Silver Age Of Broadway Episodes

190
Jan. 9, 2026

Ep 194: The Great Waltz on Radio & TV

With special guest Albert Evans
Guest: Albert Evans
193
Dec. 10, 2025

Ep 193: BY STRAUSS! In Search of THE GREAT WALTZ, part 2

This week Albert Evans joins me once again as we go “In Search of Lost Broadway.” Specifically, the 1934 smash-hit musical The Great Waltz, conceived, directed, and lighted by Hassard. Short, with a book by Moss Hart, choreography by Albertina Rasch, based on the Viennese operetta and London hit, Waltzes From Vienna with English lyrics by Desmond Carter, and featuring the music of both Johann Strausses, I and II. If you missed the first episode in this series, you may want to catch up with that ...
Guest: Albert Evans
157
Aug. 14, 2025

Episode 181: In Search of Lost Broadway: RIO RITA

With special guest Albert Evans
Guest: Albert Evans
175
May 6, 2025

Episode 175: THE OTHER GERSHWIN, part 3, with MICHAEL OWEN

This is the third and final segment of my conversation with Michael Owen, author of the recent book, Ira Gershwin — A Life in Words. On this episode, Michael and I focus on the period of Ira Gershwin’s career following the death of his brother George, during which he had success on Broadway and in Hollywood with composers such as Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, Arthur Schwartz, and Harold Arlen and shows and movies such as Lady In the Dark, The Barkleys Of Broadway, and A Star Is Born, If you missed the first two parts in this series, you may want to catch up with those before listening to this one. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club Members such as Cheryl Hodges Seldon. If you are a fan of Broadway Nation, I invite you to become a PATRON! For as little as $7.00 a month you can receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussion that I have with my guests — in fact I…
April 29, 2025

The Other Gershwin, part 2, with author Michael Owen

This is the second episode of my three-part conversation with author, historian, researcher, and archivist, Michael Owen, whose recent book, Ira Gershwin — A Life in Words, is the first full-length biography devoted to that outstanding artist who penned the words for many of the greatest songs of the 20th Century. If you missed part one, you may want to catch up with that before listening to this one. Michael Owen is also the author of Go Slow — The Life of Jule London and the editor of Th...
Guest: Michael Owen
April 22, 2025

Episode 173: THE OTHER GERSHWIN — with MICHAEL OWEN, author of IRA GERSHWIN — A LIFE IN WORDS

My guest today is Michael Owen, whose recent book Ira Gershwin—A Life in Words is the first full-length biography devoted to the other Gershwin. In this book, Owen at last brings Ira Gershwin out from behind the long shadow cast by his younger and more famous brother, George. Drawing on extensive archival research, Owen often uses Ira’s own words to create a captivating portrait of a shy and retiring artist who, nevertheless, penned the words for many of the greatest songs of the twentieth...
Guest: Michael Owen
April 15, 2025

Color and Light — A Brief History of Broadway Lighting Design with Tony Winner Ken Billington

This is a special encore episode of my 2022 interview with Tony-award-winning lighting designer Ken Billington. This past week, Ken received rave reviews for his lighting design of the new Broadway musical SMASH, which amazingly is his 108th Broadway production. So, I thought it was an ideal time to revisit this fascinating conversation about the history of lighting design on Broadway and Ken’s own tremendous contribution to it. This is a two-part conversation and I will be rereleasing both part...
March 6, 2025

Episode 169: If They Asked Me I Could Write A Book

On this episode, I have a big announcement, so I asked my buddy, friend, colleague, and Broadway Nation’s favorite co-host and guest host, ALBERT EVANS, to join me today to turn the tables on me and ask me the questions rather than me being the interviewer. As you may have guessed from the episode title, the announcement is that I have a book coming out called BROADWAY NATION (sound familiar?) and the subtitle will be similar to what you've heard before as well: HOW IMMIGRANT JEWISH, QUEER...
Guest: Albert Evans
Feb. 20, 2025

Episode 167: HELEN MORGAN, part 3

My guest again this week is Christopher S. Connelly, author of the fascinating new book HELEN MORGAN — THE ORIGINAL TORCH SINGER AND ZIEGFELD'S LAST STAR. On this episode, Christopher and I look at Helen Morgan's life and career during the 1930s, both in Hollywood and on Broadway. And we delve a bit into her personal story, including the love of her life and her several marriages. we end by looking at her extraordinary legacy, including the two filmed biographies of her life that both came...
166
Feb. 13, 2025

Episode 166: HELEN MORGAN, part 2.

With author Christopher S. Connelly
151
Oct. 3, 2024

Episode 151: More Songs Of The Season

with author Thomas Hischak
148
July 25, 2024

Episode 148: Julian Eltinge In Hollywood!

with Andrew L. Erdman author of Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator.
147
July 18, 2024

Episode 147: The Musical Theater of Julian Eltinge

with Andrew L. Erdman author of Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator.
146
July 11, 2024

Episode 146: Julian Eltinge — America's First Drag Superstar, part 1

with Andrew L. Erdman author of Beautiful: The Story of Julian Eltinge, America's Greatest Female Impersonator.