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The Beginning of Musical Theatre
"The Black Crook" is often said to be the beginning of American musical theatre. This show came about by accident as an enterprising producer enhanced a cliche-ridden melodrama by adding a stranded troupe of ballet dancers. A variety of songs were added and the show sparked the interest of audiences. It ran for 476 performances and it became the first production anywhere to run over a year. -
George Cohan wrote a string of musical comedies
These shows held a stronger sense of story that featured an integrated song like" I'm a Yankee Doodle Boy." This musical featured controversial lyrics and something new: a tap-dancing leading man. His shows had great financial success and appealed to a nation that had a sense of pride and possibilities. -
Florenz Ziegfeld starts popularizing the Broadway revue for the upper-class
The constant presence of the "Ziegfeld Girls" was recurring. They were attractive and glamorous young women who wore elaborate costumes and performed memorable music numbers. -
"Show Boat" becomes first musical based on a serious novel
The"Show Boat" lyrics and book were written by Oscar Hammerstein III. The music was created by Jerome Kern. It was also based on a novel by Edna Ferner with the same name. "Show Boat" challenged audiences of its era by integrating a variety of music styles including African American folk song ( "Can't Help Lovin' That Man"), spiritual (Old Man River"), operetta ("Make Believe"), and musical comedy ("Life on the Wicked Stage"), It was about a biracial woman and her husband. -
The Stock Market Crashes
During the run of Kern and Hammerstein's " Sweet Adeline", the stock market crashed. This launched the American economy into a decade-long Great Depression. Theatres closed. Musical talent like Kern and Hammerstein went to Hollywood. This is where the rise of talking films offered them a relatively lucrative market for their talents. -
"Of Thee I Sing!" is Released
"Of Thee I Sing!" was a musical satirizing politics and politicians with music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and libretto by George S Kaufman. This marked a new measure of respect for musical theatre. It was the first musical to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first musical of the 1930s to run for over 400 performances and have its book and lyrics published. -
The Golden Age of Musicals Begins
In the aftermath of World Word II, the United States had emerged as the "good guy" superpower, having helped defeat the Nazis and now standing as the democratic opposition to the communist-run Soviet Bloc. The leaders of the Golden Age of Musicals were Rodgers and Hammerstein, and their first collaboration, "Oklahoma!", based on Lynn Rigg's play "Green Grow the Lilacs". "Oklahoma!" was the first musical to feature a two-person opening scene, a dream ballet, and dialogue. -
"Oklahoma!" Inspires Innovation of Cast Recording
This allowed millions of people to hear shows they had never seen. Signifying the influence of this musical, Rogers and Hammerstein are awarded a special Pulitzer Prize for "Oklahoma!". -
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Rodgers and Hammerstein continue their success
"Carousel" and "South Pacific" are released. The latter ran for 1,925 performances and won 10 Tony Awards as well as the Pulitzer Prize. Memorable songs were "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" and " You've Got to Be Carefully Taught." " -
"Annie Get Your Gun" is released
Irvin Berling's "Annie Get Your Gun" was another notable Golden Age Musical released in 1946. It was a fictionalized account of a sharpshooter named Annie Oakley starring Ethel Merman. The hit song was "There's No Business Like Show Business." -
"Gentleman Prefer Blondes" is released
This show by Jule Styne and Leo Rubin featured the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend. It ran for 740 performances and launched Carol Channing's career. This film starred Marilyn Monroe. -
"Guys and Dolls" is released
Working with different collaborators, composer and lyricist Frank Loesser enjoyed great success with "Guys and Dolls." It was unusual because it contained four co-leads. It was recommended for the 1951 Pulitzer Prize, but because one of the book writers was under investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee, no Pulitzer Prize was awarded that year. -
"Damn Yankees" is released"
"Damn Yankees" was the story of a middle-aged baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil for a chance to lead his team to victory over the Yankees. It was a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop. Music and lyrics were created by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It ran for 1,019 performances.