Thursday, April 16, 2009

Blue Show 1970 #20 (From Eric Beheim)


Ringling 100-44, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

"The First 100 Years" spec

Posted by Buckles at 4/16/2009 07:18:00 AM

8 comments:

Down the Road by Jim said...

And check out the people playing instruments -- could they be , dare I say it , a REAL circus band ??

16 April, 2009 09:09
Eric said...

And the band played real music, too! The music score for “The First 100 Years” spec included “In Storm and Sunshine,” “Honey Bun” (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 Washington D.C. Cathedral’s Kibbey Carillon playing “Bring Me a Star” from the film “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” was blended in with the live band as the music built to a grand climax.

16 April, 2009 10:45
Jack Ryan said...

The song from the Broadway musical, "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" used in the 100th Edition Spec's payoff is "I'll Buy You A Star," words by Dorothy Fields; lyrics by Arthur Schwartz.

16 April, 2009 12:06
Frank Ferrante said...

I had worked with Bill Pruyn's stepson, who had the #2 Floss Stand and was invited to their home I was not only impressed by his quick wit and humor, but his vast knowledge of all types of music. Theirs was truely musical family - they would try and stump each other with song and musical trivia. A real gentleman. ~frank

16 April, 2009 12:49
Jack Ryan said...

Ooops!

That previous post should read "words by Dorothy Fields and MUSIC by Arthur Schwartz." Slipped up, sorry.

Star of that show was Shirley Booth, later to become a TV star playing the sharp-tongued maid "Hazel."

16 April, 2009 12:53
Buckles said...

When we first started rehearsals for the Neptune spec, one morning I encountered a group of ladies practicing "Climb Every Mountain" on glockenspiels.
Later I heard these were the elephant riders in pay off but when someone asked how they would play and hang on the idea was abandoned.
In the meantime Ted had made several ungentlemanly suggestions.
Final upshot was that Harold Ronk sang "If I Ruled the World" and it was terrific.

16 April, 2009 12:58
Frank Ferrante said...

Harold Ronk was the first and last real singing ringmaster in my fading memory. He had it all - the posture, the style, the voice and a very kind smile!

16 April, 2009 14:44
Chic Silber said...

"If I Ruled The World" was from

the Broadway show "Pickwick"

I have a video clip of it

Chic

16 April, 2009 20:33

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