AMERICAN MUSIC SERIES                                                                              63

Oscar Hammerstein

June l959

with Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Franklin

Columbia University Oral History Office

NYC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Growing up in the theatre--leaving law school and getting into musical comedy theatre, “You’re in Love” at the Casino theatre--musical comedy--funding--George M. Cohan--writing musical comedies--opening the show:  the tradition of the opening chorus and ice breaker--dance production before he finale of Act I--the common plot--breaking the rules: “Oklahoma” and “The Merry Widow”--“Rainbow”--“Showboat”--Jerome Kern--importance of having a story--“Always You”--Otto Harbach--integration--beginning of sound films and musical pictures--“Music in the Air”--“Tickle Me”--musical comedies that are vehicles for famous comedians--“Sunny”--working with stars--“South Pacific”--Mary Martin--the public’s role in the success and failure of plays--the Depression’s effect on the theatre--movies--working in Hollywood--shows: successes and failures--“Show Boat”--“Oklahoma”--Green Grow the Lilacs--Agnes de Mille, choreographer--“Carousel”--Dick Rodgers--“Carmen Jones”--Muriel Smith--“Allegro”--Dick Rodgers--rock and roll.