A Knight for a Day (musical)

A Knight for a Day is a musical with music by Raymond Hubbell and a book and lyrics by Robert Bache Smith. It debuted in 1907.[1] The musical held the record for longest running play in Chicago.[1] East Coast and West Coast versions were also performed. The play was produced by B. C. Whitney.[1]

Scene from Knight for a Day which opened September 27, 1908, at the Moore Theater in Seattle

History edit

The play originated as Mamselle Sallie in New York with lyrics by Robert Bache Smith.[2][3] It was renamed and reworked by Whitney for his Chicago theater, The Whitney Opera House where it became a hit. It played for 176 performances.[4] It featured the song "My Very Own" by Clare Kummer.[5]

It played at Wallack's Theatre on 30th Street and Broadway from December 1907 until May 1908.[5] The play is set at Mme. Woodbury's Seminary for Young Ladies in Evanston and the island of Corsica. [5]

Munsey's Magazine described it as "no show for the high brows" with madcap dance numbers.[6] Another write-up describes it as a treatment with a pleasant score featuring a plot about trying to match lockets.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Burton, Jack (July 23, 1949). "The Honor Roll of Popular Songwriters". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. p. 34 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Mamselle Sallie – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB".
  3. ^ "A KNIGHT FOR A DAY' PLEASES; " Mam'selle Sallie" in a New Garb at Wallack's Wins Many Laughs". December 17, 1907 – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ^ Bordman, Gerald (March 4, 2001). American Musical Theater: A Chronicle. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 9780195130744 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b c "A Knight for a Day – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  6. ^ "Munsey's Magazine". Frank A. Munsey & Company. December 4, 1908 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Stubblebine, Donald J. (June 8, 2015). Early Broadway Sheet Music: A Comprehensive Listing of Published Music from Broadway and Other Stage Shows, 1843-1918. ISBN 9781476605609.