Kern, Jerome. (1885–1945)

"Show Boat" - Kern's Personal Copy with his Box Office Blue Ribbon Award

London: Chappell & Co. [Copyright by T.B. Harms Company]. 1928. First complete edition. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane production of Show Boat: A Musical Play. Adapted from Edna Ferber's novel of the same name / The whole production under the personal supervision of Alfred Butt. Music by Jerome Kern. Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein 2nd.

Piano-Vocal Score. 229 pp. 28 cm. [PN] 29678. Bound by Rivière & Son in full blue leather, pages edged in gold and gilt-stamped at spine "Show Boat - Jerome Kern." This copy custom bound for Jerome Kern and from his library, by descent to his daughter Betty Kern Miller and further enriched by a laid-in award certificate: "The Best Picture of the Month for the Whole Family. Box Office Blue Ribbon Award May, 1936. Jerome Kern / Music / 'Show Boat'."

The original London production opened May 3, 1928 at the Drury Lane Theatre and featured among the cast, Edith Day as Magnolia, Paul Robeson as Joe, and Alberta Hunter as Queenie. Mabel Mercer, later famed as a cabaret singer, was in the chorus. The song "Dance Away the Night" was expressly written for the Drury Lane production and was published for the first time in the present score, making this the first complete publication of the musical.

The 1936 film, directed by James Whale, is a mostly faithful film version of the show, and is considered by many critics to be one of the great film musicals. (5307)

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