettis</span> American dancer and choreographer (1919–1982)

Valerie Elizabeth Bettis was an American modern dancer and choreographer. She found success in musical theatre, ballet, and as a solo dancer.

<i>Parade</i> (revue)

Parade is a musical revue with book, music, and lyrics by Jerry Herman.

<i>Haunted Heart</i> (Renée Fleming album) 2005 studio album by Renée Fleming

Haunted Heart is a jazz album by Renée Fleming with pianist Fred Hersch and guitarist Bill Frisell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Whiting (actor)</span> American actor, singer and dancer (1901–1961)

Jack Whiting was an American actor, singer and dancer whose career ran from the early 1920s through the late 1950s, playing leading men or major supporting figures.

References

  1. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 30, 1948, p.3
  2. 1 2 3 Inside U.S.A., playbillvault.com, accessed May 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 15, 1948, p.37
  4. ↑ Atkinson, Brooks. "At The Theatre", The New York Times, May 1, 1948, p. 19
  5. ↑ Cullen, Frank, Hackman, Florence, McNeilly, Donald. Vaudeville, old & new (2007), Routledge, ISBN   0-415-93853-8, p. 689
  6. ↑ Green, Stanley. The World of Musical Comedy (1984), Da Capo Press, ISBN   0-306-80207-4, p. 170
  7. ↑ 'Inside USA' listing, Arthur Schwartz songwritershalloffame.org, accessed August 5, 2009
  8. ↑ Dan Dietz Off Broadway Musicals, 1910-2007: Casts, Credits, Songs, 2010 "most enduring standard, the ethereal “Haunted Heart.” Over a halfcentury later, the ballad is still popular: It was the theme song for the 1999 film The End of the Affair, and it was the title of opera singer Renee Fleming's CD collection of popular ..."
  9. ↑ "Inside U.S.A. / The Band Wagon" recording listing, allmusic.com, accessed August 5, 2009
  10. ↑ Blossom Dearie - Rhode Island Is Famous For You. YouTube . Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  11. ↑ Cuthbertson, Ken. Inside:The Biography of John Gunther (2002), E-Reads Ltd, ISBN   0-7592-3288-1, p.265
  12. ↑ "The Theater: New Revue in Manhattan, May 10, 1948",Time Magazine, May 10, 1948
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.