Written Response History of Broadway

In October of 1929, America’s stock market crashed. A world-wide financial depression began, and the extravagance and overspending of the 1920s came to an abrupt halt. Charles Poor Kindleberger (an American economist who was instrumental in the U.S. Marshall Plan that provided aid to post-World War II Europe) faulted Britain and the United States for the failure of the world economy. The causes of “The Depression” are quite complex, and, in fact, they did not happen overnight. I will oversimplify and briefly summarize Kindleberger’s theories: After World War I, Britain was unable and the U.S. unwilling to stabilize the international economic system. Kindleberger believes that Britain and the U.S. should have policed and regulated open market trading, international exchange rates and government lending policies. The neglect of these obligations led to the collapse of the world economic system (1986).

So what impact did all of this have on the Broadway community? For the most part, the financial hole created by the stock market crash was not felt immediately on the avenue. Ticket prices were not as outrageously expensive as they are today, and patrons continued to attend shows. But the fluffy, happy themes of the 20s began to be replaced by a new type of musical...

Video: “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

(Dupre, et al., 2004)

Slowly, the realities of unemployment met up with the excitement surrounding the new world of movies. Broadway tickets in 1929 sold for amounts between $3 and $6.50; movie tickets cost about 30 cents (Mizejewski, 1999). This pricing difference, which did little to decide audiences prior to the stock market crash, proved to be monumental as the early days of the Depression turned into years of hardship. As Americans began to tighten their belts, they also spent their money on reusable entertainment. Sales on items such as radios and bicycles skyrocketed. Still, if the advent of Talkies had not coincided with the financial difficulties of the 1930s, most historians are convinced that movies would not have affected Broadway audiences.

As the movie musical industry grew, many Broadway theaters were converted to movie theaters. Some of them even became soundstages [buildings in which movies are filmed or “shot”].

Broadway producers, forced to get creative, sometimes took advantage of the best of both worlds. Radio City Music Hall—which Roxy had opened on December 27, 1932, in partnership with John D. Rockefeller to boost the New York economy—showed its first film on January 11, 1933. A new format was utilized: a revue was performed prior to the movie. The glamorously costumed Rockettes performed their tap numbers, ending each with their now-famous eye-high kicks. Then, they exited the stage to their dressing rooms while a giant movie screen was lowered from the ceiling. A movie’s premiere at the Hall almost guaranteed that the movie would be a success.This format proved to be a hit for decades. It was not until 1979 that Radio City Music Hall changed its focus to provide a venue for concerts. Special events with movie showings, however, still play at the 6000-seat theater.

The Talkies--now a permanent fixture--had both positive and negative effects on the Broadway musical industry.

On the positive side, American film musicals reached new audiences across the country. In The Great Ziegfeld, Seymour Felix, who had staged dances for Ziegfeld’s production of Rosalie, had the opportunity of out-Ziegfelding the original master of spectacle, when he was given an enormous soundstage and a budget to match. Seymour Felix is remembered for his small attempts to integrate dance into the storyline of musicals on Broadway and for his successful career on both American coasts. “In his time, he was reputed to be the highest paid dance director in the business” (Kislan, 1987, p. 59).

But it was Busby Berkeley who became the Ziegfeld of Hollywood. He incorporated lavish choreography and staging with innovative camera work to establish a new standard of musical dancing that was impossible to replicate on the Broadway stage. He even cut a hole in the roof of the soundstage to get an overhead view! Berkeley became known for his visual extravaganzas. His movies featured chorus dancing taken to a new level. Geometric, precision dancing could now be viewed from all sides. Berkeley took audience members close to the girls, then gave them a “Peeping Tom” look from above. Broadway could not match this experience.

Armed with many of the most talented Broadway performers and creative artists, Hollywood became powerful competition for Broadway. And Hollywood capitalized on Broadway’s success. Many films borrowed the Broadway musical format and used Broadway as their themes. In the film 42nd Street (1933), a young Broadway chorus girl gets her chance at stardom when the unlikeable star of the show breaks her ankle. The tough coaching of the Broadway director molds the timid but talented girl into a poised sensation. The gritty story and the dances staged by Berkeley proved to be a winning combination. The film was later adapted for the Broadway stage (1980) and ran for eight and a half years. [The 2001 revival ran for 1524 performances.] Movies about Broadway, such as 42nd Street and The Great Ziegfeld, piqued audience curiosity. By giving ticket holders a peek into the backstage life of Broadway dancers, additional interest was generated for the Broadway theater.

It is uncommon for films to make the trip to Broadway stages. The flexibility of editing, the unrestricted space used for dance sequences and the “magic” on screen that can be realized by special effects may be just a few of the many reasons that make transfer from film to stage problematic. [That said, recent years have shown a new trend towards movie to stage transfer, with such films as Mary Poppins (2006), Billy Elliot (2008), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2005) and many Disney animated features enjoying successful runs.]

It is more common for Broadway musicals to be adapted for film. The trend began with one of the most iconic films in cinema history, The Wizard of Oz, which premiered in 1939. (The Broadway musical opened in 1903.) Hollywood films provided exposure for musicals. Audiences that viewed these films often became the tourists that flocked to New York City to see the sites and the shows. Broadway became a prime destination. Below is a partial list of Broadway hits that became films:

Until recently, most Hollywood producers gave Broadway choreographers the option of recreating their dances for film, bringing the original Broadway dances to many people who would never have otherwise seen them, and also providing a link to the history of Broadway dance.