Hellzapoppin (original Broadway opening run souvenir book)
New York: Standard Press, 1938. Wraps. 9" x 12" in illustrated wraps. Fine, bright example. 12 pp. Illustrated throughout with photographs of the performers, humorous drawings, etc., including a full page "cartoon" by Harold K. Simon in which are depicted caricatures of (it being at the early days fo World War 2 in Europe) FDR, Hitler, Mussolini, and Churchill (and some dancing chorus girls). The musical revue show "Hellapoppin" opened on Broadway September 22, 1938 at the 46th Street Theater (it moved to the Winter Garden a month later and finally to the Majestic).The book was by the comedy team of (John "Ole")Olsen and Harold ("Chic") Johnson and the music and lyrics by Sammy Fain and Charles Tobias. Some of the featured acts included: "The Radio Rogues" (comedy and impersonations), "The Starlings" (a singing pair of sisters), dancers "Bettymore and Beverly Crane (who were the "talking titles" for many Hal Roach comedies), The Aloha Maids (pretty self-explanatory). The Charioteers (a Black musical quartet and pianist made up of William Williams, Edward Jackson, Ira Williams, Jimmy Sherman, and Howard Daniels), and others. "Hellzapoppin" was an immediate hit and ran for 1404 performances over more than three years making it as the time the longest running Broadway musical. Fine. Item #E37053
Price: $25.00