Thursday, August 10, 2006

Blue Show 1970 100th Anniversary Edition #1


Another set of beautiful pictures from Eric Beheim. Jack Ryan should be right at home with these.
The musicians on the band wagon were dummies but they are wearing nicer wardrobe than what we see on the live people with Ken & Nicole today.

Posted by Buckles at 8/10/2006 07:14:00 AM

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

You will notice the great Bill Pruyn conducting the band, just in front of one of the white horses. Not only a fine musician, Bill also showed a great sense of humor when choosing music. I recall a bear act for which he chose "Wunderbar!"

10 August, 2006 09:43
Anonymous said...

From Eric:

Bill Pruyn was indeed a musical genius. The musical programs he put together for Ringling were among the best that any circus ever had.

At the time the 100th Edition was produced, the Felds were trying to distance their musical programs from those associated with Merle Evans. As a result, "traditional" circus music by Karl King, Fred Jewell, Russell Alexander, etc. had all but disappeared. (After the fans started to complain, it was allowed back.)

The score for “The First 100 Years,” spec used music that was somewhat less “traditional circus” than one would have expected. Opening with a fragment from the rather esoteric "In Storm and Sunshine," the music included "Honey Bunch" (from "South Pacific,") the theme from "The Magnificent 7," a fragment of the "New World Symphony," "Procession of the Sardar," "Entry of the Gladiators," "The Barnum & Bailey Ballyhoo" (a new, special song which would be used again in future editions), "The Billboard March," "When You Wish Upon a Star," and "May All Your Days Be Circus Days" (another new song that would used again in the future.) The spec’s “pay off” was a ¾ size reproduction of the famous Ringling Bell Wagon. As it was pulled around the arena, a recording of the bells of the Washington D.C. Cathedral’s Kibbey Carillon was blended in with the live band as the music built to a grand climax. (Most of this Bell Wagon music was recycled during the closing of the 106th Edition's "Wedding of Mischu" spec.)

10 August, 2006 12:00
Anonymous said...

The 100th anniversary final instrumental payoff music was, I believe, "I'll Buy You A Star," a somewhat obscure but lovely tune from a minor Broadway show starring the late Shirley Booth, "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn."

I was at the Washington Cathedral when the carillion music was recorded. Hearing a Broadway showtune must have startled nearby residents more accustomed to hearing religious music from that great instrument.

The song "May All Your Days Be Circus Days, inspired by my program book line of 1969, was used to conclude the show for quite a few years.

When I was writing the Gold Unit earlier this year, I, of course, wrote the spoken line, "May All Your Days Be Circus Days" as the show's conclusion. I was immediatly informed by the powers that be that it should now be "May All Your Days Be Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Days."

Well, damn, that just doesn't scan. We compromised with "May All Your Days Be Ringling Days," although I still think "circus days" is the way to go.

But, I was getting paid to write the show so, of course, the producers were right!

And, Eric, the "South Pacific" song you mention is actually entitled, "Honey Bun."

10 August, 2006 14:15
Anonymous said...

Jack Ryan probably knows the answer to this question best because he knew and worked for Irvin Feld for so many years.
It seems to me that Irvin Feld was more than a good business man. He seemed to have a passion for the circus, for turning out a top-quality production. How else can you explain writing the checks for those amazing Don Foote designs and costumes? And for the amazing array of brand-name talent year after year?
ToddP

10 August, 2006 14:20
Anonymous said...

"May all your days be RINGLING days"? Are you serious? Good grief. What has this business come to when the Greatest Show on Earth treats "circus" is a dirty word?

10 August, 2006 17:12
Anonymous said...

ToddP,

Irvin Feld was a complex and often exasperating man -- during this year's Gold Unit rehearsals, somebody on the show asked me if I had known him. "Known him? He fired me at least four times."

But Irvin was a visionary -- he cared deeply about how the show looked and the quality of the acts. I won't get into the "who was the better showman, John Ringling North or Irvin Feld" trap. There is a great deal of positive things to be said about both of their contributions.

Irvin DID combine an acute business sense with artistic taste. He was one-of-a-kind.

10 August, 2006 17:15
Bob Cline said...

I might add that the 100th Anniversary Bell wagon still sits in all it's grandeur atop a loft at the Palmetto train shops. The CHS Convention in May was priviledged to pay a visit at the time.
Bob

10 August, 2006 17:57
Buckles said...

The "Hickory Creek". It was still on the show as late as 1977, maybe later.

11 August, 2006 07:15

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