Thursday, November 06, 2014

Elephant Menage #6


Posted by Buckles at 11/06/2014 06:13:00 AM

8 comments:

Unknown said...

This photo is from the “Carnaby Street” elephant number, which was presented in 1968 and 1969. Today, 45 years after the fact, a little explanation is needed to put it in proper perspective. For most of the 1960s, America’s pop culture was heavily influenced by British pop culture including British pop music (the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Donovan, etc.), British movies (“Alfie,” “Help,” “Georgie Girl” and the James Bond films), British television (“The Avengers,” “Secret Agent,” “The Prisoner”), and British fashions (as epitomized by the clothing designs worn by the British model Twiggy.) The 1968-69 elephant number reflects this “British influence” and derives its title from an actual street in London’s Soho district noted for its large number of fashion boutiques. Accordingly, the wardrobe copied the fashion styles of late 1960s London. Hippie body painting was given a token nod by having large stars painted onto to the elephants.

06 November, 2014 20:11
Unknown said...

Surprisingly, the music score for the “Carnaby Street” elephant number was much more mainstream American than one would have expected. After opening with quotes from “I Think I’m Going out of My Mind” and “Georgie Girl” (the theme from the hit British film of the same name) the elephants made their entrance to “Entry of the Gladiators.” Other music in the score included quotes from “Let’s Spend Some Time Together,” “Standing on the Corner (Watching all the Girls Go By)” which is actually from the 1950s, “Music to Watch Girls By,” “I’m a Brass Band” (from the Broadway musical “Sweet Charity”) “Step to the Rear” (from the Broadway musical “How Now, Dow Jones”), and “Tiger Rag.”

06 November, 2014 20:18
klsdad said...

Eric..
I only reference Broadway in light of your reference to the "Standing on the Corner" music in the elephant number...
I believe you'll find the song is from Frank Loesser's 1956 musical "Most Happy Fella".
klsdad

07 November, 2014 09:54
Chic Silber said...


You are correct KLSDAD & Loesser

wrote the book the lyrics & music

A triple header (unusual)

07 November, 2014 22:22
Chic Silber said...


I believe those colored chalk

patterns were flowers Eric

07 November, 2014 22:29
Chic Silber said...


I'm told he also wrote all three

for Greenwillow on Broadway 1960

07 November, 2014 22:42
klsdad said...

(My apology for being off-topic to CIRCUS fans...)
To Chic.. re your Nov 7 comment "I'm told" re Loesser's GREENWILLOW.. "triple header" -
Not quite...
per WIKI.
GREENWILLOW book by Lesser Samuels and Frank Loesser....

09 November, 2014 15:43
Chic Silber said...


Since most of the gawkers here

don't offer anything you don't

have to opologize to those few

purists that do participate DAD

Thanks for checking I trusted

Playbill Vault where I found it

I am truly glad to know you care

Just returned from NY teaching

my 2nd Local One effects seminar

The world's of circus & theater

have much in common as you know

09 November, 2014 19:52

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