Irving Berlin; George Gershwin; Richard Rodgers mdash; the names of composers of great American musicals are household words. But many of the stars who introduced these songwriters classic triumphs and whose names were on everybodys lips a few decades ago have been all but forgotten. Now; with this book; you can take a fascinating journey into the days when Lillian Russell and Frank Daniels; or Marilyn Miller and William Gaxton; were as celebrated as the superstars of television and film are today.This volume is the most complete collection of its kind. Its 361 vivid portraits of over 400 star entertainers of the past cover the whole spectrum of nearly a century of American musical theater. The portraits; many by the finest celebrity photographers of their day; and many of which are autographed presentation copies; are complemented by full captions exceptionally rich with information; together; they constitute a history of the American musical; its stars and supporting casts; its remembered and forgotten successes.Brimming with life and personality; these portraits capture yesterdays stars in their most characteristic moods and postures. Along with scores of charming views of personalities as well-known on the screen as on the stage mdash; Bob Hope; W. C. Fields; Ann Sothern; Fred Astaire; to name but a few mdash; are shots of hundreds of performers who have been virtually or entirely forgotten because they were stars only mdash; or at least primarily mdash;"of the stage" Emma Trentini; Donald Brian; Nora Bayes; Fritzi Scheff; Lew Fields; Vernon and Irene Castle; Edith Day; Eugene and Willie Howard; Mary Ellis; Dennis King; Elsie Janis; Ray Middleton; Jack Whiting; Todd Duncan; and many; many more.More than just a stunning portrait gallery; this book will challenge the imaginations and knowledge of musical-theater and nostalgia buffs. Among its hundreds of facts and photos are such special treats as shots mdash; grouped together mdash; of the original stars of Show Boat; Oklahoma! and South Pacific; portraits of composers who also performed in their own shows; like George M. Cohan; Eubie Blake; and Irving Berlin; fascinating views of todays television and film stars in their youth; along with information on their early; often little-known stage appearances; and notes on the first performances of song classics like "I Wonder Whos Kissing Her Now;" "Night and Day;" and "Bewitched; Bothered and Bewildered."Unfortunately; in this age of electronics and breathless change; the days of vaudeville; operetta; revue; and early musical comedy have been too quickly forgotten. This book makes them a joy to remember. Besides being an invaluable aid to theatrical scholars; it will delight musical-theater enthusiasts and anyone wishing to revive the excitement of a fascinating segment of American entertainment history.
#3153028 in eBooks 2013-04-09 2013-03-12File Name: B00A7369AU
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Exactly what I was looking forBy AshleyThis book offers a wide range of information of prehistoric textiles in a well organized fashion. Information about prehistoric textiles can be extremely difficult to uncover; it is ever so convenient to find an abundance of evidence in one location. I used "Textiles and Textile Production in Europe" on a major research term paper; and received a good grade. I would give this book a rating of 5 stars; but when I received it in the mail; there were scuffs on the front cover and a puncture on the face of the spine. As a person who keeps her books in pristine condition; it was disappointing receiving it damaged new. The book gets a 5; but the sender gets a 3 = Average of 4.