What is the oldest show?

Posted: 11/23/03 at 9:25pm

Which musical in your collection, or in your memory, is the oldest one you have either heard or seen?

For example, the oldest I belive I have is an LP of 45 Minutes From Broadway which opened in 1906. While the show is the oldest in my collection the recording is actually from the 60s and "introducing" Tammy Grimes.

Any contributors to this topic?

Bulldog.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 9:25pm

I'm so young...

Posted: 11/23/03 at 9:28pm

Let me make it clear...I didn't see 45 MINUTES!...it's just an LP in my collection.

Some of you might think I'm as old as Broadway itself, but that isn't the case.


Bulldog.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 9:39pm

You look really good for your age BB--still able to wear that blue speedo! =)

My collection's oldest is Lady Be Good--granted the recording is from the 90s.

Posted: 11/23/03 at 10:20pm

Mine must be SHOWBOAT or something like that.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 10:21pm

I'm going to put my speedo picture up...

Posted: 11/24/03 at 12:09am

I can just put a boxer short pic up.. When I wear boxers they look like speedos.... lol

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 5:53am

The oldest show I have a recording of is the 1920 Rodgers and Hart show, "Fly With Me" - but the recording was made in 1980 by the Columbia University revival cast.

The oldest actual recordings of musical theater songs I have were made in 1927 - Helen Morgan singing two songs from Rodgers and Hart's "Peggy Ann".

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 12:37pm

When I was a young girl, I had recordings of Lillian Russell!!!

Miriam

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 3:47pm

i have a recording that i'm trying to identify, which i think is a demo for the original GRAND HOTEL (sometimes known as AT THE GRAND which is one of the songs on it)...it sounds as if Wright & Forrest themselves are singing and playing the piano. Not sure what year that would have been, but no later than 1940 i'd say...

[krisjoseph]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 4:04pm

What, Bulldog -- no G&S in your collection? They premiered The Sorceror in 1871, and Pinafore in 1872.

I refuse, however, to admit that I own any recording of HMS Pinafore.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 4:50pm

i have some G&S but the recordings themselves are not that old.

Posted: 11/24/03 at 4:57pm

Kris, thanks for reminding me. I do indeed have G&S and I forget that their shows played B'way in the late 1800s. Albeit in mostly prirated productions.

It was only in the last several years that I personally developed an interest in G&S I will admit. But once I explored the marvels of their work it became apparent that they indeed started the theatrical musical, in my opinion.

Sullivan was the most celebrated composer in Victorian England. He always lamented that his classical music never achieved the level of his theatrical work. His non-theatrical work however, symphonies and ballets, are quite exquisite as well.

Cheers!

Bulldog

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 5:34pm

Oldest show I have would be the Broadway version of The Wizard of Oz which was produced in 1903.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 6:38pm

for those new to G&S (or established fans who missed it) the wonderful movie TOPSY TURVY is particularly fascinating about them. There is also a play-with-music i believe called SULLIVAN & GILBERT which explores their relationship.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 7:48pm

In the mid-90s, the Metropolitan Opera Guild issued a set of Broadway CDs called ORIGINAL CAST! which traced the history of Broadway recordings from 1891 to the present. Each decade got a double or quadruple CD devoted to original Broadway recordings. "The Early Years - 1891-1929" features a lot of rare cuts (many from unique wax cylinder recordings) starting with "The Armorer's Song" from ROBIN HOOD (1891) sung by Eugene Cowles moving into "Come Down Ma' Evenin' Star" sung by Lillian Russell from TWIRLY-WHIRLY (1902; recorded in 1912),"Under the Bamboo Tree" sung by Marie Cahill from SALLY IN OUR ALLEY (1902; recorded 1917) "Since Dolly Dimple Made A Hit" (a really wierd fun song) sung by gooney Grace Cameron from the 1904 hit PIFF! PAFF!! POUF!!! (one of the best titles of ANY Broadway musical)...concluding with "Don't Ever Leave Me" from SWEET ADELINE sung by Helen Morgan.


(Alas, I had the complete CD set, but a friend who borrowed one of them - a late 1940s two-disc - lost it when his car was stolen. Naturally the series is out of print and I haven't been able to find ANY of them in two years. A gentle reminder to NEVER LOAN OUT ONES CDs.)

Posted: 11/25/03 at 4:20pm

I'll proudly admit I have the complete G&S collection, including HMS Pinafore.

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/25/03 at 6:03pm

Is it possible I heard Merman doing Gypsy? Dunno, but it sticks in my head as a vague memory. Otherwise, Showboat is on the list (not the Prince revival!)

Posted: 11/25/03 at 9:08pm

thats actually hard to say...hmmm....i dunno,