Irving Berlin on Ed Sullivan
Today is the birthday of Izzy Baline (a.k.a Irving Berlin). For the full scoop on his vaudeville beginnings go here. And here’s a clip I found very moving, Berlin on the eve of his birthday in 1968, singing his own tune “God Bless America” on the Ed Sullivan Show:
To find out more about these variety artists and the history of vaudeville, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold.
May 11, 2012 at 8:02 pm
I actually know who this gentleman is, because of the book. I know I sound like an idiot, but it’s such a different experience seeing those old photos, than seeing them in “real life”. Well as much as you can call it that.
May 14, 2012 at 9:23 am
Not dumb to say at all. It’s the same for me — trying to make it experiential. I for one have a hard time connecting the black and white time to my own experience of the world. seeing them in action helps make it real