Monday, August 08, 2005
Apparently our "controversy" is no controversy.
Remember our little Controversy over Cast Albums?
Well, apparently we were just creating our own little tempest in a teapot, or mountain out of a molehill, or [name the cliche here]!
We received this message from Brad Rosenstein from the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum. He enjoyed our passionate little non-argument over a non-issue:
"I was quite amused to read about the great “cast album” controversy. I shared your message with David Leopold, who also appreciated the furor. He’s honestly not sure what all the fuss is about, since he doesn’t recall saying that "Miss Liberty" was the first cast album. The case in the exhibition contains four albums ("Annie Get Your Gun" from 1946, "Miss Liberty" from 1949, "Call Me Madam" from 1950, and "Mr. President" from 1962), and the caption cites these as the only four original cast albums Irving Berlin saw released in his lifetime. David had overlooked "This Is the Army", which is “more or less a cast album,” in his words, and we have since added it to the case as well.
Maybe you misunderstood something David said during the tour or he was somehow unclear – perhaps he was noting that Berlin was especially pleased to have a cast album of "Miss Liberty", especially given its short run. As you recalled, he had always regretted that "Louisiana Purchase" didn’t have one.
At any rate, so glad to have people so passionate and knowledgable paying close attention to the facts. We pride ourselves on doing our best to get our history right, but deeply appreciate our friends at 42nd Street Moon setting us straight when the need arises! And thanks so much for letting people know about the exhibition – I know they’ll enjoy coming to see it."
I bet Berlin was pretty bummed not to have a recording of Louisiana Purchase. Having been in 42nd St. Moon's production, oh those many years ago, I can tell you it has a really catchy, jazzy, score. My family tortured themselves and me for weeks after breaking into the title song's jumpy melody.
Well, apparently we were just creating our own little tempest in a teapot, or mountain out of a molehill, or [name the cliche here]!
We received this message from Brad Rosenstein from the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum. He enjoyed our passionate little non-argument over a non-issue:
"I was quite amused to read about the great “cast album” controversy. I shared your message with David Leopold, who also appreciated the furor. He’s honestly not sure what all the fuss is about, since he doesn’t recall saying that "Miss Liberty" was the first cast album. The case in the exhibition contains four albums ("Annie Get Your Gun" from 1946, "Miss Liberty" from 1949, "Call Me Madam" from 1950, and "Mr. President" from 1962), and the caption cites these as the only four original cast albums Irving Berlin saw released in his lifetime. David had overlooked "This Is the Army", which is “more or less a cast album,” in his words, and we have since added it to the case as well.
Maybe you misunderstood something David said during the tour or he was somehow unclear – perhaps he was noting that Berlin was especially pleased to have a cast album of "Miss Liberty", especially given its short run. As you recalled, he had always regretted that "Louisiana Purchase" didn’t have one.
At any rate, so glad to have people so passionate and knowledgable paying close attention to the facts. We pride ourselves on doing our best to get our history right, but deeply appreciate our friends at 42nd Street Moon setting us straight when the need arises! And thanks so much for letting people know about the exhibition – I know they’ll enjoy coming to see it."
I bet Berlin was pretty bummed not to have a recording of Louisiana Purchase. Having been in 42nd St. Moon's production, oh those many years ago, I can tell you it has a really catchy, jazzy, score. My family tortured themselves and me for weeks after breaking into the title song's jumpy melody.
// posted by ElisaC @ 8:38 AM 
