Overtures/Musicals 1950-70 (Lil Abner)

Even with all the great shows being produced on Broadway today, I just can't imagine what it must have been like to go to a show and hear these wonderful orchestrations played by a 30+ piece orchestra. Those must certainly have really been worth the $6.60 front row seat.

I'm discovering so many of these unbelievable gems on itunes and youtube etc. I've seen the movie of Lil Abner and enjoyed it but these cut songs and energetic orchestrations and choruses really make my jaw drop. It's like a treasure hunt when you find shows like these. These Goddard Lieberson recordings are Gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDR7JoM34So&index=1&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4aaBN3Wb3X9444hh8fafP2z

Check out Wildcat -- a show without much profile today, but what an overture! Robert Ginzler at his best. If the tunes were as good as the tunes in Gypsy, this would be the best overture, in my mind.

It was a great time to go to the theater, but back then a lot of patrons just chatted through the overtures, which, even as a kid I found shocking. They could have heard them all, and now it's too late. But I remember them with great fondness. And, of course, you can still hear them live at Encores, although 1776 doesn't have much of an overture.

Thanks for all these new suggestions. I haven't really heard or seen Dear World even though I know Angela Lansbury is in it. I came across Drat The Cat and wow, that is really good. Even if you just playlist the overtures, and you hear the basses, horns, tubas, timpani, strings...still still wonderful.

It's fun to see clips of older movies or Broadway shows and see people pop out of the ensemble or chorus who later on, become familiar actors or dancers. In this song from Lil Abner both Valerie Harper and Donna Douglas are dancing and singing in the ensemble in their earlier careers.

I wonder if Donna Douglas got the role of Elly Mae after casting or producers saw this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TfcJ82FAhw

Stubby Kaye sure had a style all his own and must have been fun to see on stage too.

Hi GB, Valerie Harper is in an orange short frock with hat and bouncy pigtails. She dances all around usually being placed at one end of the line or the other. Donna Douglas is harder to pick out but toward the last chorus when Stubby Kaye is by a large rock, she's on the right side of the screen.

(Youtube is such a BigBlackHole Broadway style, did you know Lee Remick played Lola in Damn Yankees)

I always appreciated growing up in New York in the sixties just because of the theatre. Even the flops (BAJOUR, FLORA THE RED MENACE, BAKER STREET) were thoroughly enjoyable. And yes, hearing a full orchestra in the pit was something I sorely miss today. I recall one of my all time favorites, HIGH SPIRITS, offered balcony seats for as little as $3.50. So back then live theatre was affordable to anyone and everyone. When orchestra seats were at a $9.95 top back then, the original cast recording LP retailed for $6.99. Compare what a show CD/download costs today in comparison to an orchestra seat. Something went wrong somewhere.

Hi Mr and D I'll have to check them out if they are online or youtube.

Thanks

Updated On: 1/31/16 at 11:00 PM

Thank you FRC2 I'll certainly check out those recordings. Is the radio show podcast or online radio only? There are just so many hours to peruse this stuff and then work and perform...etc..very grateful for all the responses from everyone. I learn more everyday.

<i>Is the radio show podcast or online radio only?</i>

It is carried by Toronto Gay/Lesbian radio station PROUD FM and the on-air feed is carried on the website (www.proudfm.com). There is no podcast as yet but as soon as teh music rights can be sortede out theer will be an archive of previous programs.

FLAHOOLEY is gem. See my review on AMAZON.com. Yma Sumac's songs can be skipped over as they are not in English and have nothing to do with the plot. The show ran just 40 p.

A few other Fabulous Flops worth checking out:

WHOOP UP (Polydor CD - originally an M-g-M Lp)

OH CAPTAIN! (DRG CD -originally a Columbia LP)

TAKE ME ALONG (DRG CD - originally RCA Victor Lp)

SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING (Fynsworth Alley CD - originally Columbia Lp)

SAIL AWAY (Broadway Angel CD - originally on Lp from Capitol)

OBCR Overtures are a playlist on my iPhone and never get tired of listening to them!

I remember sitting in the orchestra for the original Gypsy and listening to the overture. I told my mother that the music from the show was going to be a big hit. She disagreed. My mother was wrong!!!

Superman had a great one. Shots followed by "Bullets Won't Hurt Me" was a great touch. The recent Encores was the closest to the original production I have ever seen . To hear a full orchestra again brought me back to Broadway's Golden Age.

Updated On: 2/2/16 at 11:39 AM

10 to 15 seconds into an overture & you could tell if it was a Jule Styne one. They were really that distinctive.