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Throughout a long golden era, the American movie musical transformed Hollywood into a Mecca for the biggest singing stars and leading songwriters of the '30s, '40s, and '50s. Hosted by Michael Feinstein, THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK offers a dazzling parade of American popular songs as seen and heard in some of the most beloved films ever made. With stars ranging from Al Jolson to Judy Garland to Frank Sinatra, and sounds from the Gilded Age to New Orleans jazz to Broadway musicals, THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK tells the story of the first 50 years of American popular music. Whether it was from the vaudeville stage or Tin Pan Alley, on the radio or the record player, it all found its way to the silver screen. This treasure trove of musical clips overflows with the very best of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and many more artists.
Get to know many of the incredible composers and songwriters whose music is featured in THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK as well as two other GREAT PERFORMANCES programs airing this season -- KISS ME, KATE and RENÉE FLEMING & BRYN TERFEL: MUSIC UNDER THE STARS -- through our Encyclopedia of Composers & Songwriters. Browse the Q&A with Professor Thomas Hischak, author of numerous books on American film and stage musicals, in Ask the Expert. In addition, read essays written by the late music critic John Ardoin for two previous GREAT PEFORMANCES programs: the first on the Gershwins' "Porgy and Bess" (PORGY AND BESS: AN AMERICAN VOICE) and the second, on the musical team of Rodgers and Hart (THE RODGERS AND HART STORY: THOU SWELL, THOU WITTY) plus his interview with author and composer Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers.
Additional funding for this program was provided by the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
Many local PBS stations are offering THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK videocassette, DVD, and its companion CD, SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS, as Pledge gifts. To order these items,
pledge now. Or you may purchase the VHS or DVD of the program from Shop Thirteen.
Top banner photos: Lena Horne in STORMY WEATHER (1943); Doris Day in LULLABY OF BROADWAY (1951); Judy Garland in A STAR IS BORN (1954). |
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Frank Sinatra stars in IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN and sings "Time After Time" by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. |
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Alice Faye performs "After the Ball" by composer Charles Harris in the movie LILLIAN RUSSELL (1940). |
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