Of Thee I Sing

Mr. Gershwin goes to Washington

On today's date in 1931, the trial run of new musical by George Gershwin debuted at the Majestic Theater in Boston. "Of Thee I Sing" was an outrageously impudent; no-holds barred satire on American politics and electioneering, and boasted a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, and song lyrics by Gershwin's brother, Ira.

In 1931, America was in the grip of the Great Depression, and even proper Bostonians must have been receptive to a view of a musical satire that took no prisoners, politically speaking. The show's trial run played to packed houses. Rather surprisingly, considering the target of its satire, when "Of Thee I Sing" opened at Broadway's Music Box Theater later in the month, its first night audience included a number of prominent New York politicians, including Jimmy Walker and Al Smith.

The New York premiere was conducted by Gershwin himself, and proved one of his greatest triumphs. The show's authors, Kaufman and Ryskind, achieved a double first: In March of 1932, "Of Thee I Sing" became the first American musical comedy to be published in book form, and in May won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

For his part, Gershwin had to content himself with critical kudos for his contribution to the success of the new musical -- and a percentage of the box office.