Sammy Davis Jr., age 7 (!) in
Rufus Jones For President,
a 21 minute, pre-code "short" released in 1933.
It starred Sammy (who yup, got to be president),
and Ethel Waters.
We'll hear Sammy's rendition of
"I'll Be Glad When You're Dead" on Sunday!
"I'll Be Glad When You're Dead" on Sunday!
(It was his first "on screen" appearance.)
Thirty-one years later
(with lots of recordings, club performances, and films under his belt),
Sammy starred on Broadway in
Golden Boy,
which was actually based on a 1937 play by Clifford Odets.
He gave the show's song-writing team of Charles Strouse
and Lee Adams some challenges,
insisting that all of his solos be written in his "night club style".
They went along with his wishes, of course...
they didn't want to lose
that star power!
Below, Sammy with his co-star,
Paula Wayne.
In our tribute to the Pink Moon (?) we had this week,
we'll hear Cliff Edwards (aka Ukele Ike)
and his rendition of
"It's Only A Paper Moon",
"It's Only A Paper Moon",
a Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg/Billy Rose tune
written for a flop called The Great Magoo, back in 1932!
We also get a chance on Sunday to sample
Ben Bernie And All The Lads,
a short film that feature Ben Bernie's group.
The original band featured Oscar Levant,
but I don't think I see him below.
Anyhoo, we'll hear Ben and those lads sing
"He's The Last Word".
And then a few tracks from the recording
of Elaine Stritch At Liberty,
Elaine's one woman show,
which will include her memories about
arriving in NYC at the age of 17,
landing a date with Marlon Brando,
and landing a part in Angels in the Wings!
Above Elaine young,
below Elaine experienced!
Skip Hinnant and Reva Rose
as Schroeder and Lucy
in the original production of
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown...
Moonlight Sonata
(a smash hit for Beethoven!).
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