#1
Posted: 6/28/08 at 12:23am
I plowed right through Charles Strouse's dishy and touching memoir, Put on a Happy Face this afternoon. It's filled with wonderful backstage antecdotes (and not the typical ones we've heard, either) and wonderful peeks into Strouse's creative process. Some interesting things in the book that may warrant some discussion on the board (SPOILER ALERT, IF YOU CARE):
-Strouse and Adams were called to Detroit to write a First Act Finale for Hello, Dolly! and even picked out a situation and title, "Before the Parade Passes By", but Gower Champion and David Merrick found their version unsuitable and left it to Jerry Herman to write the song. We know that. Strouse and Adams, however, went through legal issues regarding the songs which resulted in Champion not talking to both until sometime in 1970, Mike Stewart not speaking to them until Strouse expressed his sympathy over Stewart's parter dying and even cheerful old Jerry Herman ending communication with them until sometime in the 70s.
-Sammy Davis was out of his mind. Strouse and Adams played him a song for Golden Boy while he was in Vegas doing his act. He showed up three hours late (Instead of 1 AM, he showed up at 3). Strouse and Adams played the song and Sammy got up and hugged them. Really hugged them. Then he hugged his lawyer. Then his lawyer hugged his publicist. Then his publicist hugged his secretary. They were all hugging each other over a freakin' song. I found that very amusing. Wait, no. I found it hysterical. ("He likes it!" I imagined his publicist screaming, "Oh god! He likes it!") I don't know why. I suppose I do, but it's hard to explain why. Sammy also talked in complete gibberish, which made it difficult for people to understand him.
-Charles went to Alabama with Sammy for a Civil Rights protest. Who did he meet there? Lenny Bernstein! Had he and Lenny gotten shot, it would have made the papers and brought up ticket sales.
-Ron Field was very insecure. Especially about his hair.
-Martin Charnin came across as a complete ass.
-Lee Adams came across as a really lovely guy.
-Strouse complained about some back pains and Alan Lerner replied, "Dear boy, just take this. It'll solve the problem in no time." Strouse called for his wife a children five minutes later so they could see him die. He recovered from Alan's pill.
Strouse on Alan Lerner: "Never take a pill from Alan Jay Lerner."
-Charles goes to Arthurs Laurents' place. Laurents opens the door giggling. "What's so funny?" "Tony Perkins has AIDS!" he laugh. Uh...?
It's filled with wonderful stuff. Go get it and read it!
-Strouse and Adams were called to Detroit to write a First Act Finale for Hello, Dolly! and even picked out a situation and title, "Before the Parade Passes By", but Gower Champion and David Merrick found their version unsuitable and left it to Jerry Herman to write the song. We know that. Strouse and Adams, however, went through legal issues regarding the songs which resulted in Champion not talking to both until sometime in 1970, Mike Stewart not speaking to them until Strouse expressed his sympathy over Stewart's parter dying and even cheerful old Jerry Herman ending communication with them until sometime in the 70s.
-Sammy Davis was out of his mind. Strouse and Adams played him a song for Golden Boy while he was in Vegas doing his act. He showed up three hours late (Instead of 1 AM, he showed up at 3). Strouse and Adams played the song and Sammy got up and hugged them. Really hugged them. Then he hugged his lawyer. Then his lawyer hugged his publicist. Then his publicist hugged his secretary. They were all hugging each other over a freakin' song. I found that very amusing. Wait, no. I found it hysterical. ("He likes it!" I imagined his publicist screaming, "Oh god! He likes it!") I don't know why. I suppose I do, but it's hard to explain why. Sammy also talked in complete gibberish, which made it difficult for people to understand him.
-Charles went to Alabama with Sammy for a Civil Rights protest. Who did he meet there? Lenny Bernstein! Had he and Lenny gotten shot, it would have made the papers and brought up ticket sales.
-Ron Field was very insecure. Especially about his hair.
-Martin Charnin came across as a complete ass.
-Lee Adams came across as a really lovely guy.
-Strouse complained about some back pains and Alan Lerner replied, "Dear boy, just take this. It'll solve the problem in no time." Strouse called for his wife a children five minutes later so they could see him die. He recovered from Alan's pill.
Strouse on Alan Lerner: "Never take a pill from Alan Jay Lerner."
-Charles goes to Arthurs Laurents' place. Laurents opens the door giggling. "What's so funny?" "Tony Perkins has AIDS!" he laugh. Uh...?
It's filled with wonderful stuff. Go get it and read it!
