Good morning, all! I just learned the Region 1 DVD of OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR! will be released in November, so I am a very happy camper. Now, if we can just get releases of several more films I want, such as THE UNINVITED, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, and Bob Hope's THE CAT AND THE CANARY, I'd be really happy!
And if DR MBarnum would stop spending his money on $1 DVDs and head east, perhaps he and I could shop for a non-regional DVD player.
I have a quiet day planned at the NYPL Theatre Collection and the recording office. Official work on the second volume of the BABES IN TOYLAND score has begun. Volume One, the full score to the 1903 "extravaganza" BABES IN TOYLAND, including all music written for the show between 1903 and 1905, is essentially finished, except for some finishing work in November, a few score edits from Mr Skip Kennon, and some libretto revisions. The vocal score will be completed at the same time.
This second volume will be all the compositions based on the 1903 theatre score, including a concert overture for the Herbert Concert Orchestra, the new songs for the German version SPIELLAND, a 1923 revue sketch, and the stock dance and palm court orchestral arrangements. The "Waltzes from BABES IN TOYLAND" reminds me a lot in shape and design of the waltzes from the Strauss operettas: the "Treasure Waltz" from THE GYPSY BARON, "Lagoon Waltz" from A NIGHT IN VENICE, and "Roses from the South" from THE QUEEN'S LACE HANDKERCHIEF.
And so much for today's music history lesson. I heard a malaprop on JUDGE JOE BROWN yesterday: a lady was being sued by a hotel staff masseuse for canceling payment on a check. The defendant's excuse was that she had been greatly disturbed by the masseuse's profound language during the massage.