The Passing Show
Encyclopedia
The Passing Show was a musical revue
in three acts, billed as a "topical extravaganza
", with a book and lyrics by Sydney Rosenfeld (1855–1931) and music by Ludwig Engländer (1853–1914) and various other composers. It featured spoofs of theatrical productions of the past season. The show was presented in 1894 by George Lederer
at the Casino Theatre. It was one of the first musical revues on Broadway
and led the fashion for such productions. The Casino Theatre produced a revue each summer thereafter for several seasons.
In 1912, Lee and Jacob J. Shubert
began an annual series of elaborate Broadway revues using the name The Passing Show of 19XX, designed to compete with the popular Ziegfeld Follies
.
, The Passing Show was the first American revue to use the term, spelling it "review". Its now-familiar structure was to use a thin story line to link together songs and sketches. The show was choreographed by Barney Fagan and Augusto Francioli.
The revue opened at the Casino Theatre on May 12, 1894 and ran for 145 performances. The revue burlesqued theatrical productions of the past season. Among many other sketches, Paul Arthur spoofed Henry Miller
, Adele Ritchie portrayed the singer Rosamund, Gus Pixley
parodied Rummel, Grace Filkins parodied Rose Coghlan
, Mrs. Kendal
and Ada Rehan
, and Mabel Stephenson appeared as Hannele in a parody of the Kilyani films. John E. Henshaw and Queenie Vassar played, respectively, the character Laf Quickstep and Chollie Keal.
The songs (by Rosenfeld and Englander, except as noted) included:
The New York Times
review of the show noted, "We do not know what a topical extravaganza is; neither do they." The paper wrote that the show contained "elements of amusement" and "a momentary glance at most of the interesting entertainments" of the winter season. "There was a good deal of really pretty music by Mr. Englander, and some of Mr. Rosenfeld's lines were bright. But there were great wearisome spaces of emptiness...."
for an annual series of Broadway revues from 1912 to 1924 (except 1920). These were elaborate productions designed to compete with the popular Ziegfeld Follies
, which had begun in 1907.
Several of these featured music of Sigmund Romberg
, George Gershwin
or Herman Finck
and were presented at the Winter Garden Theater. Willie and Eugene Howard starred in many editions of the series. Other stars included Charlotte Greenwood
, Marilyn Miller
, Ed Wynn
, De Wolf Hopper, Charles Winninger
, Fred Astaire
and his sister Adele
, Marie Dressler
and Fred Allen
. Among the famous songs first sung in the series were "Pretty Baby
" (1916) and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
" (1918). A planned revival of the series in the 1940s did not make it out of tryouts. Most of the librettos for the series were written by Harold R. Atteridge
, the Shuberts' in‐house librettist, who created over forty musicals for them (many starring Al Jolson
).
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
in three acts, billed as a "topical extravaganza
Extravaganza
An extravaganza is a literary or musical work characterized by freedom of style and structure and usually containing elements of burlesque, pantomime, music hall and parody. It sometimes also has elements of cabaret, circus, revue, variety, vaudeville and mime...
", with a book and lyrics by Sydney Rosenfeld (1855–1931) and music by Ludwig Engländer (1853–1914) and various other composers. It featured spoofs of theatrical productions of the past season. The show was presented in 1894 by George Lederer
George Lederer
George Lederer was an American producer and director on Broadway from 1894 to 1931. He was the husband of Reine Davies and father of Charles Lederer and Pepi Lederer....
at the Casino Theatre. It was one of the first musical revues on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and led the fashion for such productions. The Casino Theatre produced a revue each summer thereafter for several seasons.
In 1912, Lee and Jacob J. Shubert
Shubert family
The Shubert family of New York City, New York was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States...
began an annual series of elaborate Broadway revues using the name The Passing Show of 19XX, designed to compete with the popular Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
.
Original version
Although a few entertainments that could be called revues had already been presented by such showmen as John BroughamJohn Brougham
John Brougham was an Irish-American actor and dramatist.-Biography:He was born at Dublin. His father was an amateur painter, and died young. His mother was the daughter of a Huguenot, whom political adversity had forced into exile. John was the eldest of three children...
, The Passing Show was the first American revue to use the term, spelling it "review". Its now-familiar structure was to use a thin story line to link together songs and sketches. The show was choreographed by Barney Fagan and Augusto Francioli.
The revue opened at the Casino Theatre on May 12, 1894 and ran for 145 performances. The revue burlesqued theatrical productions of the past season. Among many other sketches, Paul Arthur spoofed Henry Miller
Henry Miller (actor)
Henry Miller was an English-born American actor, director, theatrical producer and manager.Born as John Pegge in London, Miller's parents immigrated to Canada where he started acting as a juvenile. He became the leading man in Charles Frohman's stock company in New York City's Empire Theatre in 1893...
, Adele Ritchie portrayed the singer Rosamund, Gus Pixley
Gus Pixley
Gus Pixley was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 132 films between 1910 and 1921.He died in Saranac Lake, New York.-Selected filmography:* Lord Chumley * The Mothering Heart * My Hero...
parodied Rummel, Grace Filkins parodied Rose Coghlan
Rose Coghlan
Rose Coghlan , English actress was the sister of Charles Francis Coghlan.She went to America in 1871 as part of Lydia Thompson's troupe touring the U.S.. She made her Broadway debut in 1872 in a musical. Coghlan was again in England from 1873 to 1877, playing with Barry Sullivan, and then returned...
, Mrs. Kendal
Madge Kendal
Dame Madge Kendal GBE , born as Margaret Shafto Robertson, was an English actress of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, best known for her roles in Shakespeare and English comedies. Together with her husband, W. H...
and Ada Rehan
Ada Rehan
Ada Rehan was an American actress.-Biography:She was born as Ada Crehan in County Limerick, Ireland, and brought to the United States at about the age of six years....
, and Mabel Stephenson appeared as Hannele in a parody of the Kilyani films. John E. Henshaw and Queenie Vassar played, respectively, the character Laf Quickstep and Chollie Keal.
The songs (by Rosenfeld and Englander, except as noted) included:
- Old Before His Time
- Leader of De Company B (music and lyrics by Dave Reed, Jr.)
- Riding in the Heavenly Rowboat (music and lyrics by Barney Fagan)
- Some Time Ago – Laf Quickstep
- The Fellow That Played the Drum – Laf Quickstep
- Hot Tamales – Chollie Keal, Members of the Dawdle Club and Ensemble
- Coxey's Army – Armand St. Julien Faversham Annesley, The Judge, District Attorney, Mr. Rowe and Mr. Rummel
- Round the Operas in Twenty Minutes (music by MascagniPietro MascagniPietro Antonio Stefano Mascagni was an Italian composer most noted for his operas. His 1890 masterpiece Cavalleria rusticana caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and single-handedly ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music...
, VerdiGiuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
, BizetGeorges BizetGeorges Bizet formally Alexandre César Léopold Bizet, was a French composer, mainly of operas. In a career cut short by his early death, he achieved few successes before his final work, Carmen, became one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the entire opera repertory.During a...
and GounodCharles GounodCharles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:... - L'Enfant Prodigue
- The Phalanx of Phidias
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
review of the show noted, "We do not know what a topical extravaganza is; neither do they." The paper wrote that the show contained "elements of amusement" and "a momentary glance at most of the interesting entertainments" of the winter season. "There was a good deal of really pretty music by Mr. Englander, and some of Mr. Rosenfeld's lines were bright. But there were great wearisome spaces of emptiness...."
The Passing Show, 1912 to 1924
The title of the show was later used by Lee and Jacob J. ShubertShubert family
The Shubert family of New York City, New York was responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district, in New York City, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States...
for an annual series of Broadway revues from 1912 to 1924 (except 1920). These were elaborate productions designed to compete with the popular Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
, which had begun in 1907.
Several of these featured music of Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg was a Hungarian-born American composer, best known for his operettas.-Biography:Romberg was born as Siegmund Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Gross-Kanizsa during the Austro-Hungarian kaiserlich und königlich monarchy period...
, George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
or Herman Finck
Herman Finck
Herman Finck was a British composer of Dutch extraction.Born Hermann Van Der Vinck in London, he began his studies training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and established a career as the musical director at the Palace Theatre in London , with whose orchestra he made many virtuoso...
and were presented at the Winter Garden Theater. Willie and Eugene Howard starred in many editions of the series. Other stars included Charlotte Greenwood
Charlotte Greenwood
Frances Charlotte Greenwood was an American actress and dancer. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Greenwood started in vaudeville, and eventually starred on Broadway, movies and radio. Standing around six feet tall, she was best known for her long legs and high kicks...
, Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
, Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn was a popular American comedian and actor noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor....
, De Wolf Hopper, Charles Winninger
Charles Winninger
Charles Winninger was an American stage and film actor, most often cast in comedies or musicals, but equally at home in drama.-Biography:He began as a vaudeville actor...
, Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
and his sister Adele
Adele Astaire
Lady Charles Cavendish , better known as Adele Astaire, was an American dancer and entertainer. She was Fred Astaire's elder sister. Her birthdate was often given as 1897 or 1898, but the 1900 U.S...
, Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler was a Canadian-American actress and Depression-era film star. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1930-31 in Min and Bill.-Early life and stage career:...
and Fred Allen
Fred Allen
Fred Allen was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio.His best-remembered gag was his long-running mock feud with friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny, but it...
. Among the famous songs first sung in the series were "Pretty Baby
Pretty Baby (song)
Pretty Baby is a song written by Tony Jackson during the Ragtime era. The song was remembered as being prominent in Jackson's repertory before he left New Orleans in 1912, but was not published until 1916....
" (1916) and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" is a popular song which debuted in 1918 and was first published in 1919.-Creation:The music was written by John Kellette. The lyrics are credited to "Jaan Kenbrovin", actually a collective pseudonym for the writers James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent...
" (1918). A planned revival of the series in the 1940s did not make it out of tryouts. Most of the librettos for the series were written by Harold R. Atteridge
Harold R. Atteridge
Harold Richard Atteridge was a composer, librettist and lyricist primarily for musicals and revues. He wrote the book and lyrics for over 20 musicals and revues for the Shuberts, including several iterations of The Passing Show....
, the Shuberts' in‐house librettist, who created over forty musicals for them (many starring Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
).
External links
- The Passing Show at the IBDB database