13 - The First Day of the Last Month of 1924

Summary

Three musicals opened on 1 December, two of which are especially important in the history of the American musical theatre: Lady, Be Good! with songs by George and Ira Gershwin, including ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, and starring Adele and Fred Astaire; and Irving Berlin’s Music Box Revue, the final instalment in the series that featured Fanny Brice, Grace Moore and Oscar Shaw. Also opening on that date was Princess April, a typical rags-to-riches tale about a young Irish immigrant. That type of plot had become so well worn that the show could not keep up with its competition. Lady, Be Good!, in addition to its brilliant score that included ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘Oh, Lady Be Good’, and ‘Little Jazz Bird’, featured the duo pianists Victor Arden and Phil Ohmen and solidified the producing partnership of Alvin A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley. Music Box Revue had a framing story about Rip Van Winkle and included several overtly racist scenes as well as some stunningly beautiful ones, such as ‘All Alone’ performed by Moore and Shaw.