Broadway in the 1920sBroadway in the 1920s

By Ava SkolnikBy Ava Skolnik

And Sarah FasanoAnd Sarah Fasano

Why Did We Pick Broadway?Why Did We Pick Broadway?

Broadway was– and Broadway was– and still is– a huge part still is– a huge part of entertainmentof entertainment

Has influenced Has influenced theater, music, and theater, music, and film everywherefilm everywhere

Entertainment Entertainment capitalcapital

Broadway (The Street)Broadway (The Street)

Times Square in NYTimes Square in NY

70-80 theaters70-80 theaters

Reached its prime Reached its prime in the 1920sin the 1920s

Post-WWI Post-WWI gathering placegathering place

A Broadway celebration

Broadway TheatersBroadway Theaters

Lawrence Langer’s Lawrence Langer’s Theater Guild Theater Guild influenced worldinfluenced world

+50 new musicals +50 new musicals opened in 20sopened in 20s

Thriving form of Thriving form of entertainment in entertainment in the “Roaring 20s”the “Roaring 20s”

The theaters of Broadway

Major 1920s Broadway ShowsMajor 1920s Broadway Shows

Bronze Advertisement for a Broadway show from 1920 1920s Playbill

ShowboatShowboat Premiered December Premiered December

27, 192727, 1927

Ziegfeld TheatreZiegfeld Theatre

Music: Jerome KernMusic: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Oscar Lyrics/Book: Oscar

Hammerstein IIHammerstein II

Themes: Mixed Themes: Mixed marriage, gambling, marriage, gambling, infidelity, illegitimacyinfidelity, illegitimacy

No, No, NanetteNo, No, Nanette

First produced on First produced on Broadway Broadway September 16, 1925September 16, 1925

Ran for 321 showsRan for 321 shows

Well-known songs: Well-known songs: “Tea For Two” and “I “Tea For Two” and “I Want To Be Happy”Want To Be Happy”

Film remake of play from 1930

Lady, Be GoodLady, Be Good

Opened December 1, Opened December 1, 1924 (Liberty Theatre)1924 (Liberty Theatre)

Music: George GershwinMusic: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

(older sister)(older sister)

Written by Guy BoltonWritten by Guy Bolton

First starred Fred Astaire First starred Fred Astaire and older sister, Adeleand older sister, Adele Stillframe from 1941

film remake

Major Broadway ComposersMajor Broadway Composers

George Gershwin

Cole Porter

George Gershwin ( 1898 – George Gershwin ( 1898 – 1937 )1937 )

AKA: Jacob Gershovitz AKA: Jacob Gershovitz

““Rhapsody in Blue” Rhapsody in Blue” composercomposer

Wrote Wrote Lady Be GoodLady Be Good, , Funny FaceFunny Face, many , many othersothers

Died at age 38 from Died at age 38 from a brain tumor a brain tumor

Rogers and HartRogers and Hart

Richard Rogers and Richard Rogers and Lorenz HartLorenz Hart

Composed Composed “Manhattan” and “Manhattan” and “Blue Moon”“Blue Moon”

Wrote about 30 Wrote about 30 musicals togethermusicals together

Cole Porter ( 1891 – 1964 )Cole Porter ( 1891 – 1964 )

Wrote mostly Wrote mostly musical comediesmusical comedies

Wrote Wrote Kiss Me, Kiss Me, KateKate and and Anything Anything GoesGoes

Composed “I Get a Composed “I Get a Kick Out of You” Kick Out of You” and “I’ve Got You and “I’ve Got You Under My SkinUnder My Skin

VaudevilleVaudeville

Entertainment Entertainment closely linked with closely linked with BroadwayBroadway

Included music, Included music, dance, comedy, dance, comedy, animals, magic, etc.animals, magic, etc.

From "voix de ville", From "voix de ville", or "voice of the city" or "voice of the city"

1929 Vaudeville show Lamb Chops

The Theatre GuildThe Theatre Guild

Founded in 1919 by Founded in 1919 by Lawrence LangnerLawrence Langner

Has produced 228 Has produced 228 Broadway playsBroadway plays

Nearly 200 under Nearly 200 under LangnerLangner

Greatly contributed Greatly contributed to Broadway to Broadway success in the 20ssuccess in the 20s

Theatre Guild Logo

Broadway TodayBroadway Today

More and more More and more musicalsmusicals

Ticket prices have Ticket prices have soared, now not as soared, now not as available to lower available to lower classclass

Most plays are more Most plays are more sophisticated, sophisticated, narrower audiencenarrower audienceBroadway advertisements