mattbaume

Bonus Video! The Little Mermaid's Humble Origins in a Broadway Flop

Added 2024-06-16 16:00:11 +0000 UTC

Hello there!

I just got back from my big trip to New York & Toronto and boy are my arms tired. I got a TON of great research done in some performing arts archives, and I'll share some highlights with you here: The original flyer for Little Shop of Horrors, a picture of Lucille Ball getting eaten by a plant, and also the song that Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) sang in a Broadway show called Smile that was a total disaster, but wound up changing her life when it got the attention of some very powerful people.

Here's the transcript of the conversation that I mention in the video -- Bob Fosse chatting with Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman. (Of note: the oddly very abrupt end to their conversation.)

Also, huge thanks to everyone who came out to see & Anthony Oliveira in Toronto, what a great time I had with you all! Thanks to Garth for pointing me in the direction of the movie Fall Time (here's Garth's YouTube channel) and to Anna for pointing me in the direction of Fred Rogers talking to Johnny Carson about gender (that occurs around the end of the clip).

Here's Jodi Benson singing "Disneyland" in the musical Smile.

And here's Carol Channing talking about being made an honorary lesbian?????