[78-L] Paramount on Parade theme

[David Lennick]

Elsie Janis also wrote the lyrics to "Love (Your Magic Spell is Everywhere)", "Live and Love Today" and a few other songs. "Paramount On Parade" was recorded by Tommy Dorsey on V-Disc, subtitled "The Eyes and Ears of the World". The Garner recording (per Lord) subtitles it "Newsreel Tag". And Django recorded a variation called "Paramount Stomp".

 

dl


> From: soundthink at live.com
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:26:29 -0700
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Paramount on Parade theme
> 
> 
> "Paramount on Parade" was published by Famous Music, Paramount's publishing company. In their publishing catalog there is a page devoted to the history of the song. It is listed as being composed by Jack King with lyrics by Elsie Janis. Here's what's written about it:
> 
> The powers-that-be at Paramount Pictures were hardly unaware of the great box office success in 1929 of splashy, all-star movie musical extravaganzas (such as MGM's "Hollywood Revue" and Warner Brothers' "The Show of Shows"). Eager to showcase their own contract players, the studio in 1930 rounded up every available talent on the lot, including eleven leading directors. Paramount's hottest headliners, including Gary Cooper, Fay Wray, Maurice Chevalier, Dennis King, Jack Oakie, Clara Bow, Jean Arthur, Dick Powell, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Helen Kane, Stu Irwin, Fredric March, Warner Oland, and dozens more were put before the cameras to sing, joke, and dance their way through twenty elaborate segments (seven of which were shot in Technicolor). To supervise production, the studio brought in vaudeville veteran Elsie Janis, whose biggest claim to fame had been her 1913 hit record, "Fo' De Lawd's Sake, Play a Waltz." Elsie helped pull together what turned out to be one of the very b
> est all-star revues of its kind - "Paramount on Parade," and even helped write the spirit-rousing title theme. "Up on the stage of life, it's paramount," begin her lyrics to Jack King's music. "Let's Go! Get together and let's show spirit, and let nobody queer it! We admit it's a bit of a crusade when a revue mae tries to be somewhat diff'rent. New tunes, sentimental and blue tunes, bright stars that are not overnight stars, and a crowd who'll be proud if new friends they've made when you've seen "Paramount on Parade."
> 
> In addition to the Atkins recording the song was also recorded by Rod Levitt (RCA), Erroll Garner (MGM), and Ray Stevens (Mercury).
> 
> Cary Ginell
> 
> > From: mbiel at mbiel.com
> > To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> > Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:04:13 -0700
> > Subject: Re: [78-L] Paramount on Parade theme
> > 
> > I now do realize it. My question really is about Elsie Janis and the
> > Paramount on Parade theme, as to what her role was -- did she perform or
> > record it? By the way, that Atkins album did not divide the songs
> > played to Paramount and WB. Most of them were neither.
> > 
> > Mike Biel mbiel at mbiel.com 
> > 
> > 
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > From: Cary Ginell <soundthink at live.com>
> > 
> > Cantor was the co-writer for "Merrily We Roll Along." Friend and
> > Franklin wrote "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down." I have the sheet music
> > for both songs - in fact, I'm using them in a songbook folio of music
> > from Warner Bros. cartoons that will be coming out in August.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Cary Ginell
> > 
> > > From: mbiel at mbiel.com
> > > To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> > > Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:40:16 -0700
> > > Subject: [78-L] Paramount on Parade theme
> > > 
> > > I just got a copy (in a free pile) of "Chet Atkins Goes to the Movies"
> > > RCA Victor APL1-0845, and side one opens and closes with "Paramount On
> > > Parade" (:17 and 2:25). The composers are listed as Elsie Janis and
> > > Jack King. Interesting. Did we know this? Did Elsie record this, or
> > > perform it in a film?
> > > 
> > > By the way, side two closes with "Merrily We Roll Along" (:26) and the
> > > composer listings are Eddie Cantor, Charles Tobais, and Murray Mencher. 
> > > I had thought that Cantor co-wrote "The Merry Go Round Broke Down" but
> > > web sites list that for Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin.
> > > 
> > > Mike Biel mbiel at mbiel.com 
> > > 
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