Edith Day sings 'Alice Blue Gown' from Irene, London, 1920

When that delightful American musical comedy star Edith Day (1896-1971) first appeared in London, at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, on 7 April 1920, the Daily Mail wrote: 'A theatrical star of rare brilliance has appeared and has taken by storm the hearts of a London audience.' On that occasion she was playing the leading role of Irene O'Dare in the hit musical comedy Irene, which she had created at the Vanderbilt Theatre, New York, on 18 November the previous year. The show was full of charming numbers but none more so than 'Alice Blue Gown,' which Miss Day recorded as a 10'' disc for the Victor label (45176, reissued in the UK on HMV B-1115) at the studios in Camden, New Jersey, on 2 February 1920. She recorded the song again in a slightly longer, 12'' version, with dialogue, in London for the Columbia label (F-1044) on or about 15 April 1920.

The recording featured here is from John Culme's Footlight Notes Collection, as is the photograph by Foulsham & Banfield (London, 1920) of Edith Day and Pat Somerset as they appeared in Irene.

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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Edith Day
• Irene
• Alice Blue Gown
• 1920

[stormstryk]

Fascinating recording! I have several students who've sung this piece without realizing initially that it was from a musical. It's really quite a lovely composition for younger soprano voice students and can be found in the Joan Boytim "Easy Songs for the Beginning Soprano" collection by Schirmer. Thank you for sharing!