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[0:00] Alfred Simon: Youmans' last theater score was only a partial score for a show called Take a Chance, which started out with the title Humpty Dumpty, but was a miserable failure when it had its out-of-town tryout in Pittsburgh. But the producers gave it a second chance and did a number of rewrites, including bringing in Vincent Youmans to contribute seven songs. And Al, you saw that show, didn't you?

[1:10] Al: I did, yeah. Ethel Merman was a big hit in that show, and she sang a song called Rise and Shine, which is in the order of Hallelujah and Draws My Heart, and so on. The best song in the show, which unfortunately was not kept in the show, but I first heard about it on the Mary Martin record of I Want to Be With You.

[1:58] ♪ Musical number: "I Want to Be With You" — performed by Mary Martin ♪

[3:37] ♪ Musical number: "Rise and Shine" — performed by Ethel Merman ♪

[5:46] Alfred Simon: Two songs by Vincent Youmans and Buddy Da Silva for the show Take a Chance in 1932. You heard I Want to Be With You performed by Mary Martin, a song that never made it to the New York opening, and the song that Ethel Merman, at an early point in her career, introduced, Rise and Shine. And Take a Chance, unfortunately, was the last Broadway show that Vincent Youmans contributed to, and except for the film Flying Down to Rio, which was released the following year, Youmans' professional career was all but over. He, very sadly, contracted tuberculosis and spent really the rest of his life as a semi-invalid, and died prematurely, as did George Gershwin. Really, we're paying tribute to two men who would have been 83 today and might really still be alive.

It's amazing. I think the output between the two is kind of interesting. Just amazing. Both young and prolific. It's like comparing Mozart and Schubert in the classical vein, because they both died very young. After Take a Chance, Youmans was called to Hollywood, as a lot of Broadway composers were, and he did four wonderful songs, with the help of the lyricists, with the help of Eddie Elaskew and Gus Kahn. He did Flying Down to Rio, the title song, Music Makes Me, Carioca, and Orchids in the Moonlight. And Flying Down to Rio is probably most notable, apart from its Youmans score, as being the first vehicle for the team of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

[8:39] ♪ Musical number: "Music Makes Me" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[10:03] ♪ Musical number: "Flying Down to Rio" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[12:51] ♪ Musical number: "Flying Down to Rio" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[14:11] Paul Lazarus: This is Anything Goes with Paul Lazarus and special guest, noted musical theater historian Alfred Simon.

[14:27] Paul Lazarus: Al and I both agreed that we couldn't pass up the fact that the day before Vincent Youmans' birthday was George Gershwin's birthday. So we have worked to prepare just a short tribute to George Gershwin on what would have been his 83rd birthday as well. Al, we're going to start out with a song from Of Thee I Sing, a song entitled Hello, Good Morning, and I particularly wanted to go into this score because you served as rehearsal pianist on this score. And just, can you share with us what it was like to be around Gershwin in those days?

[14:50] Alfred Simon: Well, it was a fabulous experience for a guy who was in his early 20s to be rehearsal pianist for a show which later got the Pulitzer Prize.

[15:01] Paul Lazarus: Al, you talked about this particular song we're going to play, Hello, Good Morning, from the score to Of Thee I Sing. First of all, it's the beginning of the second act, correct?

[15:10] Alfred Simon: Oh, that's right.

[15:11] Paul Lazarus: Since Winter Green has already been elected president and in the White House, what was the setting of the song and who sang it originally?

[15:19] Alfred Simon: It was sung by the White House secretaries, both male and female. And in the original show, the lead dancer and singer was George Murphy, who later became famous in politics.

[15:35] Paul Lazarus: Did you have occasion to speak with Gershwin? And he probably corrected you occasionally on that.

[15:41] Alfred Simon: Occasionally, yes, but he was very pleasant about it. He knew that I was very much a fan of his, and he was very kind.

[15:50] Paul Lazarus: He was a perfectionist, though, wouldn't you say?

[15:53] Alfred Simon: Yes, but he wasn't unpleasant about it. You know, people often, well, I guess there's arguments over how much he orchestrated himself, but I remember we were talking, and you felt very strongly that in the case of Porgy and Bess, he did orchestrate it. I'm thinking Of Thee I Sing. It was mostly orchestrated by, I imagine, Russell Bennett. I'm not sure.

[16:18] Paul Lazarus: Well, we're going to feature the revival cast recording of Of Thee I Sing, made in 1952.

[16:25] Alfred Simon: 1952.

[16:26] Paul Lazarus: Right. And as well, as part of this quick tribute, a very scratching-the-surface-type tribute to George Gershwin, we're going to feature a very rare recording of George Gershwin at a rehearsal for Porgy and Bess, one of the very few recordings of Gershwin at work, let's say. And we'll end this small tribute to George Gershwin with a song called Fascinating Rhythm, with Gershwin himself at the piano accompanying Fred and Adele Astaire.

[17:10] ♪ Musical number: "Hello, Good Morning" — performed by the cast of Of Thee I Sing ♪

[19:59] Paul Lazarus: That about wraps it up today on Anything Goes, and what has been a tribute to two of the great composers for the American musical theatre, born one day apart in 1898, Vincent Youmans and George Gershwin. The final pieces you heard were Hello, Good Morning, the 1952 revival cast of Of Thee I Sing, Gershwin at a rehearsal of Porgy and Bess himself, and finally Fascinating Rhythm, a very appropriate song, I think, for tribute to George Gershwin, performed by Fred and Adele Astaire with Gershwin himself at the piano.

[23:41] Paul Lazarus: My guest and co-producer on this programme has been Alfred Simon, and Al, I want to thank you for coming on today and helping us explore the world of music. I want to thank you for coming on today and helping us explore the work of Vincent Youmans and George Gershwin. I've enjoyed it a great deal. We're running a little short today, so I'm able to feature a bonus Vincent Youmans song. Here's the extraordinary Ella Fitzgerald with Count Basie singing Vincent Youmans' most famous song, Tea for Two.

[24:22] ♪ Musical number: "Tea for Two" — performed by Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie ♪

[27:39] Paul Lazarus: You've been listening to Part 3 of Alfred Simon talking about composers Vincent Youmans and George Gershwin. Anything Goes! Backstage with Broadway's Best is produced and hosted by Paul Lazarus. For more information, visit anythinggospl.com. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to rate and follow us. Thanks for listening.