This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Paul Lazarus: Hi, this is Paul Lazarus. In the 1980s, I produced and hosted a radio series called Anything Goes, a celebration of the American musical theater. Now the Broadway Podcast Network is bringing back these shows. This is the first of a three-part series paying tribute to universally admired wordsmith Ira Gershwin. This program originally aired in 1983 and featured many of Gershwin's standards from shows like Funny Face, Porgy and Bess, and Of Thee I Sing.

[1:22] ♪ Musical number: "My Ship" — performed by Paul Lazarus ♪

[2:49] Jeff Lunden: Good afternoon. You're listening to Anything Goes on WBAI in New York. My name's Jeff Lunden, and I'm sitting in for Paul Lazarus. Paul is in Vermont with his production of Cole Porter's You Never Know. Well, today's program should be a very special one. This week, we continue to look at the work of Ira Gershwin, but with some rare and, I think, very exciting material. As you know, on August 25th, ASCAP sponsored a celebration of Ira Gershwin's career at the Gershwin Theatre. It featured such performers as Tony Bennett, Cab Calloway, Ginger Rogers, Tommy Tune, Twiggy, Margaret Whiting, as well as songwriters like Burton Lane, Julie Stein, and Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Next, we plan to play parts of a rare interview of Ira Gershwin made in 1969 and graciously provided to us by listener Al Remsen.

And this interview will be intercut with some recordings of acetate demo recordings that Ira Gershwin made singing his own songs. So it should prove to be a very exciting afternoon. So sit back and relax and imagine that you're in the Gershwin Theatre on the afternoon of August 25th, 1983.

[4:15] Hal David: Good afternoon. I'm Hal David, and this is a celebration of Ira Gershwin. We're here today, his family, his friends, and his colleagues, not to speak about what we've lost, but what we've gained by living in the world of Ira Gershwin, and to express our gratitude that he came into our lives with his wonderful words that will always be a part of us. As Americans, we are very proud of our institutions, and certainly the Gershwin name is one of America's great institutions. Together with his brother George, Ira gave us some of the most memorable songs ever written. And Ira went on to write with other great ASCAP composers like Harold Arlen, Burton Lane, Arthur Schwartz, Aaron Copland, Vernon Duke, Jerome Kern, Harry Warren, Kurt Weil, and Vincent Eumanns.

Together they created some of the greatest standards in our musical repertory. When Ira was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Of Thee I Sing, he became the first lyricist to be so honored. This season, this very theatre was renamed the Gershwin Theatre to commemorate the legendary achievements of the Gershwins. And what better living testimony to the never-ending appeal of the Gershwin songs than having Porgy and Bess on Broadway earlier this year, followed by the current smash, My One and Only. A songwriter never feels old, Ira was fond of saying. If you're lucky enough to turn out a good song and then hear it years later, you're young again. To me, Ira Gershwin was like a giant tree everyone looked up to, a towering figure.

Some other people who feel the same way have sent us some wires. Let me read a few. The first one, Ira Gershwin was a wonderful man. His work is in a class by itself, indescribably original. I have always been proud of the fact that he wrote so many great lyrics, especially for me. Signed, Fred Astaire.

[7:06] Gene Kelly: I would like to join with the other members of ASCAP in a loving tribute to the memory of Ira Gershwin. Signed, Gene Kelly. And Ira wasn't just one of our great lyricists. He was in a class by himself. The songs he wrote with his brother George and others are as fresh today as when they were written and are here to stay. Signed, Irving Berlin.

[7:49] Margaret Whiting: My name is Margaret Whiting. Tex Arnold is at the piano. And just a few words about Ira Gershwin. When I was three years old, my father, Richard Whiting, played a song for me. And from that moment on, it became my very favorite. I sing it every time that I can. He told me it was written by the Gershwins. And a year and a half ago, Rosemary Clooney and I were putting together a show, and we were going to do Ira Gershwin songs. She lived next door to him, and we went over to sing for him. And when it came time for me to sing this song, my tears were welling up in my eyes, and I told him it was my very favorite lyric. And he leaned over and he said, well, the music ain't bad either.

[9:55] ♪ Musical number: "The Man I Love" — performed by Margaret Whiting ♪

[10:01] ♪ Musical number: "Someone to Watch Over Me" — performed by Cab Calloway ♪

[12:28] Cab Calloway: Thank you. Ira did the greatest thing in the world when he wrote "It Ain't Necessarily So."

[12:44] ♪ Musical number: "It Ain't Necessarily So" — performed by Cab Calloway ♪

[16:17] Jonathan Sprague: Well, I'd like to say that when a songwriter writes a song, it's a very beautiful way of expressing himself. Sometimes there are a lot of things you cannot say, just speaking-wise. But if you sit down and you write it and you put in your songs, it's a very beautiful way of expressing yourself. And I also would like to say that I regret having not worked with the lyricist, because I would like to have gotten the full flavor of what he intended. But I tell you, it's a legacy to leave songs behind that people can appreciate from generation to generation. My name is Jonathan Sprague, and this is Priscilla Baskerville.

[17:09] Priscilla Baskerville: Oh, thank you.

[17:13] Jonathan Sprague: Thank you.

[17:14] Priscilla Baskerville: Thank you.

[17:15] Jonathan Sprague: Thank you.

[17:45] ♪ Musical number: "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" — performed by Jonathan Sprague and Priscilla Baskerville ♪

[20:04] ♪ Musical number: "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" — performed by Cab Calloway ♪

[23:18] Burton Lane: Thank you. I'm Burton Lane. Ira was a very dear friend, and I will miss him always. He was an exceptional man, warm, witty, gentle, and I think one of the most civilized human beings I've ever known. When you know someone as long as I've known Ira, many memories come to mind at a time like this. I met Ira when I was about 16 years of age, and he played an important part in my life. It was Ira who introduced me to Yip Harburg, and who encouraged us to write songs together. It was Ira who in 1933 suggested there was an organization I should join that would be very helpful to me as a songwriter. Last April, I'm very proud to say I celebrated my 50th year as a member of ASCAP as a result of Ira.

When I first met the Gershwin family, the greatest moment of my life was meeting George. Ever since I could remember, it was George's music that excited me the most, more than any other composer. It still does. But as I got to learn more about the craft of songwriting, I began to realize what a great contribution Ira's lyrics were making to George's tunes. All the joy, the humor, the playfulness, the tenderness, and the excitement that was in George's music, Ira captured in his lyric. In 1951, I had the privilege to write a score for a Metro film with Ira. Creatively, it was one of the most satisfying experiences I ever had. Ira was a delight to work with. Unfortunately, the picture didn't turn out very well, but Ira and I were very pleased with what we had written. And now I would like to do one of those songs, and to use a word that Ira created. I think it's a delicious lyric.

[25:48] ♪ Musical number: "Our United State" — performed by Burton Lane ♪

[29:06] applause