Theatrical Songs of the 1930s Trivia Quiz

Answer: I've Got Rhythm

"Girl Crazy" features music by George Gershwin and lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin. A man named Danny is sent to Arizona to manage his family's ranch, but turns it into a dude ranch with a heavy focus on entertainment. One of the performers--Kate (played originally by Ethel Merman)--leads a group of singers and dancers in the song "I've Got Rhythm".

The original run of "Girl Crazy" on Broadway was 272 performances.

Answer: Love is Sweeping the Country

Once again, George Gershwin wrote the music and Ira Gershwin wrote the lyrics. "Of Thee I Sing" had a run of 441 performances on Broadway in its initial run. The musical focuses on presidential candidate John Wintergreen, who runs on a platform of "love".

A group of campaigners support this sentiment with the idea that "Love Is Sweeping the Country". "Of Thee I Sing" was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, although the announced winners of the award did not include George Gershwin.

Answer: Night and Day

Cole Porter wrote the music and lyrics for "Gay Divorce". An attorney is trying to assist his client in obtaining a divorce, and the attorney seeks the assistance of his friend, an author. Fred Astaire performed the song "Night and Day" in the original production.

His recording of the song would later become a Number One Billboard hit. The show had a run of 248 performances on Broadway in its debut.

Answer: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

The novel "Gowns by Roberta" was the basis for the musical "Roberta". The character of Princess Stephanie (Tamara Drasin) introduced the song "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". In 1959 the Platters would have a Number One hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their cover of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". Otto Harbach wrote the lyrics and Jerome Kern wrote the music for "Roberta", which went for 295 performances in its initial Broadway run.

Answer: You're The Top

Note: For "Anything Goes", it was a bit of a challenge to choose a song since in various revivals several Cole Porter songs have been added or subtracted. In the end, I choose a song that has been consistently part of the musical since its premiere in 1934.

Cole Porter wrote the lyrics and music for "Anything Goes", which ran for 420 performances on Broadway. The musical is largely set on a trans-Atlantic cruise and focuses on the lives of the passengers and crew. In "You're the Top", Reno Sweeney (Ethel Merman) is singing the praises of her friend Billy Crocker.

Answer: Summertime

The Gershwin Brothers again collaborated on the songs for "Porgy and Bess", described by George as a "folk opera" and featuring a predominantly African-American cast. The show focuses on the residents of fictional Catfish Row (previously shown in a novel and play called "Porgy"). "Summertime" is a lullaby sung by a resident of the community to her young child.

The initial run of "Porgy and Bess" on Broadway ran for 124 performances.

Answer: Glad to be Unhappy

"On Your Toes" featured music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. The original run of the show lasted for 315 performances on Broadway. In the show, a music professor at Knickerbocker University tries to convince a ballet director to stage a particular ballet at the university.

The character of Frankie Fayne (a student at the university) introduces the song "Glad to be Unhappy". A 1967 cover of the song by the Mamas and the Papas would reach Number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Answer: My Funny Valentine

"Babes in Arms" ran for 289 performances on Broadway, with music composed by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. The titular "babes" of the title are the pre-adult children of a group of travelling entertainers who themselves attempt to "put on a show".

In the play, the character of Billie Smith (female) sings about Valentine Lamar (male) in "My Funny Valentine". Ruth Gaylor's 1945 of the song would reach Number 16 on the Billboard charts.

Answer: This Can't Be Love

Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" provides the inspiration for "The Boys from Syracuse". Two sets of twins who have been separated in infancy provide most of the impetus for the plot. Lorenz Hart wrote the lyrics and Richard Rodgers composed the music.

The show initially ran for 235 performances on Broadway. The song "This Can't Be Love" was sung in the show by one of the twins and his potential love interest. The song has been covered a number of times.

Answer: Do I Love You?

Cole Porter wrote the music and lyrics for "Du Barry Was a Lady". The initial run of the show on Broadway lasted 408 performances. In the musical, a washroom attendant who is drugged and falls asleep imagines himself in the court of Louis XV of France, with the members of the court resembling people in his daily life.

The song "Do I Love You?" was sung in the show by Alex Barton and Madame Du Barry. The song has been covered a number of times since.