Rocky to take the Winter Garden - Page 4

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 12:20pm

MisterMatt--that Winter Garden show was actually three shows in one:

"Bow Sing," a one-act opera
"Le Belle Paree," a musical revue that featured "The Edinburgh Wriggle"
and the Tortajada and Her Sixteen Moorish Dancing Girls in a Spanish Ballet

They wee sort of three different shows. I'd love to see a revival of "La Belle Paree"!

Here's Bernadette Peters performing "The Edinburgh Wriggle" on the 1975 Tonys:

http://youtu.be/Jm29Q9ixi3k

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 12:28pm

The Winter Garden was supposed to be "the American version of the Gay Life in Paris, Berlin, London and Vienna."

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 12:30pm

The reviews were not good:

The Winter Garden is on the site of the old horse exchange. Judging by the smell of last night's show, things haven't changed much.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 12:50pm

^-- That review is AMAZING! I love it!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:13pm

"Refreshments Served"
"Smoking Permitted"

*snicker* These were advertised to ENTICE people to attend this theatre. And yet, somehow people think we've recently regressed.

Well, it doesn't get much gayer than Cats or Mamma Mia at The Winter Garden, so...mission accomplished!

I'd love to know how those three shows were put together. According to the song list, Eczema Johnson performed three numbers, two in the first act and one in the second. And then there was Toots Horner, who also performed in both acts. But it's difficult to tell what songs went with what and Jerome Kern wrote music for all of them. I guess the songs were fillers between the acts or something. I would have loved to see what that whole event looked like.

Eczema Johnson may just have to be my drag name.

[ForPoland]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:14pm

"I mean, Ahrens and Flaherty are involved and their work is always professional, and 95% of the time, wonderful. For me, at least."

The video hasn't made me lose hope yet. I'm curious to see the writers of RAGTIME take on something as American as ROCKY.

Someone mentioned that TARZAN got great European reviews. Not arguing the quality of Tarzan, but wasn't that after significant revising?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:49pm

I think the Jerome Kern music, the character of Eczema Jones and the Al Jolson character were part of La Belle Paree, which was a two-act musical with a story (or what amounted to a story in 1911) involving a wealthy American widow who goes to Paris and meets all sorts of people.

The one-act opera called "Bow Sing," which was undoubtedly as racist by contemporary standards as was Al Jolson's blackface character, was a sort of curtain-raiser.

Tortajada and her "Moorish Dancing Girls" (also, presumable, racist by today's standards) was probably an after-act, which patrons couyld see or not see, depending on their dinner plans.

And, don't forget--the Winter Garden had a rooftop cafe and stage back then. You could go up there too after the show!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:52pm

You have to love a show that advertises "30 STARS, 250 NEAR-STARS, ORCHESTRA OF 50" and "FOLLIES-BE-JOLLIES: Travesty on the Kitchenette Concert Hall."

I haven't a clue what that means.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:54pm

PJ your knowledge of the NYC theatre scene is amazing! I love your posts like the one above! So educational!!!

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:56pm

Mr. Clarke, It's Professor Pal Joey, please!

He's the best!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 1:58pm

"450 AUTOS IN LINE NIGHTLY" makes me highly suspicious. I want a photo of that. But it is the "Classiest Sunday Night Bill in New York". You can't get more classy than Eczema Johnson. And you won't have to pay more than $1.50.

And yes, I really want to know more about the Travesty on the Kitchenette Concert Hall.

Follies-Be-Jollies sounds a little perverted...and AWESOME.

[Rabekriegerin]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 4:39pm

Well, as we appear content to treat Rocky as the proverbial punching bag, I suppose there's not much for it but to see whether the show is half so resilient as its namesake. He wasn't supposed to stay standing at the end of the onslaught either.

I wonder how far the sheer name recognition will go to counter the incredulity of the idea of Rocky as a Musical. It will certainly be interesting to find out.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 6:04pm

"Remember Sophie Jimmy & Georgy played the WG"

I do remember, and with the fondest of memories. Jimmy was not up to snuff, but the other two transported me to seventh heaven. And you know what? Both of them were a gazillion and one times better than any Tony Award winners (or nominees) of the last thirty years.

And that includes any and all that will be announced tomorrow morning.

And egghumor, thanks for the posters, and the happy memories they prompted.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 6:12pm

Both of them were a gazillion and one times better than any Tony Award winners (or nominees) of the last thirty years.

No, they weren't.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 6:34pm

To the ever charming and gracious Mister Matt,

You know what? You're right. Upon reflection, I realize that they were two gazillion and one times better.

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 7:03pm

You are entirely welcome, AE! Let me know if you have any requests (window cards and/or playbill images), and I'll try fulfill...

[BWFan101]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 7:16pm

The Rocky IV soundtrack is one of my favorite albums of all time! If the show includes all of those songs, I'd love it. But I guess I could just go see Survivor perform instead.

[sunni2]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 8:48pm

Hi!
I'm a musical fan from Germany and I have seen Rocky until now 7 times.

In my opinion it is a great show and I hope that it will be a success in NY!

Rocky is something completely different and it was absolutely the best choice to give the main role to Drew Sarich!
He is very convincing and his vocal performance is stunning!

But also the performance of other castmembers is great and I'm very curious if someone goes along to the broadway - perhaps Drew or Terence Archie who plays Apollo Creed.

The special feature 'Golden Circle' ist very interesting and it is a very exciting perspective to see the show.
Unfortunately the tickets in this area are very expensive.

If there are questions, please ask!
I'm sorry that my english is not better, but I will do my best!

Best regards from Germany!
sunni

[Dessie]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 9:02pm

..
schill

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 9:05pm

Bring Back Shirley Yamaguchhi!

Welcome German Friend!

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 9:40pm

CurtainPullDowner, Since you're obviously a hardcore Shirley Yamaguchi fan, I realize you might have an autographed copy of this flyer at home, but just in case... A trip back to Shirley's golden years... (1956 Philadelphia)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 10:11pm

"La Belle Paree" (with music by Jerome Kern), was a "jumble of jollity in two acts and eleven scenes," and ran from Mar 20-Jun 10, 1911.

Apparently there's a recording of Jolson singing "That Lovin' Traumerei" but not "Paris Is a Paradise for Coons":
Music from the New York Stage 1890-1920, Vol. 2: 1908-1913: That Lovin' Traumerei [La Belle Paree]

Updated On: 4/29/13 at 10:11 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 10:27pm

Here are the (fairly incomprehensible) lyrics to "Jolson's song That Lovin' Traumerei." Clearly, it was another blackface number, but WTF is a "traumerei"?


THAT LOVIN' TRAUMEREI

Moses Johnson played piano mighty swell
He could play Il Travotore and William Tell

But Moses had to rag to sweetest melody
Ragin' classic tunes was Moses' specialty

Moses loved a gal named Phoebe Snow
Phoebe she was crazy 'bout his playin' so

She sit beside him waitin' with her heart a pal-pi-ta-tin'
While he startin' syn-co-patin' soft and low

Then she heave sighs at him,
Roll up dem eyes at him
And she softly say

Play that Traumerei for me
A lovin' feelin' comes a stealin' with that melody

My lovin' darlin' honey I could love you till I die
For when you're a playin' me that lovin' Traumerei

(Instrumental)

Music surely certainly makes me feel just like a fool
Honey, honey, don't you move from that piano stool

I'd like to see your fingers glidin' on the keys
Play that Traumerei again, boy go on hon', please

Moses, don't make your Phoebe plead in vain
Don't you know I'm crazy bout that lovin' strain?

You know I heard some white folks saying
That Carouso's voice was swayin'
But I'd rather hear you playin' that refrain

Seems like I could float away,
'Most every time you play me that Traumerei
Play that Traumerei for me

A lovin' feelin' comes a stealin' with that melody
My lovin' darlin' honey I could love you till I die

For when you're a-playin' me that lovin' Traumerei.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 10:29pm

Rocky without the iconic "Rocky Theme"....how is that even possible? Or have they gotten permission to interpolate it into the score?

Updated On: 4/29/13 at 10:29 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/13 at 10:36pm

Yes--they have permission.

Here's a full recording of the Jolson:

http://youtu.be/emzJKrzZKO8

"Traumerei" apparently is a dream or reverie.