Rare 1932 Show Boat Footage

The original Ziegfeld production of Show Boat that ran nearly 2 years from 1927-1929, was revived on Broadway in 1932 and reunited nearly the entire original cast. Having previously played the Ziegfeld Theatre, this revival was staged at the Casino Theatre.

This extremely brief but priceless silent footage was taken by a young boy who had been given a camera for his birthday and decided to test it out. He made sure to only film when the singing onstage was loud enough to cover the whirling noise of his camera.

The clip begins with shots of Times Square, the Casino Theatre marquee, and the boy's Show Boat program. Next, are a series of rapid shots of the show in action. They include the following numbers and cast...

1. "Can't Help Lovin' That Man"

Tess Gardella - Queenie
Helen Morgan - Julie

2. "Life Upon the Wicked Stage"

Eva Puck - Ellie

3. "Till Good Luck Comes My Way"

4. "Happy the Day"

5. "Why Do I Love You?"

6. "Bill"

Helen Morgan - Julie

7. "Ol' Man River (Reprise)"

Paul Robeson - Joe

The clip ends with another shot of the Casino Theatre marquee.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Show
• Boat
• Musical
• Oscar
• Hammerstein
• Jerome
• Kern
• Broadway
• Revival
• Casino
• Theatre
• Theater
• Ziegfeld
• Stage
• Helen
• Morgan
• Paul
• Robeson
• Tess
• Gardella

[monitortop]

This looks like the footage from Miles Kreuger that I once saw many years ago. Remarkable, and a delight to see it once more.

[LaMisereHQ]

@monitortop This footage was included in a special edition of the 1936 film version in which Mr. Kreuger provides extensive notes on the show's history. I highly recommend his 1977 in-depth book on the musical: "Showboat-The Story of a Classic American Musical." I especially love his assessment of the film versions. I only wish he'd update it to include notes on the 1994 Hal Prince revival. Regardless, it's one of the best, well written, and complete looks at the history of a musical out there.

[errolfan]

The original production is not for the feint of heart. It vividly depicts racial segregation in the south from the 1800's and is a hard sell for today's audiences. "Showboat" is the classical American stageplay whether it's performed or not. Too bad we're not quite ready for it.

[beejls]

@errolfan It's being performed at Chicago's Lyric opera right now. I saw the first performance of a new production. Not a wild fan, but it was well done and I understand how important this musical is for so many reasons.

[steph36uk]

Miles Kreuger met with Showboat'sLibrettist/Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II on 3rd August 1960 at his town House in New York when he gave Miles his original 1927 copy of his Libretto of Showboat. Oscar Hammerstein died 20 days later on August 23rd at his country home in Doylestown Pennsylvania, so Miles was the very last person to spend the day with him in New York. Such was his like and admiration of Hammerstein and his work.

[3investigators]

Amazing footage of an amazing, historic show.

[rafizztube]

I never get tired of watchin git.

[errolfan]

@rafizztube Not that I agree with the idea, but, thankfully someone in THIS audience had a working movie camera.

[errolfan]

It's somewhat ironic that the best American musical cannot be performed today. Nice to see that someone recorded this for posterity.

[moviegurl16]

omg almost makes me cry!

[rafizztube]

Perhaps it's the very first musical bootleg. LOL