American Musical Comedy and Operetta

Originally Aired: September 2, 1936 In Cavalcade of America #47, "American Musical Comedy and Operetta," the program presents a sweeping musical journey through the evolution of American musical theater from 1900 to 1936. The episode traces the transformation from early operettas like Florodora and Victor Herbert's The Fortune Teller through the innovations of creative teams like P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, and Jerome Kern at the Princess Theater. As the narrative unfolds, listeners experience the golden age of musical entertainment through performances of iconic songs from The Ziegfeld Follies, the George White Scandals, and landmark productions that shaped the genre. The program showcases pivotal moments in theatrical history, including Irving Berlin's creation of "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," the groundbreaking political satire "Of Thee I Sing" by George and Ira Gershwin, and Rogers and Hart's intimate revue "Garrick Gaieties." The musical tour culminates with Jerome Kern's masterpiece "Show Boat," which many consider the greatest American musical show. Don Voorhees and his orchestra bring these treasured melodies to life, demonstrating how American musical theater evolved from flowing operatic melodies to the sophisticated, diverse entertainment form it had become by the mid-1930s.