This Week in Musical Theater HIstory November 8 Through the 15th

Hello and welcome back to my ongoing series on the history of the Broadway musical and this week's installment which concerns the dates of November 8 through the 15th as we head into the holiday season on Broadway.. In this part you will find the premiere of two of the greatest hits of the early Broadway musical including the longest running show of the 19th Century.The premiere of one of a ground breaking children's show with a surprising Broadway connection. The death of three of the musical's greatest composers and the premiere of one of the biggest flops of the decade. So please watch the traffic as you cross Herald Square (don't to forget to look in Macy's windows! on the way!) Make certain you have your coat with you because it can get blustery in New York this time of year so please join me on my latest tour of the great events of theater history. Right this way ladies and gentlemen if you please!

November 8
The minor operetta The Belle of Brittany (72p) opens in this day in 1909 at Daly's Theater. The Howard Talbot/Percy Greenbank comic opera stars Frank Daniels and Frances Kennedy in the Shubert Brothers production which is a modest success. Running until the beginning of the new decade.

On this day in 1926, George and Ira Gershwin's Oh, Kay! (256p) opens at the Imperial Theater. The Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse book is a typical 20's show about Long Island society, British royalty and Probation rum runners. In the process star Gertrude Lawrence gets to sing Do, Do, Do and Someone to Watch Over Me. Co starring Victor Moore the musical is the Gershwin brothers biggest hit of the decade.

A second Gershwin Brothers show, also starring Gertrude Lawrence, Treasure Girl (68p), also opens this day at the Alvin Theater in 1928.Co starring Clifton Webb this one isn't as successful as critics call the Fred Thompson and Vincent Lawrence book "remorselessly dull".However Lawrence gets to sing another Gershwin classic because in the score is I've Got a Crush on You. In spite of Lawrence's efforts the show is barely able to run out the year.