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Ruby Keeler/"I Want To Be Happy"/No No Nannette

Ruby Keeler/"I Want To Be Happy"/No No Nannette

Flippancy Profile Photo
Flippancy
#1Ruby Keeler/"I Want To Be Happy"/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/8/08 at 1:36pm

Does anyone know if there is any archival video footage of Keeler and company doing the "I Want To Be Happy" number?

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frontrowcentre2
#2re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 5:10am

I think they did this routine on the 1972 Tony awards. Van & Gallagher did the You Can Dance with Any Girl routine and I think Keeler and Company did the Happy tap.


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#2re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 7:32am

I still have the 1972 show on VHS. I'll look for the No No Nannette segment and put it on YouTube.


Flippancy Profile Photo
Flippancy
#3re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 8:52am

Pal,

THANKS SO MUCH for putting the Happy tap number on youtube! I don't know why, but I've always been curious to see it. It sounds so exciting on the cast album. I recently got the book "The Making of No No Nannette" from the library for a little light reading, and it reawakened those "yearning" feelings to see the number. Thanks again.

husk_charmer
#4re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 8:56am

I <3 The Making of No, No, Nanette. It was def. the best of my Christmas presents last year.


http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer

puppetman2
#5re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 1:40pm









The number was terrific in the theater. There was a long staircase on both sides of the set. Miss Keeler entered at the top and started down. You could head the taps on her shoes and everyone sort of sat up knowing what must be coming. Then she got to stage level and started the number. Of course it stopped the show.
I checked Blue Gobo site and there is no clip of it there.


It Sucks To Be Me
Updated On: 4/12/08 at 01:40 PM

allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#6re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 2:41pm

One of the highlights of my theatre-going life. Bobby Van WOW and Ruby Keeler - electric. The audience really did sit up and lap it up when she danced.

I knew Harry Rigby, who conceived the production and had it, shall we say - appropriated out from under him. He was as interesting as the whole show.

Oh well, he made a fortune a few years later with "Irene" and "Sugar Babies" so it all evened out.

And nobody's mentioned the amazing program, with illustrations by Hilary Knight ("Eloise"). That's a collector's item.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
Updated On: 4/10/08 at 02:41 PM

allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#7re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 2:41pm

oh and where's the youtube stuff?


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

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CurtainPullDowner
#8re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 4:18pm

On youtube.

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BrodyFosse123
#9re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 5:21pm

Well. Confirmed. The following was performed at the 1972 Tony Awards:

From NO, NO NANETTE: A medley was performed -- Helen Gallagher and Bobby Van performed "You Can Dance With Any Girl" and Ruby Keeler and company performed "I Want To Be Happy".

re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette

allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#10re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/9/08 at 9:53pm

Gee, CPD, did you hire writers for that clever reply?


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

sondheimboy2 Profile Photo
sondheimboy2
#11re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/10/08 at 12:11am

allofmylife, when did she go to prison and for what?

I know that after "Nanette" she produced the flop "Doctor Jazz" with many of the creative team from "Nanette" and wasn't there a production of an old Gershwin musical that closed out of town?

But what happened then?


"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba

allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#12re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/10/08 at 2:45am

Sondheimboy2, Ooopps. That was two different messages fused together by accident.

I have no idea how that happened. So sorry.

Hope nobody takes offense.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
Updated On: 4/10/08 at 02:45 AM

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#13re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/10/08 at 11:36pm

Okay found the tape--wow! What a treasure trove of a show that was! The 25th anniversary of the Tonys, all those stars recreating their famous numbers, Sondheim wins his first awards (one for music, one for lyrics) and Elaine Stritch LOSES...

...to Helen Gallagher?!?!?

Now I have to find the Ruby Keeler number.


allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#14re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 12:17am

Sounds like you have a collection to rival Miles Kruger.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
Updated On: 4/11/08 at 12:17 AM

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#15re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 12:28am

Who knows? This tape might have come from him!

I'm up to Maureen Stapleton winning for Best Actress--but no Ruby Keeler number yet...


PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#16re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 12:37am

Just watched the whole show.

No Ruby Keeler number.


alterego Profile Photo
alterego
#17re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 3:13am

Shouldn't it have been the 1971 Tony's? It opened January 1971.

allofmylife Profile Photo
allofmylife
#18re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 3:17am

I guess I'll be unhappy,
Til Pal you make me happy.
Try looking at 1971 too.


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

frontrowcentre2 Profile Photo
frontrowcentre2
#19re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 4:26am

It's not the 1971 show that the NANETTE scenes were on...it was the following year (1972) where FOLLIES loses Best musical to TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA.

No, NO NO was not even a nominee that year but they devoted air time to it anyhow....and not a note from FOLLIES!


Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#20re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 7:48am

Well this was the Tonys at which Helen Gallagher beat Elaine Stritch and Raoul Pene Du Bois and Donald Saddler won.

Ruby Keeler came out and gave an award to someone.

But there were no performances from the nominated shows--just the incredible aprade of 25th Anniversary performances and the actual awards.

Perhaps they performed on some other award show...or maybe this videotape, which I received from a collector years ago, had those numbers from nominated shows removed for some reason.

Anyway...it was fun to see Sondheim win--twice!


Smaxie Profile Photo
Smaxie
#21re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 8:05am

PalJoey, did you see the message above from Front Row? The Nanette performance is on the '72 broadcast. It's good, but it looks a bit smaller than how it was performed in the show. Plus, since they just perform in front of a backdrop, you miss that crazy moment where the dancers come rushing in from every corner of the house for the company tap section.


Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

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nmartin
#22re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 8:23am

The Making of No, No, Nannettte is such a great book. Harry Rigby, Cyma Rubin, Patsy Kelly and Busby Berkeley..what's not to love?

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#23re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 9:29am

Oh well, sorry. I don't have that show.


alterego Profile Photo
alterego
#24re: Ruby Keeler/'I Want To Be Happy'/No No Nannette
Posted: 4/11/08 at 10:40am

Someone somwhere must have it. I remember seeing the truncated NANETTE numbers and something from VERONA. As I said, someone somewhere?

Thanks for your trouble anyway PalJoey.


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