Ronald E. Bornstein
Shalom, Christmas, Shalom!: Winter Holiday Songs by Jewish Songwriters
Ronald E. Bornstein - Shalom, Christmas, Shalom! Winter Holiday Songs by Jewish Songwriters
Audio and visuals are displayed throughout the lecture.
- Good evening everyone, and welcome. Tonight we’ve got a real treat for you and my friend Ron Bornstein is going to be lecturing. In fact, he’s one of the few Renaissance people I’ve ever known. He was an international lawyer. He practised in New York, Paris, San Francisco, and London, where he usually lives. But I believe at the moment, he’s in San Francisco and it’s a good time to get away from very gloomy London. He’s a member of Chatham House, the Ford Foundation. He’s a fellow of the Academy of International Law, the Hague.
He was a Fulbright professor at the University of Dhaka, which I think in itself could make a lecture. He grew up in Manhattan he’s been a lifelong student of the great American songbook and American music. He specialises 1920 to 1970. He’s also a great patron of the arts and a collector. He’s a patron of Muse Dorset and the British Museum where he sponsored a recent exhibition, French Impressionist Prints from Monet to Cezanne. So, as I said, welcome Renaissance man, and let’s have fun. And thank you so much, Ron, because it’s such a gloomy time. We really felt that this kind of presentation would give us the escapism we need.
No gloom, Trudy. Just joy.
[Trudy] Thank you, Ron.
Yeah, well, thank you. Thank you. I think you over grandized some of my credentials, but that’s, yeah, that’s fine. Let’s go on. Well, first I’d like to thank Wendy Fisher and the Kirsh Foundation for all the wonderful experiences I’ve had. I was an early participant in lockdown university, and a mutual Anglo South African friend introduced us, and it’s really been tremendous for me personally, and I’ve benefited so much from so many of the lectures. I hope you’re enjoying my William Tyler inspired holiday outfit that I chose especially for this occasion. I want to thank Karina, who was a joy to work with, and my goal in presenting programmes to her, or clips to her, was to see how many times I could make her laugh. And to Hannah, who’s helping with the slides today. Through the years, I’ve bored or entertained, depending on your point of view, many friends and family with the recollection of lyrics and tunes from the Great American Songbook. And I’d like to thank them for their putting up with me for all those years, especially my two lovely daughters who I dragged to endless Gilbert and Sullivan Sunday matinees and also to others I’ve inflicted this information upon.
And my daughters, just by the way, are now doing great work for the performing arts and fine arts, particularly in communities and helping to change the world’s attitude towards climate change and create more resiliency to that terrible crisis that we’re facing. Okay, with that behind us, let’s get into the programme. Shalom Christmas Shalom features a number of clips on Christmas songs and Hanukkah songs, and some songs that aren’t directly related, but are indirectly. It was very easy to find Christmas songs written by Jewish songwriters. It was almost impossible to find Hanukkah songs written by anyone, Jewish songwriters. But I’d like to welcome you with this opening clip called “Shalom,” written by Jerry Herman in his first musical on Broadway, “Milk and Honey,” which was about a number of widows visiting Israel from America. So let’s start with the next clip, please. That’s it. Thank you.
Audio clip plays.
♪ Shalom, Shalom ♪ ♪ You’ll find Shalom ♪ ♪ The nicest greeting you know ♪ ♪ It means bonjour, salud, and skoal ♪ ♪ And twice as much as hello ♪ ♪ It means a million lovely things ♪ ♪ Like peace be yours ♪ ♪ Welcome home ♪ ♪ And even when you say goodbye ♪ ♪ You say goodbye with Shalom ♪
- Okay, we can cut it there, please. Okay. That was sung by Robert Weede, who you see in the first photo on the left. And he was a great baritone singing in the Metropolitan Opera, primarily in the 40’s and into the 50’s. He sang not only at the Met in numerous roles, he also sang in Chicago and San Francisco, and performed with Maria Callas and other great opera singers of the of the day. And he’s standing next to Tom. Sorry, I, let’s go on. Okay. No, go back please. I’m sorry. Sorry about these slides. We haven’t rehearsed this very much. That’s Jerry Herman to the right, and he’s photographed between Angela Lansbury on the left and Ginger Rogers to the right. And Angela Lansbury is going to sing the next clip from his show “Mame”, and Ginger Rogers originated the same role in the West End production in 1969. So, next slide, please and play the clip please.
Audio clip plays.
♪ Haul out the holly ♪ ♪ Put up the tree before my spirit falls again ♪ ♪ Fill up the stocking ♪ ♪ I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now ♪ ♪ For we need a little Christmas ♪ ♪ Right this very minute ♪ ♪ Candles in the window ♪ ♪ Carols at the spinet ♪ ♪ Yes, we need a little Christmas ♪ ♪ Right this very minute ♪ ♪ It hasn’t snowed a single flurry ♪ ♪ But Santa, dear, we’re in a hurry ♪ ♪ So climb down the chimney ♪ ♪ Put up the brightest string of lights I’ve ever seen ♪ ♪ Slice up the fruitcake ♪ ♪ It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough ♪ ♪ For I’ve grown a little leaner ♪ ♪ Grown a little colder ♪ ♪ Grown a little sadder ♪ ♪ Grown a little older ♪ ♪ And I need a little angel ♪ ♪ Sitting on my shoulder ♪ ♪ Need a little Christmas now ♪ ♪ Haul ♪
- Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Just keep that slide for a minute. I’d like to say a few words about Jerry Herman. “Mame” was not his most famous musical. His most famous musical was “Hello Dolly,” which starred Carol Channing in the original version. He went on to write “Hello Dolly,” which starred, I’m sorry. He went on to write “Like Casual Folk,” which, and he was a very, very acclaimed gay songwriter, and he wrote both the words and the music. Angela Lansbury is probably known for many things she did in her career. She was nominated for Academy Awards early in her career. She was the young maid in “Gaslight.” She appeared as a singer dancer in “Till the Clouds Rolled By,” the biography biopic of Jerome Kern, which came out in 1945. He’d worked on it, but died unfortunately before it was completed. And she’s also known for the great performance she put on for the film “The Manchurian Candidate.” So, and then, of course, is known for her television work as well. And we’ll see Ginger Rogers in a very different light later in this programme. So, okay, we can move on. Thank you. Okay. George Frideric Handel. Not Jewish, a German immigrant to not the United States during the 1700’s, before there was a United States. He immigrated to London and is known for several holiday oratorios. His most famous one, of course, is the “Messiah.” But before he wrote the “Messiah,” he wrote an oratorio called “Esther,” which is the Purim story. And then he wrote another one by the title of “Jews in Egypt.” And then he wrote the “Messiah,” and then he wrote “Judas Maccabeus”, which will have some, a familiar chorus, not like the Hallelujah chorus in the “Messiah.” Play the next clip, please.
Audio clip plays.
♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah hallelujah ♪
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, and Handel lived in London for many decades. and the house on the right is Handel house, which you can visit. It’s in London and Mayfair, and it’s on Brook Street, just down the block from Claridge’s, the Great Hotel, and around the corner from New Bond Street. The house to the left of it is by another famous musical figure from the 20th century. And there’s a blue plaque on that. We’re going to look at it right now. Next slide, please. Jimi Hendrix. Yes that’s right, Jimi Hendrix and Handel were neighbours, in effect, not in the same century. And today there’s the Handel Hendrix House Museum, which is sometimes open for you to visit if you’re so interested. Okay, next slide, please. Felix Mendelssohn was born Jewish into a Jewish family that converted, and he wrote this little melody that was morphed into a very famous Christmas song, which some of you may be familiar with. Could play the next slide, please. Okay. Thank you. Of course that was “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.” Thank you. Next. Okay, the next group of songs I’d like to chat about are 30 famous Christmas songs. There was an article written a number of years ago by a fellow who did the research to see which songwriters were Jewish and which were not.
And this next material that we’re going to be discussing is derived from that list. The Christmas song in America only started to become popular in the 1930s. And then with World War II, it became more popular, particularly when people were thinking of the troops away from the United States overseas who were absent for Christmas. And then there were the second wave, and that was during the time of radio. The second wave came with television and people like Perry Como. Next slide, please. This is a Burl Ives animated special for television. And you’ll see in the lower right hand corner that this, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was written by Johnny Marks, who was a Jewish fellow who came from the same part of the world I did, the upper east side of Manhattan, and he’s known as the King of the Christmas song. And there’s a very interesting tidbit about how “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” came to be and how it made its way from Johnny Marks’s mind to Gene Autry the singing cowboy. And you can read about that in the article. I’ll give you the reference in a few minutes.
Next, please. Okay. Andy Williams, again, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was written for him for his TV show and became a huge, huge hit. Sorry. Next slide, please. Okay, this is the list of 15, excuse me, of 30 Christmas songs, 15 of which were written by Jewish songwriters. And I’m not going to go into every one of them. I’ll just go through the list quickly and you can read for yourself as I do that. “The Christmas Song,” Mel Torme and Robert Wells, who was born Robert Levinson, wrote that. And we’ll be talking about that later. “White Christmas,” probably the bestselling Christmas song ever, Irving Berlin. Patrick touched upon that, I’ll also put in some unique insights into that song as we go along. Next slide, please. There’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Johnny Marks. And at the bottom of the page, there’s “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” which was written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, who wrote many songs for Sinatra and other singers in the 40’s and 50’s and into the 60’s. Jule Styne wrote the music for “Gypsy.” Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics, and after that, Stephen Sondheim decided that he wouldn’t work with anyone else.
He’d write both the music and the lyrics, and obviously did that very successfully for many decades. Jule Styne also wrote the music for a musical I only discovered called, I think it’s “Bar Mitzvah Boy,” which was derived from a BBC One teleplay many years ago. Next slide, please. Okay, “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” It’s obviously 1943, one of the World War II Christmas songs I was talking about. And okay, next slide please. Another Johnny Marks song there. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” which I mentioned was written in 1963 for Andy Williams. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” was written by Meredith Wilson, who is best known for having written “The Music Man,” which is a perennial favourite show that’s been revived many times. Next, please. “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.” Another Johnny Marks song and “Home for the Holidays” is a song that was written for Perry Como and he made that into a big hit. Next please. “Happy Holidays” is a song that was written by Irving Berlin for “Holiday Inn,” which included “White Christmas.” It was a movie and it starred Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. “Santa Baby” written by Joan Javits, who was the, I believe the niece of Jacob Javits, the great senator from New York, who lived a block away from me and Tony Springer.
And we’re going to have a discussion of that very shortly. Okay, thank you. Next, a couple of inadvertent Christmas songs. Well, there are many inadvertent Christmas songs, but probably the most famous one is “A Few of My Favourite Things,” which was written of course by Rogers and Hammerstein. I was amused when I looked at the original cast album cover for the Broadway show to see how large they were featured, because usually the composers just get a little blurb at the bottom. And it was introduced by Mary Martin. Of course, it became a hit after “The Sound of Music” was made into a movie and Julie Andrews performed it. But it was even popular before then because she introduced it on the Gary Moore Christmas programme several years before the movie was made. Next, please. Okay, “She Loves Me” by two of my favourite writers, Jerry Bach and Sheldon Harnick. They wrote, and “She Loves Me” is the musical stage version of “The Shop Around Corner,” which was the Hungarian play that was turned into the movie with Jimmy Stewart, which is often shown this time of year.
And to start, Barbara Cook, who’s a wonderful, you know, one of the great great voices of Broadway and Daniel Massey, who’s the son of the famous actor Raymond Massey. Harnick and Bock are shown to the left under the marquee for “The Rothschilds,” which was a show that they wrote that did fairly well on Broadway. And they composed a song, a Christmas song for “She Loves Me” that featured “The 12 Days of Christmas.” And it showed “The 12 Days of Christmas” from the point of view of the people who have to work behind the counter and deal with all the craziness during the period leading up to Christmas. They also wrote a number of other Christmas songs for the show, which they decided to cut. Now, their names may ring a distant bell because they also wrote “Fiddler on the Roof,” which was their big smash hit. But many people prefer, including they, I believe, prefer “She Loves Me” to “Fiddler.” And they also wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning “Fiorello,” which is a marvellous, marvellous score about Fiorello H. LaGuardia, who’s the mayor of New York. One of my favourites. Okay, next, please. Irving Berlin, “White Christmas.” Well, who doesn’t know that? Well, how many of you know the introduction to White Christmas? Well, if you don’t know it, you’re going to hear it now. So here it is, the introduction to “White Christmas” by the Manhattan Transfer. Next slide, please.
Audio clip plays.
♪ Do do do do do do ♪ ♪ Do do do do do do ♪ ♪ Do do do do do do ♪ ♪ The sun is shining, the grass is green ♪ ♪ The orange and palm trees sway ♪ ♪ There’s never been such a day ♪ ♪ In Beverly Hills, LA ♪ ♪ But it’s December the 24th ♪ ♪ And I’m longing to be up north ♪ ♪ Up north ♪ ♪ Ooo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Do do do do do do ♪
- Okay, I think that’ll do it. Hold the image, please. Thank you. Irving Berlin did not write that obviously up north. There’s some disagreement about whether he wrote it in Southern California or at the iconic Biltmore Hotel in Arizona, but oh, you don’t hear that introduction very often. And when it’s performed, it’s usually by Jewish singers who try to add a different take on it. And Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler, Michael Feinstein have all recorded that. and you know, obviously Bing Crosby’s version is the most famous one. And I, you know, although I like a lot of Irving Berlin songs, and I like a lot of Bing Crosby’s work, I’d never really felt comfortable for some reason, as a child with “White Christmas.” I don’t know exactly why. Maybe it was ‘cause I didn’t identify with the sentimentality of it. I don’t know. Maybe some of you feel the same way. Maybe some of you don’t. Okay, next, please. Mel Torme and Robert Wells, who I mentioned Robert Levinson by Birth, “The Christmas Song.” And, you know, there’s not much I can say about this except that it was written by, Wells wrote a few lines in July of 1945, and it was sweltering and he did it just to kind of get away from the heat before air conditioning, at least mentally. And so he liked this and he asked his buddy Mel Torme to come over and he said, you know, “Let’s try to chill.” And they chilled for less than an hour. And this is the song they wrote. And you’ll see it introduced by someone else who joins in, in a duet version of it. And you also see her three children. And I hope you enjoy this. Next, please play the clip.
Video and audio play.
♪ Here we come a-caroling ♪ ♪ Among the leaves so green ♪ ♪ Here we come a-wand'ring ♪ ♪ So fair to be seen ♪ ♪ Love and joy come to you ♪ ♪ And to you glad Christmas too ♪ ♪ And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year ♪ ♪ And God send you a Happy New Year ♪
Come on in everybody. Come on in.
Come on in kids.
I hope you don’t mind our dropping in. You know, we go carolling every year.
No, of course not. Please come in.
It’ll be fun.
Yeah, sit down. Make yourselves comfortable, please, will you?
This is great.
Mel, I want you to right at the piano where you always sit.
Hi.
Hi. Hi, Tracy.
Hi.
Hi.
A real conclave for you.
A lot of you don’t know that Mel Torme is the composer and writer of all of my special material. Every show that I do, I’m very lucky to have him. He’s also been a guest on the show before and lots of you don’t know that he happened to write one of the most beautiful Christmas songs that ever was written.
Well, thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Incidentally, I wrote that, you know, with Bob Wells.
Yes.
And just this year, kind of to celebrate Christmas, I wrote a brand new verse. Would anybody care to hear it? ♪ All through the year we waited ♪ ♪ Waited through spring and fall ♪ ♪ To hear silver bells ringing and wintertime bringing ♪ ♪ The happiest season of all ♪ ♪ And I wish Trudy Garland would sing the chorus ♪ ♪ In her own voice ♪ ♪ Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ♪ ♪ Jack Frost nipping at your nose ♪ ♪ Yuletide carols being sung by a choir ♪ ♪ And folks dressed up like eskimos ♪ ♪ Everybody knows ♪ ♪ A turkey and some mistletoe ♪ ♪ Help to make the season bright ♪ ♪ Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow ♪ ♪ Will find it hard to sleep tonight ♪ ♪ They know that Santa’s on his way ♪ ♪ He’s loaded lots of goods and toys are in his sleigh ♪ ♪ And every mother’s child is going to spy ♪ ♪ To see if rainbows really know how to fly ♪ ♪ And so I’m offering this simple phrase ♪ ♪ To kids from one to 92 ♪ ♪ Although it’s been said many times, many ways ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas to you ♪
Should we have a go at I’m Wishing You?
Yes. ♪ Love and joy come to you and to all your loved ones too ♪ ♪ And God bless you and send you a happy new year ♪ ♪ And God send you a happy new year ♪
Okay hold it. Hold it there, please. Hold it. Yeah, thanks. Just a few quick words about Mel Torme. He was a musical prodigy from Chicago, started performing before he was 10. And you can see clips of him in the biopic of Rogers and Hart, “Words and Music” by MGM, and also the prior musical that he was in with Peter Lawford and June Allison, “Good News.” From a cantorial background and just a brilliant, brilliant musician as well as vocalist and composer. And this clip is from 1963, and you may have heard Trudy Garland flub a few words, including singing “to see if rainbows really know how to fly.” She appears to me to be somewhat medicated in this and obviously medication and alcohol led to her early demise six years later. Okay, next we’re going to, okay, next slide, please. Okay, now we’re going to some happy Hanukkah songs. This is one I really love. It was written by Al Sacks, who was a top arranger, composer, violinist, and it’s performed by Mickey Katz, who was the father of Joel Grey and the grandfather of Jennifer Grey. And he wrote satirical versions of popular songs during the 1950s with a Yiddish twist. One of my favourites was “Dovid Crockett, the King of Delancy Street.” And you’ll see some of his crazy album covers as we go along. And if you’re interested and you want to hear Jewish parodies of famous American songs, look up Mickey Katz. Wonderful, wonderful clarinettist and let’s go, next clip.
Audio plays.
♪ Mendel make me a dreidel ♪ ♪ Beryl make me a dreidel ♪ ♪ Shimon can you make a dreidel ♪ ♪ That’s a dreidel ♪ ♪ Da da da dreidel ♪ ♪ Da da da dreidel ♪ ♪ Da da da dreidel ♪ ♪ Da da da da dreidel ♪
- Thank you. Okay, next slide. That’s Al Sacks, who I mentioned who composed this work, little known today, but certainly a great arranger, composer, conductor in his time. Next, please. Okay, the next few clips will be addressing the holiday of Christmas, not as a religious holiday, but as a commercial holiday. And reminds me, when I was in Tokyo a number of decades ago, I had a lunch thrown for me by a great Japanese lawyer. And it was on the first week of December and Tokyo was riding high and there were just over the top amazing Christmas decorations. So I said, “Nobu, there are almost no Christians in Japan. What is this about?” And he said, “Ron, Christmas not religious holiday. Is commercial holiday.” So I hope you enjoy the next few songs. The first one is by Cole Porter and it’s from a hidden gem in “Anything Goes.” You know, I grew up in Manhattan and went to a lot of shows. I went to my first musical before I was five. And I took my mother and and daughters to the Lincoln Centre Revival of “Anything Goes” in 1987. And my mother said to me, she was born in New York on Manhattan, as was my dad.
And she said, “Why would I want to see anyone but Ethel Merman in 'Anything Goes?’” I said, “Mom, you know, it’s not possible.” And she said, “Well, you know who could be better than her?” And she was right ‘cause Patty Lapone was certainly no Ethel Merman. And my mom knew both. So I’d like to thank my parents for introducing me to the Broadway musical at a very early age, and then taking my brother and me to all sorts of great performances in nightclubs and cabarets and concert halls. So, okay, let’s go to “Anything Goes.” “Buddie, Beware.” Probably the least known and one of my favourite songs from “Anything Goes” 1987 Revival that I just mentioned.
Video plays.
[Erma] Come on fellas. Gettin’ married’s for the birds. Who needs it?
[Company] We do.
Can we continue “Buddie Beware?”
[Erma] Yeah. ♪ Buddie, beware ♪ ♪ Buddie, better take care ♪ ♪ Though at heart I’m a pearl ♪ ♪ I’m a difficult girl ♪ ♪ So, Buddie, beware ♪ ♪ When I go to a show ♪ ♪ I prefer the first row ♪ ♪ When invited to dine ♪ ♪ I can’t eat without wine ♪ ♪ So, Buddie, beware ♪ ♪ During Christmas holidays ♪ ♪ I develop taking ways ♪ ♪ And I’m not at all anti ♪ ♪ Pretty things Santy ♪ ♪ Brings from Cartier’s ♪ ♪ Your devotion I prize ♪
Okay, that’s fine. Cut it there, please. I’m not all anti pretty thing Santy brings from Cartier’s. During Christmas holidays I developed taking ways. Okay, and that was written for the 1934 show “Anything Goes.” And I found a clip that reminded me of Hanukkah from a 1933 show. Well, it was a film performed by 22-year-old Ginger Rogers who had made a big splash when she starred in the Gershwin hit “Girl Crazy” in 1929, I believe. And then went on to be Anytime Annie in “42nd Street,” a Busby Berkeley production prior to “Gold Diggers” of 1933, which is the clip we’re going to show now. And you may ask, what does Ginger Rogers and “Gold Diggers” have to do with Hanukkah? And take a look and you’ve never seen so much guilt in your life as in this Busby Berkeley production. And, you know, we have people listening from all over the world. So I thought I’d throw in a few foreign language clips. And so here’s one. Next slide. Next slide, sorry. Okay next, yeah.
Can we continue?
[Hannah] That’s the entirety of the clip.
Oh, okay. Well, it’s too bad ‘cause okay, anyhow, Ginger Rogers went on shortly after this to star in her first, not even to star, to be featured with Fred Astaire as a specialty act in their first film together, “Flying down to Rio” and you know about the rest of her career. So go to the next, and by the way, that language was pig Latin with apologies to those of you who are kosher. You might care about that. Okay, next. Joan Javits, as I mentioned, the niece of Jacob Javits and Philip Tony Springer wrote “Santa Baby” for Eartha Kitt. Who, well, I’ll explain a little more about this after we listen to her. I was in Paris and London of the last month, and I was very surprised to hear this song being played in department stores and other places in connection with the Christmas season. And it’s amazing to me what a ubiquitous song this has become for this season. Okay, play the clip, please.
Audio plays.
♪ Santa baby, just slip a Sable under the tree for me ♪ ♪ Been an awful good girl ♪ ♪ Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight ♪ ♪ Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue ♪ ♪ I’ll wait up for you, dear ♪ ♪ Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight ♪
- Okay, let’s cut it there, please. I wish we had time to play this whole clip, but we’re running short. So next slide, please. Okay, Eartha Kitt performed a similar song called “Monotonous” in 1952. And I wanted to make mention of the play that was in, it was a musical revue of Leonard Sillman’s, who started producing these revues with new talent in the thirties. Eartha Kitt was starring in or featured in this, along with Carol Lawrence, who went on to be the original Maria in “West Side Story.” Robert Clary, who’s a French refugee or immigrant, I should say, who had a very moving experience before coming to America. He was interviewed by the Simon Wesenthal Centre in Los Angeles and explains what life was like for him and other Jewish friends of his and family in France during World War II. It’s a very touching clip and it’s available on YouTube. Paul Lind was another fellow who got his first break. You may remember him from “Bye-Bye Birdie.” And numerous television appearances.
And the creative team behind this included Sheldon Harnick. And next slide please. Melvin Brooks, a young 20 something Melvin Brooks. And yes, that is Mel Brooks. And if you see, if you look at the kinescope that’s available online, you’ll see some of his touch in some of some of the bits. It’s not a very good copy, but it’s better than nothing. I also should mention Eartha Kitt was a great supporter of Israel and a great detractor of Lyndon Johnson and made some remarks that will live forever I suppose. She also had to go to Europe and the Middle East to really make her name. She appeared in Egypt and Turkey and France before coming to this production of “New Faces” of 1952. And her songs in French are exquisite. And if you don’t know the other side of Eartha Kitt, I think it’s a real treat for you. Okay, next, please. This “New Faces” of 1956, I found, and that image of the woman may trigger some association for you, and that is the first appearance of Maggie Smith in the United States. Leonard Sillman found her in England and asked her to come over as an unknown, and obviously now she’s Dame Maggie Smith and very well known.
Next, please. Okay, Tom Lehrer, a very bright fellow. Also from the Upper East Side. He went to Harvard at a young age, and I think he graduated magna cum laude when he was 16. Went on to teach mathematics at Harvard and MIT. And I understand is living in California today, but not in Santa Monica, but Santa Cruz where he taught for a number of years. He’s, I believe, about 95. And if he’s listening to this by any chance, we wish him well. There is a reference that I should explain in this next song to East St. Louis, which is not St. Louis, Missouri, but East St. Louis, Illinois, which is one of the most troubled cities in the history of the United States. Huge crime rate and race riots. It’s really a tragic story, but you know, part of the American story and it was a home of Miles Davis and also Ike and Tina Turner at one time. So, okay, let’s look at some more joyful aspects with Tom Lehrer for your American geography lesson.
Audio plays.
♪ I’m spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica ♪ ♪ Wearing sandals, lighting candles by the sea ♪ ♪ I spent Shavuos in East St. Louis ♪ ♪ A charming spot, but clearly not the spot for me ♪ ♪ Those eastern winters, I can’t endure 'em ♪ ♪ So every year I pack my gear and come out here to Purim ♪ ♪ Rosh Hashana, I spend in Arizona ♪ ♪ And Yom Kippur, way down in Mississippa ♪ ♪ But in December, there’s just one place for me ♪ ♪ Amid the California flora, I’ll be lighting my menorah ♪ ♪ Like a baby in his cradle, I’ll be playing with a dreidl ♪ ♪ Spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica by the sea ♪
- Okay, I think we’re going to have to cut it there because of time. Thank you. Next, please. Now next slide please. That’s Tom Lehrer as a young man. Next slide please. Okay, you’ve heard this melody before, but here’s a contemporary take on it from 1965 by Alan Sherman. As you may know or remember, did many parodies of famous songs, including “Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda.” Okay, play the clip please.
Audio plays.
♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ Christmas '65 ♪ ♪ Draught cards burning on an open fire ♪ ♪ Protests marching everywhere ♪ ♪ Living costs getting higher and higher ♪ ♪ Air pollution fills the air ♪ ♪ Kids with too much hair ♪ ♪ Watusi in disco text ♪ ♪ Rock and rolling silent night ♪ ♪ And of course there’s that old Ku Klux Klan ♪ ♪ They’re hoping Christmas will be white ♪
Okay, let’s cut it there please. ♪ Old Red China ♪
Okay, sorry. I wish I could play the whole thing, but we’re running out of time. Next slide, please. Well, you may wonder what the reference to Watusi-ing was. Well, this is a photograph of Lady Bird Johnson on the left Watusi-ing with Steve McQueen at a fundraiser for her father in Beverly Hills. And I couldn’t get many references to Africa into this programme for our African viewers. So just for your information, the Watusi tribe, the Tutsi tribe is in Rwanda and Burundi as you may recall. Okay, next. Okay, “The Hanukkah Song.” Adam Sandler did many versions of this. This is one that I liked. We’ll just play a small clip featuring The Draidels. Next please.
Video plays.
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, The Draidels. ♪ Put on your yarmulke ♪ ♪ It’s time for Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Once again it’s Hanukkah ♪ ♪ The miracle of Hanukkah ♪
Thank you. Nice to be here everybody. ♪ Hanukkah is the festival of lights ♪ ♪ One day of presents, hell no ♪ ♪ We get eight crazy nights ♪ ♪ But if you still feel like the only kid in town ♪ ♪ Without a Christmas tree ♪ ♪ I guess my first two songs didn’t do it for ya ♪ ♪ So here comes number three ♪ ♪ Ross and Phoebe from Friends ♪ ♪ Say the Hanukkah blessing ♪ ♪ So does Lenny’s pal Squiggy ♪ ♪ And Will & Grace’s Debra Messing ♪ ♪ Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon ♪ ♪ Never mixed meat with dairy ♪ ♪ Maybe they should have called that show ♪ ♪ Little Kosher House on the Prairie ♪
Okay, got it. Thanks. Next please. These tunes may be familiar to you, at least the melody will be, written by The great Leonard Bernstein. And the original lyrics were written by, sorry, Steven Sondheim. And I wonder what he would think of this. They would think of this, okay, play it please.
Audio plays.
♪ Do do do do do ♪ ♪ Bum bum bum bum ♪ ♪ Do do do do do ♪ ♪ Bum bum bum bum bum ♪ ♪ Candles we’re lighting on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Blessings reciting on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Fried foods we’re biting on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Family uniting on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Do do do do do do ♪ ♪ Bum bum bum bum bum ♪ ♪ I made a clay dreidel to spin ♪ ♪ Why does it only land on Shin ♪ ♪ La la la la ♪ ♪ Sufganiyot with my family ♪ ♪ I’ll take a latke, if you please ♪ ♪ Ba da ba da ba da ba da ♪ ♪ Chocolate money on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Latkes are crunchy on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Presents from Bubbe on Hanukkah ♪ ♪ I want a puppy for Hanukkah ♪ ♪ Do do do do do do do ♪ ♪ Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum ♪ ♪ Latke ♪ ♪ Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum ♪ ♪ Na na na na badum badum ♪ ♪ Menorah ♪ ♪ Come gather around the Menorah ♪ ♪ And light each candle’s flame ♪ ♪ While proudly we proclaim we’re free ♪ ♪ Menorah ♪ ♪ Recall the great temple’s menorah ♪ ♪ And how the oil they found ♪ ♪ Kept burning strong and proud, brightly ♪ ♪ Menorah ♪ ♪ Watch the flames as they’re dancing, swaying ♪ ♪ Feel the joy of the blessings we’re saying ♪ ♪ Menorah ♪ ♪ With eight lights it’s called Chanukiah ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ♪ ♪ Dear mighty Antiochus ♪ ♪ You got to understand ♪ ♪ Your boys can kiss our tuchus ♪ ♪ And get out of our land ♪ ♪ The soldiers smashed our temple ♪ ♪ And all our oil is bad ♪ ♪ Goodness Grecians, now you’ve made us mad ♪ ♪ Gee, King Antiochus, you’re really obtuse ♪ ♪ You’ll never get us worshipping Apollo or Zeus ♪ ♪ We don’t bow to idols you made out of wood ♪ ♪ This polytheism’s no good ♪ ♪ It’s no good ♪ ♪ It’s no good, it’s no good ♪ ♪ No, it’s just no good ♪ ♪ All this polytheism’s no good ♪ ♪ Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum ♪ ♪ Da da da da da da da da ♪ ♪ Eight nights, eight nights ♪ ♪ We celebrate God’s might ♪ ♪ And Maccabees for saving the day ♪ ♪ Eight nights, eight nights ♪ ♪ A festival of lights ♪ ♪ We give thanks that we’ve lived to this day ♪
- Okay, let’s cut it there. Okay, I just loved finding this. And I’m sorry we can’t play it to the end, but let’s move on to the next slide, please. Okay, this is Irving Berlin, who has nothing to do with the next song except it’s a Christmas song. And my Bing Crosby’s Christmas song that I like as opposed to “White Christmas” and the Andrews Sisters. And Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters had a big hit with this. We’re not going to listen to this version. We’re going to listen to a version by a Jewish woman who was born in Hawaii in December 78 years ago, and grew up as a poor kid in Honolulu, who worked in a pineapple factory and had a rough time before she made it to New York. Play the clip, please.
Audio plays.
♪ Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say ♪ ♪ On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day ♪ ♪ That’s the island greeting that we send to you ♪ ♪ From the land where palm trees sway ♪ ♪ Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright ♪ ♪ The sun will shine by day, and all the stars at night ♪ ♪ Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way ♪ ♪ To say merry Christmas to you ♪ ♪ Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say ♪
- Okay, let’s cut it please. Thank you Hannah. Okay, next slide please. This is another holiday song that was written in the different season. It was introduced by Margaret Whiting, who’s pictured here, a very popular female vocalist of the day in 1940s into the 50’s. And she was the daughter of the great songwriter Richard Whiting, who I’d love to tell you more about, but we don’t have time for that. But the song was, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” which has been recorded by many people. And it was written by Frank Lesser, who as you know was Jewish. And he also wrote the somewhat controversial song “Baby, It’s Cold outside,” but we won’t discuss that either. This is a truly exquisite piece to end this programme with, and I hope you agree with me. Play the clip, please.
Video plays.
So imagine the pleasure this is going to give me singing here with the fabulous Ella. “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” ♪ When the bells all ring and the horns all blow ♪ ♪ And the couples we know are fondly kissing ♪ ♪ Will I be with you or will I be among the missing ♪ ♪ Maybe it’s much too early in the game ♪ ♪ Ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same ♪ ♪ What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve ♪ ♪ I wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight ♪ ♪ Hold you good and tight ♪ ♪ When it’s exactly twelve o'clock that night ♪ ♪ Twelve o'clock that night ♪ ♪ Welcoming in the New Year, New Year’s Eve ♪ ♪ Maybe I’m crazy to suppose ♪ ♪ I’d ever be the one you chose ♪ ♪ Out of the thousand invitations you received ♪ ♪ Oh, but in case I stand one little chance ♪ ♪ Here comes the jackpot question in advance ♪ ♪ What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve ♪
Okay, thank you. It’s Chris Botti on the trumpet right there I should mention. Anyhow, that’s the end of this programme. I would like to wish all of you well, no matter where you are, whether it’s the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere or the summer solstice for all of you in the southern hemisphere. I hope you’re all well, are having good holiday season, and let’s hope we all have a great year. Oh, we have one more slide, Trudy, before we, I’m sorry.
No, what I was going to say, Ron, what a fabulous song.
Well, the last,
But I want to know something. Will you take a few questions? There’s lots of people asking questions.
Yeah but I want to put up the last-
[Trudy] The last slide then.
Yeah. There we go. Happy holidays.
Love it. Love it, Ron.
Happy holidays to every one of us. Yes, may the holidays and 2024 be healthy and happy and prosperous for everyone who’s listening and their families. Okay.
Ron, can I give you a few questions? I’ll read them.
Sure, sure.
Q&A and Comments:
Q: This is from Ronald. “I love the Great American Songbook,” the songs we’ve read about the subject. What books do you recommend?
A: Well, if you can look behind me, I’ve got a library here. I don’t know, am I on screen, Trudy?
Yeah, yeah.
Okay, well, “The Complete Lyrics of Ira Gershwin,” Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Lorenz Hart, books on Jerome Kern. There are just so many and I have so many favourites. If you’re interested in Irving Berlin in particular, there’s “As Thousands Cheer,” which I thought was a very, very… And which was the name of one of his musicals. But it’s a good biography, yeah.
Q: And we’ve had a lovely note from Lady Melaina Primville Banes, “How are you, do you know the Tisch Centre of the Arts in New York known as the 92nd Street? Hanna Arie-Gaifman has just retired as the director. Some of the artists you’re mentioning performed there. And she-”
A: Well, I’m very familiar with the 92nd Street Y, which I think she’s referring to.
Yeah.
Because I have a diploma, as does my brother from their nursery school.
I love it. I love it.
Yeah, and my mother was very active in their arts programme during her retirement, so yeah.
Miriam says, “Absolutely a joy. Thank you so much for this fine and educational presentation.” Hillel Schenker says, “All of this is fascinating. My favourite version of "White Christmas” is the Drifters’ version with the lead singer Clive McPhatter, which appears on YouTube.“
Okay, I’m with you. It’s a great version.
And Alice says, "Love Mel Torme, a huge talent.” And this is from Marilyn. “My parents used to have an LP of Yiddish songs sung by Joel Grey. It included Rumania and Tum Balalaika. Oh, so many memories.”
[Ron] Absolutely. Yeah. Great.
[ Trudy] Lots of people have loved you, Ron.
Oh, thank you.
Monty says, “Mickey Katz was the Jewish version of Spike Jones.”
Actually, wait, wait, wait. Mickey Katz worked for Spike Jones Orchestra before he went on his own.
Q: Oh, that’s so funny. Who came up with the phrase, “Ask Judith the great American songbook?”
A: I don’t know that.
Okay.
[Ron] Sorry.
What I find with Lockdown, if we don’t know the answer, someone on Lockdown will. This is from Stewart. I hope you’ll talk about “Light One Candle” by Peter Paul and Mary and “The Hanukah Song” by Adam Sandler.
Okay, thank you.
Q: And Ellen says, “What is the Jewish connection in ‘Sound of Music’ and ‘A Few of my Favourite Things?’”
A: Oh, it was written by Rogers and Hammerstein. Both of whom were Jewish.
And wasn’t the musical actually staged at Max Reinhardt’s Villa, if I remember rightly? That’s a tenuous connection.
Well, are you talking about about, I dunno. Are you talking-
Yeah, “Sound of Music.” They staged the interiors at Max Reinhardt’s Villa.
Oh, you’re talking about the the the film.
[Trudy] Yeah, “Sound of Music.”
I should say I’ve been focused on the original version. ‘Cause they’re seldom seen. Yeah.
Milena says, “Hanna Gaifman is my cousin.”
Lorna Sandra, “A real trip down memory lane, covered a lot of ground.” Beryl, “Just a joyous day to learn about all these people, Jewish talent who made a difference with the music and what joy they gave us. What talent too.”
Margaret, “I remember Eartha Kitt playing at the Royal Performance the London Palladian. She was gorgeous and so sexy.”
And Bruce, “What about Tom Lehrer’s Christmas song, 'Christmas Time is Here By Golly, Disapproval Would Be Folly?’” I love Tom Lehrer.
This is Karen Fingret, “My 8-year-old granddaughter sang this song. ‘I’m spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica’ with her school choir at Carmel School in Hong Kong, which shows that everything old is new again.” Lovely. Isn’t that lovely?
[Ron] Great. Yeah.
And Gillian says, “What a lovely session.”
Roberta. “I’m reminded of my dad, descended from Catskills Vaudeville stock. Used to sing ‘Rosh Hashanah Time in Dixieland.’ Not quite Christmas, but still.” I really think you’ve got to people. We needed this, didn’t we?
“Wonderful lecture,” says Barry Epstein.
Karen Shamash, “Thank you so much. What a wonderful hour.”
Neville Golden. “What a fun, what fabulous presentation. Thank you Ronald. I love watching the joy in your face as the clips were played, clearly you have a deep and vast knowledge.”
Q: Stanley Bornstein, would he be a relative? “What a pleasure. I’ve seen you prepare for this most of our lives.” Simply wonderful. Is that your brother?
A: That’s my younger brother in the Boston area.
Isn’t hat gorgeous? Isn’t that lovely?
[Ron] Thank you Stanley.
“I’m afraid we got none of the slides or songs. Were we the only ones?” I think so, Greta. Let’s check that.
Francine, “Thank you so much.”
Lorna, “Wonderful.” Rhoda, “Absolutely delightful.” That’s from Rhoda from Toronto. So it seems that you’ve had a very, very delighted audience.
And it was honestly, Ron, we’ve so needed it in this incredibly dark, gloomy time. Not only is the world out there gloomy, but where I’m sitting in London, it’s pitch black and you know what London’s like when it’s miserly and ghastly. So thank you so much and please come back with another subject. You know, you’ve got such knowledge and you do it with such a light touch. So so grateful and-
It’s a joy for me. Trudy, thank you so much for asking me.
And please have, what’s the weather like in San Francisco?
Oh, well it’s been pretty rainy but the sun’s come out and it’s about 16 degrees centigrade I’d say. So not too bad.
Lovely. And I’m back again at seven o'clock. We’re going to continue with the Warner Brothers. I’m trying to lighten up as well. I really think we need to. So take care Ron, and we’ll be in touch.
[Ron] Thank you.
[Trudy] And have a great season. God bless.
Thank you Trudy.
And thank you very much for getting all the clips right. We’ve got a wonderful team. Take care.