Oh how I long to see that footage. I get so frustrated with Mrs. Astaire. She's
stunting his legacy not protecting it.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Watched it for the 2nd time after a preview in Birmingham. They have streamlined
it, it`s about 10 minutes shorter than before but still maybe a tad too long.
The first act only lasts an hour, the second act about 80 minutes and drags a
little bit at times.
Gone are:
"How Can I Change My Luck" (a charming but pointless number for Horace right at
the beginning)
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (a terrible number right before Top Hat)

"You Can't Brush Me Off", the opening number, has been replaced by "Puttin' On
The Ritz" which is an ensemble and not a solo number.

They have added "You're Easy To Dance With" as a solo for Dale.

Some dialogue was streamlined, but there was at least one new line and it's a
curiosity. When Jerry mockingly compliments Dale after "Cheek To Cheek": "You
know, you are not a bad dancer", she responds: "Hey, I did everything you did
but backwards and in heels."

It was rather a full house, I would say about 90 % senior citizens though. Show
has been at the TKTS booth only once since it started previews. Still a very
charming and funny show, so much better than Broadway`s "Nice Work" for
instance. Tom Chambers is not the best singer in the world but his and Summer
Strallen`s dancing is great. Strallen has mellowed a little bit since the
previews and shows off her legs to great effect in "Wild About You".
But still the highlight of the show for me: "Outside Of You, I Love You", a
love/hatred number for Horace and Madge. Musical comedy at its best!
All in all, a wonderful show that does great justice to the movie without being
overly repetitive...

Bernd

You're so lucky.  I can't wait to see it.

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "tmwctd" <tmwctd@...> wrote:
>
> Watched it for the 2nd time after a preview in Birmingham. They have
streamlined it, it`s about 10 minutes shorter than before but still maybe a tad
too long. The first act only lasts an hour, the second act about 80 minutes and
drags a little bit at times.
> Gone are:
> "How Can I Change My Luck" (a charming but pointless number for Horace right
at the beginning)
> "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (a terrible number right before Top Hat)
>
> "You Can't Brush Me Off", the opening number, has been replaced by "Puttin' On
The Ritz" which is an ensemble and not a solo number.
>
> They have added "You're Easy To Dance With" as a solo for Dale.
>
> Some dialogue was streamlined, but there was at least one new line and it's a
curiosity. When Jerry mockingly compliments Dale after "Cheek To Cheek": "You
know, you are not a bad dancer", she responds: "Hey, I did everything you did
but backwards and in heels."
>
> It was rather a full house, I would say about 90 % senior citizens though.
Show has been at the TKTS booth only once since it started previews. Still a
very charming and funny show, so much better than Broadway`s "Nice Work" for
instance. Tom Chambers is not the best singer in the world but his and Summer
Strallen`s dancing is great. Strallen has mellowed a little bit since the
previews and shows off her legs to great effect in "Wild About You".
> But still the highlight of the show for me: "Outside Of You, I Love You", a
love/hatred number for Horace and Madge. Musical comedy at its best!
> All in all, a wonderful show that does great justice to the movie without
being overly repetitive...
>
> Bernd
>

Thanks for the full, fascinating report!  I'm curious, however, as to why you
called that snippet of dialogue "a curiosity."  I assume you -- and everybody
else on this board -- gets the joke, so why "curiosity"?

Just wondering,

PNJ

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "tmwctd" <tmwctd@...> wrote:
>
> Watched it for the 2nd time after a preview in Birmingham. They have
streamlined it, it`s about 10 minutes shorter than before but still maybe a tad
too long. The first act only lasts an hour, the second act about 80 minutes and
drags a little bit at times.
> Gone are:
> "How Can I Change My Luck" (a charming but pointless number for Horace right
at the beginning)
> "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (a terrible number right before Top Hat)
>
> "You Can't Brush Me Off", the opening number, has been replaced by "Puttin' On
The Ritz" which is an ensemble and not a solo number.
>
> They have added "You're Easy To Dance With" as a solo for Dale.
>
> Some dialogue was streamlined, but there was at least one new line and it's a
curiosity. When Jerry mockingly compliments Dale after "Cheek To Cheek": "You
know, you are not a bad dancer", she responds: "Hey, I did everything you did
but backwards and in heels."
>
> It was rather a full house, I would say about 90 % senior citizens though.
Show has been at the TKTS booth only once since it started previews. Still a
very charming and funny show, so much better than Broadway`s "Nice Work" for
instance. Tom Chambers is not the best singer in the world but his and Summer
Strallen`s dancing is great. Strallen has mellowed a little bit since the
previews and shows off her legs to great effect in "Wild About You".
> But still the highlight of the show for me: "Outside Of You, I Love You", a
love/hatred number for Horace and Madge. Musical comedy at its best!
> All in all, a wonderful show that does great justice to the movie without
being overly repetitive...
>
> Bernd
>

Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1

Hi, Chris !
 
Really enjoyed the whole thing.  Thanks a lot ! 
 
Judith W.

--- On Fri, 6/1/12, Chris B <cnb@...> wrote:


From: Chris B <cnb@...>
Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...
To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, June 1, 2012, 7:56 AM



 



Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lovely article!  Thanks so much for passing it on!

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 12:55 PM, judith williams <judithleew@...>wrote:

> **
>
>
> Hi, Chris !
>
> Really enjoyed the whole thing.  Thanks a lot !
>
> Judith W.
>
> --- On Fri, 6/1/12, Chris B <cnb@...> wrote:
>
> From: Chris B <cnb@...>
> Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...
> To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, June 1, 2012, 7:56 AM
>
>
>
>
> Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
> fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes
> about Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She
> sure gets it...
>
>
>
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Talk about oh MAN! I swooned after I read the first three paragraphs. This, in
paticular, is a brilliant bit of writing:

"...his modesty after brilliance his most disarming charm."

And comparing an Astaire dance seduction to the Kama Sutra! Take that, Epstein.

Now if I can get myself out of swoon mode, I might try to read the rest of the
article...

Patricia

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris B <cnb@...>
To: astaire <astaire@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:59 am
Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...





Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1









[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Because a real life quote from one of the two actors in this movie was squeezed
into the stage show. Or, in other words, Dale Tremonts speaks as Ginger
Rogers...

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the full, fascinating report!  I'm curious, however, as to why you
called that snippet of dialogue "a curiosity."  I assume you -- and everybody
else on this board -- gets the joke, so why "curiosity"?
>
> Just wondering,
>
> PNJ
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "tmwctd" <tmwctd@> wrote:
> >
> > Watched it for the 2nd time after a preview in Birmingham. They have
streamlined it, it`s about 10 minutes shorter than before but still maybe a tad
too long. The first act only lasts an hour, the second act about 80 minutes and
drags a little bit at times.
> > Gone are:
> > "How Can I Change My Luck" (a charming but pointless number for Horace right
at the beginning)
> > "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (a terrible number right before Top Hat)
> >
> > "You Can't Brush Me Off", the opening number, has been replaced by "Puttin'
On The Ritz" which is an ensemble and not a solo number.
> >
> > They have added "You're Easy To Dance With" as a solo for Dale.
> >
> > Some dialogue was streamlined, but there was at least one new line and it's
a curiosity. When Jerry mockingly compliments Dale after "Cheek To Cheek": "You
know, you are not a bad dancer", she responds: "Hey, I did everything you did
but backwards and in heels."
> >
> > It was rather a full house, I would say about 90 % senior citizens though.
Show has been at the TKTS booth only once since it started previews. Still a
very charming and funny show, so much better than Broadway`s "Nice Work" for
instance. Tom Chambers is not the best singer in the world but his and Summer
Strallen`s dancing is great. Strallen has mellowed a little bit since the
previews and shows off her legs to great effect in "Wild About You".
> > But still the highlight of the show for me: "Outside Of You, I Love You", a
love/hatred number for Horace and Madge. Musical comedy at its best!
> > All in all, a wonderful show that does great justice to the movie without
being overly repetitive...
> >
> > Bernd
> >
>

I must agree and say that I would put this in the "cheap stunt" category
and find it unfunny and distracting.

-----Original Message-----
From: astaire@yahoogroups.com [mailto:astaire@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of tmwctd
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 4:52 PM
To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [astaire] Re: Back from Top Hat (West End)




Because a real life quote from one of the two actors in this movie was
squeezed into the stage show. Or, in other words, Dale Tremonts speaks
as Ginger Rogers...

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com <mailto:astaire%40yahoogroups.com> ,
"Preston Neal" <pnealjones@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the full, fascinating report! I'm curious, however, as to
why you called that snippet of dialogue "a curiosity." I assume you --
and everybody else on this board -- gets the joke, so why "curiosity"?
>
> Just wondering,
>
> PNJ
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com <mailto:astaire%40yahoogroups.com> ,
"tmwctd" <tmwctd@> wrote:
> >
> > Watched it for the 2nd time after a preview in Birmingham. They have
streamlined it, it`s about 10 minutes shorter than before but still
maybe a tad too long. The first act only lasts an hour, the second act
about 80 minutes and drags a little bit at times.
> > Gone are:
> > "How Can I Change My Luck" (a charming but pointless number for
Horace right at the beginning)
> > "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (a terrible number right before Top Hat)
> >
> > "You Can't Brush Me Off", the opening number, has been replaced by
"Puttin' On The Ritz" which is an ensemble and not a solo number.
> >
> > They have added "You're Easy To Dance With" as a solo for Dale.
> >
> > Some dialogue was streamlined, but there was at least one new line
and it's a curiosity. When Jerry mockingly compliments Dale after "Cheek
To Cheek": "You know, you are not a bad dancer", she responds: "Hey, I
did everything you did but backwards and in heels."
> >
> > It was rather a full house, I would say about 90 % senior citizens
though. Show has been at the TKTS booth only once since it started
previews. Still a very charming and funny show, so much better than
Broadway`s "Nice Work" for instance. Tom Chambers is not the best singer
in the world but his and Summer Strallen`s dancing is great. Strallen
has mellowed a little bit since the previews and shows off her legs to
great effect in "Wild About You".
> > But still the highlight of the show for me: "Outside Of You, I Love
You", a love/hatred number for Horace and Madge. Musical comedy at its
best!
> > All in all, a wonderful show that does great justice to the movie
without being overly repetitive...
> >
> > Bernd
> >
>







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I see, thanks.  I guess it's a matter of semantics, but I wouldn't have called
it curious so much as simply "an in-joke."  Whether it was funny or not, that's
another matter, and I have no idea how I would have reacted to it if I'd seen
the show and heard it in context. Apparently it didn't work for you, and maybe I
would have felt the same. Especially if they hadn't established the kind of
tongue-in-cheek tone which would have supported a throw-away gag like that.

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "tmwctd" <tmwctd@...> wrote:
>
> Because a real life quote from one of the two actors in this movie was
squeezed into the stage show. Or, in other words, Dale Tremonts speaks as Ginger
Rogers...
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the full, fascinating report!  I'm curious, however, as to why
you called that snippet of dialogue "a curiosity."  I assume you -- and
everybody else on this board -- gets the joke, so why "curiosity"?
> >
> > Just wondering,
> >
> > PNJ
> >
> > --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "tmwctd" <tmwctd@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Watched it for the 2nd time after a preview in Birmingham. They have
streamlined it, it`s about 10 minutes shorter than before but still maybe a tad
too long. The first act only lasts an hour, the second act about 80 minutes and
drags a little bit at times.
> > > Gone are:
> > > "How Can I Change My Luck" (a charming but pointless number for Horace
right at the beginning)
> > > "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (a terrible number right before Top Hat)
> > >
> > > "You Can't Brush Me Off", the opening number, has been replaced by
"Puttin' On The Ritz" which is an ensemble and not a solo number.
> > >
> > > They have added "You're Easy To Dance With" as a solo for Dale.
> > >
> > > Some dialogue was streamlined, but there was at least one new line and
it's a curiosity. When Jerry mockingly compliments Dale after "Cheek To Cheek":
"You know, you are not a bad dancer", she responds: "Hey, I did everything you
did but backwards and in heels."
> > >
> > > It was rather a full house, I would say about 90 % senior citizens though.
Show has been at the TKTS booth only once since it started previews. Still a
very charming and funny show, so much better than Broadway`s "Nice Work" for
instance. Tom Chambers is not the best singer in the world but his and Summer
Strallen`s dancing is great. Strallen has mellowed a little bit since the
previews and shows off her legs to great effect in "Wild About You".
> > > But still the highlight of the show for me: "Outside Of You, I Love You",
a love/hatred number for Horace and Madge. Musical comedy at its best!
> > > All in all, a wonderful show that does great justice to the movie without
being overly repetitive...
> > >
> > > Bernd
> > >
> >
>

This review was worth a full page in the International Herald Tribune so I was
able to read it in a cafe in Vienna today..

Bernd

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, bheretical@... wrote:
>
>
> Talk about oh MAN! I swooned after I read the first three paragraphs. This, in
paticular, is a brilliant bit of writing:
>
> "...his modesty after brilliance his most disarming charm."
>
> And comparing an Astaire dance seduction to the Kama Sutra! Take that,
Epstein.
>
> Now if I can get myself out of swoon mode, I might try to read the rest of the
article...
>
> Patricia
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris B <cnb@...>
> To: astaire <astaire@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:59 am
> Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...
>
>
>
>
>
> Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...
>
>
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi, Bernd!
 
Maybe you can find a copy of the June ATLANTIC MONTHLY at that cafe.  Mag
has a
great, sorta longish, piece on P J Wodehouse with an accompanying photo of this
gentleman in his nifty car. 
 
Judith W.
 

--- On Sat, 6/2/12, tmwctd <tmwctd@...> wrote:


From: tmwctd <tmwctd@...>
Subject: [astaire] Re: Oh, MAN...
To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 11:16 AM



 



This review was worth a full page in the International Herald Tribune so I was
able to read it in a cafe in Vienna today..

Bernd

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, bheretical@... wrote:
>
>
> Talk about oh MAN! I swooned after I read the first three paragraphs. This, in
paticular, is a brilliant bit of writing:
>
> "...his modesty after brilliance his most disarming charm."
>
> And comparing an Astaire dance seduction to the Kama Sutra! Take that,
Epstein.
>
> Now if I can get myself out of swoon mode, I might try to read the rest of the
article...
>
> Patricia
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris B <cnb@...>
> To: astaire <astaire@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:59 am
> Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...
>
>
>
>
>
> Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...
>
>
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks a lot for the heads-up, but the cafe is not that international
unfortunaely. Will look for a web presence though...

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, judith williams <judithleew@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Bernd!
>  
> Maybe you can find a copy of the June ATLANTIC MONTHLY at that cafe.  Mag
has a
> great, sorta longish, piece on P J Wodehouse with an accompanying photo of
this
> gentleman in his nifty car. 
>  
> Judith W.
>  
>
> --- On Sat, 6/2/12, tmwctd <tmwctd@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: tmwctd <tmwctd@...>
> Subject: [astaire] Re: Oh, MAN...
> To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 11:16 AM
>
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> This review was worth a full page in the International Herald Tribune so I was
able to read it in a cafe in Vienna today..
>
> Bernd
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, bheretical@ wrote:
> >
> >
> > Talk about oh MAN! I swooned after I read the first three paragraphs. This,
in paticular, is a brilliant bit of writing:
> >
> > "...his modesty after brilliance his most disarming charm."
> >
> > And comparing an Astaire dance seduction to the Kama Sutra! Take that,
Epstein.
> >
> > Now if I can get myself out of swoon mode, I might try to read the rest of
the article...
> >
> > Patricia
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Chris B <cnb@>
> > To: astaire <astaire@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:59 am
> > Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...
> >
> >
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

And I´ve found it already, very interesting article! Thanks again!

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "tmwctd" <tmwctd@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks a lot for the heads-up, but the cafe is not that international
unfortunaely. Will look for a web presence though...
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, judith williams <judithleew@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi, Bernd!
> >  
> > Maybe you can find a copy of the June ATLANTIC MONTHLY at that cafe.  Mag
has a
> > great, sorta longish, piece on P J Wodehouse with an accompanying photo of
this
> > gentleman in his nifty car. 
> >  
> > Judith W.
> >  
> >
> > --- On Sat, 6/2/12, tmwctd <tmwctd@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: tmwctd <tmwctd@>
> > Subject: [astaire] Re: Oh, MAN...
> > To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 11:16 AM
> >
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> >
> >
> > This review was worth a full page in the International Herald Tribune so I
was able to read it in a cafe in Vienna today..
> >
> > Bernd
> >
> > --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, bheretical@ wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Talk about oh MAN! I swooned after I read the first three paragraphs.
This, in paticular, is a brilliant bit of writing:
> > >
> > > "...his modesty after brilliance his most disarming charm."
> > >
> > > And comparing an Astaire dance seduction to the Kama Sutra! Take that,
Epstein.
> > >
> > > Now if I can get myself out of swoon mode, I might try to read the rest of
the article...
> > >
> > > Patricia
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Chris B <cnb@>
> > > To: astaire <astaire@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 10:59 am
> > > Subject: [astaire] Oh, MAN...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...
> > >
> > >
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Oh, WOW. I finally had a chance to read the review. Toni sounds like she's part
of our group, with the way she tosses around those adjectives an similies. I
love the way she ends it too. Allowing FA's modest remark to stand but then
adding the little  comparison to Bach to totally refute it. Nice touch. The
description of Night and Day was definitely meant to put us in a swooning
condition, so I totally understand Patricia's reaction.

Gotta go. I need to see for myself, once again.....

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Chris B" <cnb@...> wrote:
>
> Have not had a chance to read the entire article yet (about Kate Riley's
fabulous book on the Astaires, but I adore the way Toni Bentley writes about
Astaire and Rogers in "Night and Day" at the beginning of it! She sure gets
it...
>
>
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/books/review/the-astaires-by-kathleen-riley.ht\
ml?emc=eta1
>

Yesterday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, the Art Directors Guild
sponsored a special screening of ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, with discussion and Q & A. 
Beautiful print.  Audience loved it.  I hadn't seen it on the big screen for
more years than I like to think about.  "Limehouse Blues" may have struck the
admirable Mr. Meuller in his superb book as a pretentious mess, but it still
breaks my heart every time I see it, and I think it's just beautiful.  Oh well,
that's what makes horse races, as the fellow once said.

I think I've shared this story before, but I remember it every time I watch "The
Babbitt and the Bromide," and yesterday was no exception.  Many years ago, and
before the advent of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!, a Smithsonian exhibit on recorded
sound included a little theater showing, on a continuous loop, twenty minutes of
highlights from MGM musicals. The day I was there, the minute the clip of Fred
and Gene came on screen, a young African American dude in back of me called out,
"Oh, Gene Kelly, don't try to dance with The Man! Dance in your own movies,
that's fine, but you should know better than to try to dance with Fred Astaire!"

Right after posting the FOLLIES piece, I caught up on my unread Sunday New York
Times Arts & Leisure section, only to find a headline: "LOVES DeBARGE. AND FRED
ASTAIRE."  It's the Playlist column by Melena Ryzik, in which she interviews a
fellow named Redfoo, part of a pop-rock duo called LMFAO, who apparently won an
MTV Movie Award the other day for one of their songs.  Anyhow, here's the
pertinent passage:

Q:  How do you come up with your dance moves?

REDFOO:  We like breaking down things.  Once you start trying to understand
where moves come from, a lot of stuff came from the Roaring 20's, all this
shuffling.  Even the moonwalk: Michael Jackson was the first to do it, but on
You-Tube those cats have been moonwalking since the 50's.

Q:  So you watch, like, Fred Astaire?

REDFOO:  Yeah, because it's smooth.  The way he walks up stairs, or he might
just skip on a ledge.  It's like, damn, that's some funky stuff.

UNQUOTE.

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@...> wrote:
>
> Yesterday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, the Art Directors Guild
sponsored a special screening of ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, with discussion and Q & A. 
Beautiful print.  Audience loved it.  I hadn't seen it on the big screen for
more years than I like to think about.  "Limehouse Blues" may have struck the
admirable Mr. Meuller in his superb book as a pretentious mess, but it still
breaks my heart every time I see it, and I think it's just beautiful.  Oh well,
that's what makes horse races, as the fellow once said.
>
> I think I've shared this story before, but I remember it every time I watch
"The Babbitt and the Bromide," and yesterday was no exception.  Many years ago,
and before the advent of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!, a Smithsonian exhibit on
recorded sound included a little theater showing, on a continuous loop, twenty
minutes of highlights from MGM musicals. The day I was there, the minute the
clip of Fred and Gene came on screen, a young African American dude in back of
me called out, "Oh, Gene Kelly, don't try to dance with The Man! Dance in your
own movies, that's fine, but you should know better than to try to dance with
Fred Astaire!"
>

due in August. I watched the show again on Saturday, nearly full house and
everybody had a good time.

As we have an Irving Berlin expert here - I posted this on talkin broadway
already but no replies:

there were two very obscure songs I did not know at all and one of them I still
can't place.
"What is Love?" was dropped from "Watch Your Step", "The Complete Lyrics of
Irving Berlin" says. Here it is used as a ensemble number to cover a set change
for the title number. In previews, an equally obscure number "Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes" was used and it was rightfully dropped.
But I can't place another number at all. The programme only lists it as "Hotel
Scene", I think the song is called "A Hotel In Belgravia". Nice bouncy tune,
sung by the ensemble in a London hotel lobby. Sounded more like Noel Coward than
Berlin to me. Does anybody know this song?

Any specific reason why they screened it? Are there more? Is it a series,
perhaps?

I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. The color must have great- I love the way it is
used in "this heart of mine'.  On the big screen it must have been really
something. I'm not sure is I would have enjoyed the movie any more than as a
DVD. It has many ups, but also many downs. It's long and uneven. But the ups are
really good, even if I don't like 'Limehouse' as much as you.

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@...> wrote:
>
> Yesterday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, the Art Directors Guild
sponsored a special screening of ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, with discussion and Q & A. 
Beautiful print.  Audience loved it.  I hadn't seen it on the big screen for
more years than I like to think about.  "Limehouse Blues" may have struck the
admirable Mr. Meuller in his superb book as a pretentious mess, but it still
breaks my heart every time I see it, and I think it's just beautiful.  Oh well,
that's what makes horse races, as the fellow once said.
>
> I think I've shared this story before, but I remember it every time I watch
"The Babbitt and the Bromide," and yesterday was no exception.  Many years ago,
and before the advent of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!, a Smithsonian exhibit on
recorded sound included a little theater showing, on a continuous loop, twenty
minutes of highlights from MGM musicals. The day I was there, the minute the
clip of Fred and Gene came on screen, a young African American dude in back of
me called out, "Oh, Gene Kelly, don't try to dance with The Man! Dance in your
own movies, that's fine, but you should know better than to try to dance with
Fred Astaire!"
>

I don't dig the lingo, but I get the drift. It's always fun to read these
comments and to realize that the qualities we love in FA's moves are still
appreciated. Some things are timeless..Thanks for posting!

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@...> wrote:
>
> Right after posting the FOLLIES piece, I caught up on my unread Sunday New
York Times Arts & Leisure section, only to find a headline: "LOVES DeBARGE. AND
FRED ASTAIRE."  It's the Playlist column by Melena Ryzik, in which she
interviews a fellow named Redfoo, part of a pop-rock duo called LMFAO, who
apparently won an MTV Movie Award the other day for one of their songs.  Anyhow,
here's the pertinent passage:
>
> Q:  How do you come up with your dance moves?
>
> REDFOO:  We like breaking down things.  Once you start trying to understand
where moves come from, a lot of stuff came from the Roaring 20's, all this
shuffling.  Even the moonwalk: Michael Jackson was the first to do it, but on
You-Tube those cats have been moonwalking since the 50's.
>
> Q:  So you watch, like, Fred Astaire?
>
> REDFOO:  Yeah, because it's smooth.  The way he walks up stairs, or he might
just skip on a ledge.  It's like, damn, that's some funky stuff.
>
> UNQUOTE.
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@> wrote:
> >
> > Yesterday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, the Art Directors Guild
sponsored a special screening of ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, with discussion and Q & A. 
Beautiful print.  Audience loved it.  I hadn't seen it on the big screen for
more years than I like to think about.  "Limehouse Blues" may have struck the
admirable Mr. Meuller in his superb book as a pretentious mess, but it still
breaks my heart every time I see it, and I think it's just beautiful.  Oh well,
that's what makes horse races, as the fellow once said.
> >
> > I think I've shared this story before, but I remember it every time I watch
"The Babbitt and the Bromide," and yesterday was no exception.  Many years ago,
and before the advent of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!, a Smithsonian exhibit on
recorded sound included a little theater showing, on a continuous loop, twenty
minutes of highlights from MGM musicals. The day I was there, the minute the
clip of Fred and Gene came on screen, a young African American dude in back of
me called out, "Oh, Gene Kelly, don't try to dance with The Man! Dance in your
own movies, that's fine, but you should know better than to try to dance with
Fred Astaire!"
> >
>

Not strictly Astaire, but there are a LOT of Astaire classics on this new CD
Ben



We continue our Berlin CD series with Marching Along With Time, songs from
1935-1945, including rarities from Second Fiddle and the  World War II era,
along with favorites from the Astaire/Rogers films, and This Is The Army. 
Featured are three first-time recordings, along with the unused patter section
for I'll See You in C-U-B-A.  Brad & I are joined by our good friends Valerie
Anastasio & Tim Harbold for our third recording together as The Smart Set.

Available at our website, www.benandbrad.com<http://www.benandbrad.com>

This is a perfect companion to The Irving Berlin Reader, newly published by
Oxford University Press (more info below).

[Marching001.jpg]



Joining the book is our new CD release
Marching Along With Time - Irving Berlin Songs 1935-1945
Performed by "The Smart Set" - Valerie Anastasio & Tim Harold and Benjamin Sears
& Bradford Conner
Look for it on our website!
www.benandbrad.com

The Irving Berlin Reader, my collection of articles about and by Irving Berlin.
Check it out at OUP's website,
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Music/PopularMusic/MusicTheatrePop\
ularSongFilmMusic/?view=usa&ci=9780195383744
or at www.amazon.com


bsears@...

Visit our website at
http://www.benandbrad.com<http://www.benandbrad.com/>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Art Directors Guild has been showing these retrospectives every month for
many years now, as a way of honoring the great designers of the past and
generally appreciating the great films of the past by seeing them as they were
meant to be seen.  Which is why I can't endorse your laissey faire policy about
DVD's.  ALL films were meant to be seen on a big screen with a big audience, and
certain genres -- musicals, for instance, or historical epics -- IMHO can ONLY
achieve their maximum impact when viewed this way.  I think you'd tolerate the
lows more, and be thrilled by the highs more, if you ever got to see ZIEGFELD as
we saw it Sunday night.  But maybe not -- it's a very personal thing.  I do hope
you'll get the opportunity to decide for yourself some time.

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "mb.belle" <mb.belle@...> wrote:
>
> Any specific reason why they screened it? Are there more? Is it a series,
perhaps?
>
> I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. The color must have great- I love the way it is
used in "this heart of mine'.  On the big screen it must have been really
something. I'm not sure is I would have enjoyed the movie any more than as a
DVD. It has many ups, but also many downs. It's long and uneven. But the ups are
really good, even if I don't like 'Limehouse' as much as you.
>
> --- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Preston Neal" <pnealjones@> wrote:
> >
> > Yesterday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, the Art Directors Guild
sponsored a special screening of ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, with discussion and Q & A. 
Beautiful print.  Audience loved it.  I hadn't seen it on the big screen for
more years than I like to think about.  "Limehouse Blues" may have struck the
admirable Mr. Meuller in his superb book as a pretentious mess, but it still
breaks my heart every time I see it, and I think it's just beautiful.  Oh well,
that's what makes horse races, as the fellow once said.
> >
> > I think I've shared this story before, but I remember it every time I watch
"The Babbitt and the Bromide," and yesterday was no exception.  Many years ago,
and before the advent of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!, a Smithsonian exhibit on
recorded sound included a little theater showing, on a continuous loop, twenty
minutes of highlights from MGM musicals. The day I was there, the minute the
clip of Fred and Gene came on screen, a young African American dude in back of
me called out, "Oh, Gene Kelly, don't try to dance with The Man! Dance in your
own movies, that's fine, but you should know better than to try to dance with
Fred Astaire!"
> >
>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqOh0Dr03u8&feature=related

I have never seen this before. I guess it was one of the last interviews Fred
ever gave. And everytime I see Pandro Berman, he looks and sounds to me like a
guy who has come straight out of WB gangster film...

at the California Heritage Museum, Fred is featured heavily of course:

http://web.mac.com/calmuseum/Site/GottaDance.html

A happy summer to everyone. Just wanted to remind you that I'll be giving a
presentation on Fred Astaire as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Resident
Associates Program. It's July 19th in Washington, D.C., so if you can make it,
I'd love to see you there.

I'm proud to say that it was moved to the Hirschhorn's larger auditorium because
the original venue sold out!

All details at this link:

http://tinyurl.com/d2q7teb


Yrs ever,
Chris

Hurray for you!!

Ben





Joining the book is our new CD release
Marching Along With Time - Irving Berlin Songs 1935-1945
Performed by "The Smart Set" - Valerie Anastasio & Tim Harold and Benjamin Sears
& Bradford Conner
Look for it on our website!
www.benandbrad.com

The Irving Berlin Reader, my collection of articles about and by Irving Berlin.
Check it out at OUP's website,
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Music/PopularMusic/MusicTheatrePop\
ularSongFilmMusic/?view=usa&ci=9780195383744
or at www.amazon.com


bsears@...

Visit our website at
http://www.benandbrad.com<http://www.benandbrad.com/>

From: astaire@yahoogroups.com [mailto:astaire@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Chris B
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 2:26 PM
To: astaire@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [astaire] Smithsonian Fred



A happy summer to everyone. Just wanted to remind you that I'll be giving a
presentation on Fred Astaire as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Resident
Associates Program. It's July 19th in Washington, D.C., so if you can make it,
I'd love to see you there.

I'm proud to say that it was moved to the Hirschhorn's larger auditorium because
the original venue sold out!

All details at this link:

http://tinyurl.com/d2q7teb

Yrs ever,
Chris



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wish I could be there. Hope it will be taped and posted. Do let us know.

Arlene


At 06:09 AM 6/27/2012, you wrote:
>1a. Smithsonian Fred
>     Posted by: "Chris B" cnb@... chrisbamberger
>     Date: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:48 am ((PDT))
>
>A happy summer to everyone. Just wanted to remind you that I'll be
>giving a presentation on Fred Astaire as part of the Smithsonian
>Institution's Resident Associates Program. It's July 19th in
>Washington, D.C., so if you can make it, I'd love to see you there.
>
>I'm proud to say that it was moved to the Hirschhorn's larger
>auditorium because the original venue sold out!
>
>All details at this link:
>
>http://tinyurl.com/d2q7teb
>
>
>Yrs ever,
>Chris
>
>
>
>
>
>

Sounds like such a fabulous program.  I wish I could be there.  Congratulations
on scoring a bigger venue at fairly decent seat prices. Maybe you are on your
way to fame.  Or are you there already...? Among us, who are in the know, you
are most certainly a celebrity and a scholar. I hope there would be another
opportunity to hear the talk, or see a recording at least.  Let us know how it
was received.

--- In astaire@yahoogroups.com, "Chris B" <cnb@...> wrote:
>
> A happy summer to everyone. Just wanted to remind you that I'll be giving a
presentation on Fred Astaire as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Resident
Associates Program. It's July 19th in Washington, D.C., so if you can make it,
I'd love to see you there.
>
> I'm proud to say that it was moved to the Hirschhorn's larger auditorium
because the original venue sold out!
>
> All details at this link:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/d2q7teb
>
>
> Yrs ever,
> Chris
>

Interesting article comparing Astaire and Savion Glover:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/jun/27/movetube-savion-glover-fred-astaire


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