Witty song from "Fiorello" the Broadway musical.
May 4, 2024 2:42 AM Subscribe
The great Howard DaSilva performs the showstopping number "Little Tin Box" Fiorello! is a musical about New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, a reform Republican, which debuted on Broadway in 1959, and tells the story of how La Guardia took on the Tammany Hall political machine. The book is by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott, drawn substantially from the 1955 volume Life with Fiorello by Ernest Cuneo, with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock.
It won the three major theatre awards - Tony Award (shared with The Sound of Music), the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It is one of only ten musicals to win the latter award.
As a side note Mr. DaSilva was blacklisted for many years by Hollywood In 1947, his career was threatened when the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began its investigation into alleged Communist influence of Hollywood. Actor Robert Taylor, called as a "friendly witness", accused many of his fellow actors and writers of either being communists or having communist sympathies. When questioned about da Silva, Taylor said, "I can name a few who seem to sort of disrupt things once in a while. Whether or not they are communists I don't know. One chap we have currently, I think is Howard da Silva. He always seems to have something to say at the wrong time."
It won the three major theatre awards - Tony Award (shared with The Sound of Music), the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It is one of only ten musicals to win the latter award.
As a side note Mr. DaSilva was blacklisted for many years by Hollywood In 1947, his career was threatened when the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began its investigation into alleged Communist influence of Hollywood. Actor Robert Taylor, called as a "friendly witness", accused many of his fellow actors and writers of either being communists or having communist sympathies. When questioned about da Silva, Taylor said, "I can name a few who seem to sort of disrupt things once in a while. Whether or not they are communists I don't know. One chap we have currently, I think is Howard da Silva. He always seems to have something to say at the wrong time."
Nancy Lebovitz. I like it.Who is that singing?
posted by Czjewel at 6:57 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]
posted by Czjewel at 6:57 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]
The show also includes "I Love A Cop" and "Politics and Poker" which are both delightful.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:52 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]
posted by rmd1023 at 8:52 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]
One of the other singers appears to be Pat Harrington, of “One Day at a Time” fame.
posted by holborne at 10:12 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]
posted by holborne at 10:12 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]
DaSilva is still the best Ben Franklin there ever was.
posted by tzikeh at 12:50 PM on May 4 [3 favorites]
posted by tzikeh at 12:50 PM on May 4 [3 favorites]
Tom Bosley -- aka the dad from Happy Days -- originated the role of LaGuardia on Broadway. Wow, my father used to own the original soundtrack so this brings back memories.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 3:15 PM on May 4 [2 favorites]
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 3:15 PM on May 4 [2 favorites]
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posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 6:01 AM on May 4 [1 favorite]