Kern, Jerome. (1885–1945)

"Centennial Summer" - Kern's annoted script and Academy Award Nomination

The revised frinal script of "Centennial Summer," August 8, 1945. 122 pp. With underlining and emphasis (arrows, circles etc.) notations in Kern's hand on 6 pages in pencil and "Office Copy" written in his hand ink on the front cover. Accompanying it is the Academy Award nomination for "All Through the Day" for best song of 1946, and an original 11 x 14 inch doubleweight photograph of Kern. All these from the collection of Jerome Kern, by descent to his daughter Betty Kern Miller and then to the previous owner, and never previously offered on the market.

Kern composed his last film score in 1945, "Centennial Summer" in which "the songs were as resplendent as the story and characters were mediocre. … Oscar Hammerstein, Leo Robin, and E. Y. Harburg contributed lyrics for Kern's lovely music, resulting in the soulful ballad 'All Through the Day,' the rustic 'Cinderella Sue,' the cheerful 'Up With the Lark,' and the torchy 'In Love in Vain.'" (Thomas Hischak, The Oxford Companion to the American Musical) (7950)

Manuscript Music Song