Bonus Video! The Little Mermaid's Humble Origins in a Broadway Flop
Hello there!
I just got back from my big trip to New York & Toronto and boy are my arms tired. I got a TON of great research done in some performing arts archives, and I'll share some highlights with you here: The original flyer for Little Shop of Horrors, a picture of Lucille Ball getting eaten by a plant, and also the song that Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) sang in a Broadway show called Smile that was a total disaster, but wound up changing her life when it got the attention of some very powerful people.
Here's the transcript of the conversation that I mention in the video -- Bob Fosse chatting with Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman. (Of note: the oddly very abrupt end to their conversation.)
Also, huge thanks to everyone who came out to see & Anthony Oliveira in Toronto, what a great time I had with you all! Thanks to Garth for pointing me in the direction of the movie Fall Time (here's Garth's YouTube channel) and to Anna for pointing me in the direction of Fred Rogers talking to Johnny Carson about gender (that occurs around the end of the clip).
Here's Jodi Benson singing "Disneyland" in the musical Smile.
And here's Carol Channing talking about being made an honorary lesbian?????
Backup link to the video: https://youtu.be/5qjE9T5FfEI
Comments (12)
Conan seemed like kind of a dick in that clip. I don’t remember him being that way. Maybe he mellowed.
He does seem unusually smarmy, doesn't he? I think that's kind of a product of the times -- back then, EVERYONE had to be so post-ironic and detached and over it.
Hey Matt, I think you got the opening wrong, re: the old joke. You say, "I just got back from my big trip to New York & Toronto and boy are my arms tired." The real joke is "I just FLEW back from my big trip to New York and Toronto, and boy, are my arms tired". Like you were flying the whole time. Your vintage joke fan.
Well, my arms are still tired
Congrats on the win, Matt! Very well deserved
Thanks!!!
It was so great getting to meet you and Anthony Oliveira at the Toronto event! The discussion and sing-a-long were awesome! Thank you so much for the shout out and hope you've had time to rest! Very glad you won the Lambda award (your book is SO good!) Also loved the Little Shop Lucy pic and the wild Jodi Benson trivia here!
Glad you could make it!
Wow, massive congrats on the win - very well deserved, it's a great book!
Yay thank you!
Got two possible book recs: The Secret Life of the American Musical Not Since Carrie Also, the Wait in the Wings channel on YouTube has done some fantastic videos about 80s mega musicals
Also, "Everything was Possible" about the original production of Sondheim's Follies