Original Listing Description

This is a rare February 11th, 1930 (Opening Night) playbill from the Original Broadway production of RUTH SELWYN's musical revue "NINE FIFTEEN REVUE" at George M. Cohan's Theatre in New York City. (The production opened February 11th, 1930 and closed after only seven performances.) ..... With musical staging by the legendary BUSBY BERKELY and boasting songs written by GEORGE GERSHWIN, VICTOR HERBERT, HAROLD ARLEN, RUDOLF FRIML, VINCENT YOUMANS, IRA GERSHWIN, KAY SWIFT and others, the revue starred RUTH ETTING, HARRY McNAUGHTON and FRED KEATING and featured JOE and PETE MICHON, PAUL KELLY, CHARLES LAWRENCE, HELEN GRAY, FRANCES SHELLY, LYNNE DORE, MARY MURRAY, GRACELLA and THEODORE, the LOVEY GIRLS, DIANNE ELLIS, MICHAEL TRIPP, WALLY CRISHAN, OSCAR RAGLAND, NAN BLACKSTONE, EARL OXFORD, JAMES HOWKINS, PEPPI LEDERER, LOUISE BARRETT, MARGARETE MERLE, RUTH SELWYN'S SPECIALTY GIRLS: LILLIAN OSTROM, JANE SHERMAN, MARY SAWYER, RUTH GORMLEY, TEDDY WATERS, PAT HASTINGS, THELMA TEMPLE and GINGER MEEHAN and DON VOORHEES and his Orchestra ..... Side Note: The musical introduced HAROLD ARLEN's first big hit, "GET HAPPY", which was performed by RUTH ETTING at the end of Act One (fourth scanned image). Today the song is most associated with Judy Garland, who performed it in her last MGM film Summer Stock (1950). Garland also sang this song with Barbra Streisand in a medley that also included "Happy Days Are Here Again" on "The Judy Garland Show" ..... CREDITS: Music and Lyrics by GEORGE GERSHWIN ("Girl Crazy", "Lady, Be Good!", "Oh, Kay!", "Funny Face", "Rosalie", "Strike Up the Band", "Of Thee I Sing", "Porgy and Bess", "George White's Scandals"), RUDOLF FRIML, VICTOR HERBERT ("Cyrano de Bergerac", "Babes in Toyland", "Mlle. Modiste", "The Red Mill", "Naughty Marietta", "Sweethearts", "Ziegfeld Follies", "Sally", "Gypsy Lady"), VINCENT YOUMANS, ROGER WOLFE KAHN, KAY SWIFT, PHILIP BROUGHTON, WILL B. JOHNSTONE, TED KOEHLER, HAROLD ARLEN ("You Said It", "Cotton Club Parade", "Life Begins at 8:40", "The Show is On", "Hooray for What", "Bloomer Girl", "St. Louis Woman", "House of Flowers", "Jamaica", "Saratoga" and the classic film "The Wizard of Oz"), RALPH RAINGER, RICHARD MYERS, NED LEHAK, MANNING SHERMAN, EDWARD ELISCU, PAUL JAMES, IRA GERSHWIN, IRVING CAESAR and others; Sketches by RING LARDNER, PAUL GERARD SMITH, EDDIE CANTOR, ANITA LOOS and JOHN EMERSON, GEOFFREY KERR, H. W. HANEMANN, ROBERT RISKIN and ADORIAN OTVOS; Sets designed by CLARKE ROBINSON; Costumes designed and executed by KIVIETTE; Orchestra conducted by DON VOORHEES; Dances and Ensembles by BUSBY BERKELEY; Ballets Directed by LEON LEONIDOFF; Sketches Staged by the Authors; Produced by RUTH SELWYN ..... DETAILS: The sixteen page program measures 5 1/4" X 7 7/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes and musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of the date written on the title page, a small spot on the front cover and light edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard. Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Playbill collectors and appraisers.