Mary (originally titled The house that Jack built) is a 1920 musical comedy with book and lyrics by Frank Mandel and Otto Harbach and music by Louis Hirsch. Among its songs was "Love Nest", Hirsch's most successful, later the theme song for the Burns and Allen radio show.
A young man, Jack Keene, invents a portable house, expecting to make his fortune, but fails in the attempt. He strikes oil accidentally, thereby becoming wealthy, so is able to marry his sweetheart, the "Mary" of the title. [1]
Mary was originally titled The house that Jack built, and it was only when the musical reached Broadway that its name was changed to Mary (Isn't It A Grand Old Name!); although usually the title is simplified further to Mary. [2] The musical was first performed at the Garrick Theatre in Philadelphia on April 5, 1920. [3] After this, the musical toured the United States prior to reaching the New York stage. [2]
The musical was mounted by producer George M. Cohan on Broadway at the Knickerbocker Theatre where it opened on October 18, 1920. It ran at the Knickerbocker for a total of 220 performances; closing on April 23, 1921. [2] The Broadway production was co-directed by Julian Mitchell and Sam Forrest. It starred Janet Velie as Mary Howells, Jack McGowan as Jack Keene, Frederic Graham as Huggins, James Marlowe as Mr. Goddard, Florrie Millership as Madeline Francis, Georgia Caine as Mrs. Keene, Charles Judels as Gaston Marceau, Helen Kling as Toddling Tessie, Lou Lockett as Two-Step Tom, Si Layman as Whirlwind Willie, and Edna Pierre as Waltzing Winnie. [2]
Mary was staged in London's West End at the Queen's Theatre the following year where it ran for a total of 93 performances from April 27, 1921, through July 9, 1921. The West End production was directed by William J. Wilson and starred Evelyn Laye as Mary Howells, Alec Regan as Jack Keene, Percy Parsons as Huggins, Ambrose Manning as Mr. Goddard, Mabel Sealby as Madeline Francis, Maidie Hope as Mrs. Keene, Margaret Lawrence as Smith, Decima McLean as Toddling Tessie, Guy Magley as Two-step Tom, Bernard Granville as Boyde, Ralph Lynn as Gaston Marceau, Clive Leslie as Deakon, Eddie McLean as Whirlwind Willie, and Maggie Dickinson as Waltzing Winnie. [3]
The first Australian production of ''Mary starred W. S. Percy and Ethel Morrison. It was staged at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide by J. C. Williamson's "Night Out" company on 23 September 1922. [4]
Otto Abels Harbach, born Otto Abels Hauerbach was an American lyricist and librettist of nearly 50 musical comedies and operettas. Harbach collaborated as lyricist or librettist with many of the leading Broadway composers of the early 20th century, including Jerome Kern, Louis Hirsch, Herbert Stothart, Vincent Youmans, George Gershwin, and Sigmund Romberg. Harbach believed that music, lyrics, and story should be closely connected, and, as Oscar Hammerstein II's mentor, he encouraged Hammerstein to write musicals in this manner. Harbach is considered one of the first great Broadway lyricists, and he helped raise the status of the lyricist in an age more concerned with music, spectacle, and stars. Some of his more famous lyrics are "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Indian Love Call" and "Cuddle up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine".
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Bella and Samuel Spewack. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off-stage between Fred Graham, the show's director, producer, and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. A secondary romance concerns Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca, and her gambler boyfriend, Bill, who runs afoul of some gangsters. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air.
The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo that specialized in musical films, made up of brothers Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. Together they received various accolades including two Academy Awards and three Grammy Awards. They received nominations for a Laurence Olivier Award, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globe Awards. In 1976, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the National Medal of the Arts in 2008.
Sally is a musical comedy with music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Clifford Grey and book by Guy Bolton, with additional lyrics by Buddy De Sylva, Anne Caldwell and P. G. Wodehouse. The plot hinges on a mistaken identity: Sally, a waif, is a dishwasher at the Alley Inn in New York City. She poses as a famous foreign ballerina and rises to fame through joining the Ziegfeld Follies. There is a rags to riches story, a ballet as a centrepiece, and a wedding as a finale. "Look for the Silver Lining" continues to be one of Kern's most familiar songs. The song is lampooned by another song, "Look for a Sky of Blue," in Rick Besoyan's satirical 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine.
The Most Happy Fella is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the 1924 play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard. The show is described by some theatre historians and critics as operatic. The original Broadway production ran for 14 months and it has enjoyed several revivals, including one staged by the New York City Opera.
Jack Gilford was an American Broadway, film, and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Save the Tiger (1973).
Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, a major division and business unit of The Walt Disney Company.
The Knickerbocker Theatre, previously known as Abbey's Theatre and Henry Abbey's Theatre, was a Broadway theatre located at 1396 Broadway in New York City. It operated from 1893 to 1930. In 1906, the theatre introduced the first moving electrical sign on Broadway to advertise its productions.
Edwin Hunter Pendleton Arden was an American actor, theatre manager, and playwright.
Bertram Wallis was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later appeared in several film roles.
Gustave Adolph Kerker, sometimes given as Gustav or Gustavus Kerker, was a Kingdom of Prussia-born composer and conductor who spent most of his life in the United States. He became a musical director for Broadway theatre productions and wrote the music for a series of operettas and musicals produced on Broadway and in the West End. His most famous musical was The Belle of New York (1897).
Let's Face It! is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields is based on the 1925 play The Cradle Snatchers by Russell Medcraft and Norma Mitchell.
Hubert Edward Hassard Short, usually known as Hassard Short, was an actor, stage director, set designer and lighting designer in musical theatre who directed over 50 Broadway and West End shows between 1920 and 1953. Theatre historian Ken Bloom called him "one of Broadway's greatest directors and lighting designers", while theatre writer John Kenrick described him as a "groundbreaking director and choreographer".
Vivienne Osborne was an American stage and film actress known for her work in Broadway theatre and in silent and sound films.
Lollipop is a musical comedy in three acts with book by Zelda Sears, lyrics by Sears and Walter De Leon, and music by Vincent Youmans. The show was produced by Henry W. Savage at the Knickerbocker Theatre, and opened January 21, 1924.
Frederick Pope Stamper, usually credited as F. Pope Stamper or F. Pope-Stamper, less often as Pope Stamper, was an English stage and film actor who appeared mostly in Edwardian musical comedy.
Frank Mandel was an American playwright and producer. He co-wrote several productions. Some of his works were adapted by others. Several of his collaborations were adapted into films. UCLA's libraries have a collection of his papers.
Janet Velie was an American actress who was primarily known for her performances in Broadway musicals. She first came to prominence portraying the title roles in the musicals La La Lucille (1919) and Mary (1920), and then had success in the Ed Wynn music revues The Perfect Fool (1921) and The Grab Bag (1924). In 1925 she created the role of confidence woman Penelope Martin in Irving Berlin's The Cocoanuts; a role she reprised in 1927. She was the sister of actor Jay Velie and sometimes performed in productions with him. In addition to her work in theatre, she also appeared in a few short films.
Edward Royce or Edward Royce Jr. was an English director and choreographer of musical theatre, best remembered for his series of successful productions on Broadway. His father was the actor, dancer, singer and stage manager E. W. Royce.