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John Murray Anderson's Almanac

January 01, 1970

John Murray Anderson's Almanac is a musical revue, featuring the music of the songwriting team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, as well as other composers. It was conceived by John Murray Anderson. An earlier version of the show had been produced in 1929 with the title Murray Anderson's Almanac.[5] The earlier production included Henry Sullivan for composing the music and Noël Coward as part of the script writing team. Sullivan would go on to write music for the 1953 production mentioned here. The full title for the show was John Murray Anderson's Almanac: A Musical Harlequinade.[6]

John Murray Anderson (1918)
For the 1929 version of the Broadway show, see Murray Anderson's Almanac.
Hermione Gingold in publicity image for I've Got a Secret, began her career on Broadway as well as in US cinema with John Murray Anderson's Almanac.
Tina Louise would go on to be in the Broadway show Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955)[1]
Orson Bean won the 1954 Theater World Award for his work on the show. He would later go on to be in the Broadway show Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955)[1]
Billy De Wolfe won the 1954 Donaldson Award for Best Actor Debut in a Musical (See Awards). He would go on to be in the Broadway show Ziegfeld Follies of 1957.[2]
Monique van Vooren (1957) would go on to be in Mayerling, an episode of television series Producers Showcase (1957). The episode was later screened in Europe as a film.[3]
Carleton Carpenter in scene from the film Vengeance Valley (1951). He would later go on to be in the Broadway show Hotel Paradiso (1957).[4]
Polly Bergen in 1953 photo. She would go on to win a 1956 Emmy Award for her portrayal of jazz singer and actress Helen Morgan in Helen Morgan (Playhouse 90).

Productions edit

John Murray Anderson's Almanac began with a tryout at the Shubert Theatre in Boston from November 5, 1953 to December 5, 1953.[7]

The production opened on Broadway on December 10, 1953, at the Imperial Theatre, New York City, and closed on June 26, 1954, after 229 performances. The revue was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson, with sketches directed by Cyril Ritchard and dances and musical numbers staged by Donald Saddler. The revue starred Harry Belafonte, Hermione Gingold, Polly Bergen, Orson Bean, Carleton Carpenter, Tina Louise, Monique van Vooren, and Billy DeWolfe.

Richard Adler and Jerry Ross provided the majority of the songs for the show.[8] They later wrote songs for The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees over the course of the next two years (1954-1955).[9][10] John Murray Anderson's Almanac was the first Broadway show for each of them.[11][12] The producers of the show were Michael Grace (who was also one of the lyricists as well), Stanley Gilky, and Harry Rigby.[13]

The sketches were written by Jean Kerr, Sumner Lock-Elliot, Arthur Macrae, Herbert Farjeon, Lauri Wylie and Billy K. Wells.[14]

The show was a modernized version of Murray Anderson's Almanac (1929). The 1929 version was directed by Harry Ruskin, William Hollbrook, and John Murray Anderson of this 1953 version.

Henry Sullivan composed music for both shows.[15] A few years before the 1953 show, John Murray Anderson and Henry Sullivan composed the music for the off-camera scenes in the film The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).[16] Scenic design was by Raoul Pene Du Bois.[17]

Songs edit

Act 1
  • Prologue: Harlequinade – Pierrette Ensemble, Jimmy Albright, Lee Becker, Hank Brunjes, Carleton Carpenter, Ronald Cecill, Dean Crane, Nanci Crompton, Imelda De Martin, Dorothy Dushock, James Jewell, Gerard Leavitt, Celia Lipton, Greb Lober, Ralph McWilliams, Harry Mimmo, Ilona Murai, Margot Myers, Gwen Neilson, Gloria Smith
  • Queen for a Day
  • My Cousin Who? – Billy DeWolfe, Jimmy Albright, Ronald Cecill, Dean Crane, Celia Lipton, Ralph McWilliams, Illona Murai, Gwen Neilson, Kenneth Urmston, Toni Wheelis
  • You're So Much a Part of Me – Carleton Carpenter, Elaine Dunn
  • I Dare to Dream – Polly Bergen
  • The Cello – Hermione Gingold
  • Mark Twain – Harry Belafonte, Millard Thomas (Guitarist)
  • The Nightingale and the Rose – Jimmy Albright, Hank Brunjes, Ronald Cecill, James Jewell, Gerard Leavitt, Celia Lipton, Greb Lober, Tina Louise, Ralph McWilliams, Margot Myers, Gwen Neilson, George Reeder, Siri, Gloria Smith, Monique Van Vooren
  • My Love is a Wanderer
  •  
    Kay Medford, shown here in an image from 1964, would go on to win the 1954 Theater World Award for Lullaby (1954) and the 1964 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her work in Funny Girl (1964).[18]
    The Pan Alley (Mammy Songs, Rhythm Songs, Torch Songs, Patriotic Songs)– Lee Becker, Carleton Carpenter, Ronald Cecill, Dean Crane, Imelda De Martin, Dorothy Dushock, Jay Harnick, Larry Kert, Bob Kole, Gerard Leavitt, Greb Lober, Ralph McWilliams, Illona Murai, Margot Myers, George Reeder, Gloria Smith, Kenneth Urmston
  • Hope you Come Back – Polly Bergen, Billy DeWolfe, Hermione Gingold, Nanci Crompton, Elaine Dunn, Kay Medford
Act 2
  •  
    Larry Kert would later go on to be Tony in West Side Story (1957).[19] Seen in image from the 1957 Broadway musical.
    If Every Month Were June – Celia Lipton
  • Which Witch – Hermione Gingold (song by Charles Zwar)[20]
  • La Loge – Polly Bergen, Jay Harnick
  • Acorn in the Meadow – Harry Belafonte
  • When Am I Going to Meet your Mother? – Carleton Carpenter, Elaine Dunn, singer/dancer
  • Dinner for One – Billy DeWolfe, Hermione Gingold
  • Hold 'em Joe – Harry Belafonte, Colleen Hutchins, Illona Murai, George Reeder, Gloria Smith, and Monique Van Vooren (dancers) (song by Harry Thomas)
  • La Pistachio – Billy DeWolfe, Kay Medford

Musical works edit

Title Year

(Creation/ Publication)

Lyricist Composer
You're so much a part of me[21] 1951 Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Fini[22] 1953 Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
The earth and sky[23] 1953 John Rox
Acorn in the meadow[24] 1953 Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Anema e core:

With all my heart and soul.[25]

1954
Mann Curtis
Harry Akst
Tito Manlio
 Salve D'Esposito
Mark Twain[26] 1954 Harry Belafonte
Hold 'em Joe[27] 1954 Harry Belafonte

Critical response edit

Brooks Atkinson reviewing for The New York Times called it a "bright and brilliant show", and had special praise for Hermione Gingold, who "gives herself artistic airs that are hilarious", and Harry Belafonte's "Mark Twain" performance, "expository style as a singer and actor makes it the 'Almanac's' high point in theatrical artistry." However, Atkinson wrote that the "Almanac is more distinguished for its humor. Jean Kerr...has written a gruesome jest about horror literature, 'My Cousin Who?'"[28]

Awards edit

Theater Awards Awarded to Cast Members
Actor Award Category Year
Harry Belafonte Tony Award Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical 1954
Harry Belafonte Theater World Awards Award Winner 1954
Harry Belafonte Donaldson Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical[29] 1954
Orson Bean Theater World Awards Award Winner 1954
Billy De Wolfe Donaldson Awards Best Actor Debut in a Musical[29] 1954
Hermione Gingold Donaldson Awards Best Actress Debut in a Musical[29] 1954

Note: Hermione Gingold would go on to make a cameo in the film Around the World in 80 Days (1956).[30]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (Production Credits)".
  2. ^ "Billy DeWolfe (Playbill)".
  3. ^ "Mayerling (Producers' Showcase)", Wikipedia, 2023-02-21, retrieved 2023-08-31
  4. ^ "Hotel Paradiso (Broadway show)".
  5. ^ "MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC", Show Music on Record, retrieved 2023-08-18
  6. ^ "John Murray Anderson's Almanac (Playbill)".
  7. ^ "John Murray Anderson's Almanac (Original Broadway Production, 1953) | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  8. ^ Stanley Green, The World of Musical Comedy (New York: Da Capo Press, 1984), p. 271
  9. ^ "Richard Adler". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  10. ^ "Richard Adler | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  11. ^ "Jerry Ross | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  12. ^ "Richard Adler Obituary (Playbill)".
  13. ^ "John Murray Anderson's Almanac – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  14. ^ "John Murray Anderson's Almanac (Playbill)".
  15. ^ "Murray Anderson's Almanac".
  16. ^ "WebVoyage Titles". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  17. ^ "Raoul Pene Du Bois".
  18. ^ "Kay Medford (Playbill)".
  19. ^ "Larry Kert (Performer) (Playbill)".
  20. ^ “Obituary—Charles Zwar: Australian Exponent of West End Revue”, The Times [London], 7 Dec. 1989.
  21. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  22. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  23. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  24. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  25. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  26. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  27. ^ "Almanac". lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  28. ^ Atkinson, Brooks. "John Muray Anderson Brings Hermione Gingold and an 'Almanac' to Town", The New York Times, December 11, 1953, p. 42
  29. ^ a b c "Billboard Magazine (1954) Award winners for Almanac on page 52".
  30. ^ "Hermione Gingold", Wikipedia, 2023-08-29, retrieved 2023-08-30

External links edit

January 01, 1970
john, murray, anderson, almanac, musical, revue, featuring, music, songwriting, team, richard, adler, jerry, ross, well, other, composers, conceived, john, murray, anderson, earlier, version, show, been, produced, 1929, with, title, murray, anderson, almanac, . John Murray Anderson s Almanac is a musical revue featuring the music of the songwriting team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross as well as other composers It was conceived by John Murray Anderson An earlier version of the show had been produced in 1929 with the title Murray Anderson s Almanac 5 The earlier production included Henry Sullivan for composing the music and Noel Coward as part of the script writing team Sullivan would go on to write music for the 1953 production mentioned here The full title for the show was John Murray Anderson s Almanac A Musical Harlequinade 6 John Murray Anderson 1918 For the 1929 version of the Broadway show see Murray Anderson s Almanac John Murray Anderson s AlmanacHarry Belafonte in John Murray Anderson s Almanac on Broadway photographed by Carl Van Vechten 1954MusicRichard Adler and Jerry Ross Cy Coleman Michael Grace Joseph McCarthy Henry Sullivan John Rox Bart Howard Harry Belafonte Charles ZwarLyricsRichard Adler and Jerry Ross Cy Coleman Michael Grace Joseph McCarthyHenry SullivanJohn Rox Bart Howard Harry Belafonte Charles ZwarBookvarious Hermione Gingold in publicity image for I ve Got a Secret began her career on Broadway as well as in US cinema with John Murray Anderson s Almanac Tina Louise would go on to be in the Broadway show Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter 1955 1 Orson Bean won the 1954 Theater World Award for his work on the show He would later go on to be in the Broadway show Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter 1955 1 Billy De Wolfe won the 1954 Donaldson Award for Best Actor Debut in a Musical See Awards He would go on to be in the Broadway show Ziegfeld Follies of 1957 2 Monique van Vooren 1957 would go on to be in Mayerling an episode of television series Producers Showcase 1957 The episode was later screened in Europe as a film 3 Carleton Carpenter in scene from the film Vengeance Valley 1951 He would later go on to be in the Broadway show Hotel Paradiso 1957 4 Polly Bergen in 1953 photo She would go on to win a 1956 Emmy Award for her portrayal of jazz singer and actress Helen Morgan in Helen Morgan Playhouse 90 Contents 1 Productions 2 Songs 3 Musical works 4 Critical response 5 Awards 6 References 7 External linksProductions editJohn Murray Anderson s Almanac began with a tryout at the Shubert Theatre in Boston from November 5 1953 to December 5 1953 7 The production opened on Broadway on December 10 1953 at the Imperial Theatre New York City and closed on June 26 1954 after 229 performances The revue was conceived and staged by John Murray Anderson with sketches directed by Cyril Ritchard and dances and musical numbers staged by Donald Saddler The revue starred Harry Belafonte Hermione Gingold Polly Bergen Orson Bean Carleton Carpenter Tina Louise Monique van Vooren and Billy DeWolfe Richard Adler and Jerry Ross provided the majority of the songs for the show 8 They later wrote songs for The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees over the course of the next two years 1954 1955 9 10 John Murray Anderson s Almanac was the first Broadway show for each of them 11 12 The producers of the show were Michael Grace who was also one of the lyricists as well Stanley Gilky and Harry Rigby 13 The sketches were written by Jean Kerr Sumner Lock Elliot Arthur Macrae Herbert Farjeon Lauri Wylie and Billy K Wells 14 The show was a modernized version of Murray Anderson s Almanac 1929 The 1929 version was directed by Harry Ruskin William Hollbrook and John Murray Anderson of this 1953 version Henry Sullivan composed music for both shows 15 A few years before the 1953 show John Murray Anderson and Henry Sullivan composed the music for the off camera scenes in the film The Greatest Show on Earth 1952 16 Scenic design was by Raoul Pene Du Bois 17 Songs editAct 1 Prologue Harlequinade Pierrette Ensemble Jimmy Albright Lee Becker Hank Brunjes Carleton Carpenter Ronald Cecill Dean Crane Nanci Crompton Imelda De Martin Dorothy Dushock James Jewell Gerard Leavitt Celia Lipton Greb Lober Ralph McWilliams Harry Mimmo Ilona Murai Margot Myers Gwen Neilson Gloria Smith Queen for a Day My Cousin Who Billy DeWolfe Jimmy Albright Ronald Cecill Dean Crane Celia Lipton Ralph McWilliams Illona Murai Gwen Neilson Kenneth Urmston Toni Wheelis You re So Much a Part of Me Carleton Carpenter Elaine Dunn I Dare to Dream Polly Bergen The Cello Hermione Gingold Mark Twain Harry Belafonte Millard Thomas Guitarist The Nightingale and the Rose Jimmy Albright Hank Brunjes Ronald Cecill James Jewell Gerard Leavitt Celia Lipton Greb Lober Tina Louise Ralph McWilliams Margot Myers Gwen Neilson George Reeder Siri Gloria Smith Monique Van Vooren My Love is a Wanderer nbsp Kay Medford shown here in an image from 1964 would go on to win the 1954 Theater World Award for Lullaby 1954 and the 1964 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her work in Funny Girl 1964 18 The Pan Alley Mammy Songs Rhythm Songs Torch Songs Patriotic Songs Lee Becker Carleton Carpenter Ronald Cecill Dean Crane Imelda De Martin Dorothy Dushock Jay Harnick Larry Kert Bob Kole Gerard Leavitt Greb Lober Ralph McWilliams Illona Murai Margot Myers George Reeder Gloria Smith Kenneth Urmston Hope you Come Back Polly Bergen Billy DeWolfe Hermione Gingold Nanci Crompton Elaine Dunn Kay Medford Act 2 nbsp Larry Kert would later go on to be Tony in West Side Story 1957 19 Seen in image from the 1957 Broadway musical If Every Month Were June Celia Lipton Which Witch Hermione Gingold song by Charles Zwar 20 La Loge Polly Bergen Jay Harnick Acorn in the Meadow Harry Belafonte When Am I Going to Meet your Mother Carleton Carpenter Elaine Dunn singer dancer Dinner for One Billy DeWolfe Hermione Gingold Hold em Joe Harry Belafonte Colleen Hutchins Illona Murai George Reeder Gloria Smith and Monique Van Vooren dancers song by Harry Thomas La Pistachio Billy DeWolfe Kay MedfordMusical works editTitle Year Creation Publication Lyricist Composer You re so much a part of me 21 1951 Richard Adler and Jerry Ross Fini 22 1953 Richard Adler and Jerry Ross The earth and sky 23 1953 John Rox Acorn in the meadow 24 1953 Richard Adler and Jerry Ross Anema e core With all my heart and soul 25 1954 Mann Curtis Harry Akst Tito Manlio Salve D Esposito Mark Twain 26 1954 Harry Belafonte Hold em Joe 27 1954 Harry BelafonteCritical response editBrooks Atkinson reviewing for The New York Times called it a bright and brilliant show and had special praise for Hermione Gingold who gives herself artistic airs that are hilarious and Harry Belafonte s Mark Twain performance expository style as a singer and actor makes it the Almanac s high point in theatrical artistry However Atkinson wrote that the Almanac is more distinguished for its humor Jean Kerr has written a gruesome jest about horror literature My Cousin Who 28 Awards editTheater Awards Awarded to Cast Members Actor Award Category Year Harry Belafonte Tony Award Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical 1954 Harry Belafonte Theater World Awards Award Winner 1954 Harry Belafonte Donaldson Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical 29 1954 Orson Bean Theater World Awards Award Winner 1954 Billy De Wolfe Donaldson Awards Best Actor Debut in a Musical 29 1954 Hermione Gingold Donaldson Awards Best Actress Debut in a Musical 29 1954 Note Hermione Gingold would go on to make a cameo in the film Around the World in 80 Days 1956 30 References edit a b Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter Production Credits Billy DeWolfe Playbill Mayerling Producers Showcase Wikipedia 2023 02 21 retrieved 2023 08 31 Hotel Paradiso Broadway show MURRAY ANDERSON S ALMANAC Show Music on Record retrieved 2023 08 18 John Murray Anderson s Almanac Playbill John Murray Anderson s Almanac Original Broadway Production 1953 Ovrtur ovrtur com Retrieved 2023 09 30 Stanley Green The World of Musical Comedy New York Da Capo Press 1984 p 271 Richard Adler The Official Masterworks Broadway Site Retrieved 2023 08 06 Richard Adler Songwriters Hall of Fame www songhall org Retrieved 2023 08 06 Jerry Ross Songwriters Hall of Fame www songhall org Retrieved 2023 08 06 Richard Adler Obituary Playbill John Murray Anderson s Almanac Broadway Musical Original IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved 2023 05 29 John Murray Anderson s Almanac Playbill Murray Anderson s Almanac WebVoyage Titles cocatalog loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 30 Raoul Pene Du Bois Kay Medford Playbill Larry Kert Performer Playbill Obituary Charles Zwar Australian Exponent of West End Revue The Times London 7 Dec 1989 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Almanac lcweb2 loc gov Retrieved 2023 08 29 Atkinson Brooks John Muray Anderson Brings Hermione Gingold and an Almanac to Town The New York Times December 11 1953 p 42 a b c Billboard Magazine 1954 Award winners for Almanac on page 52 Hermione Gingold Wikipedia 2023 08 29 retrieved 2023 08 30External links edit John Murray Anderson s Almanac at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Murray Anderson 27s Almanac amp oldid 1212980019, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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