X-Nico

10 unusual facts about Rodgers and Hammerstein


Chinese American literature

Authors who achieved success in the 1950s included C.Y. Lee (author), whose The Flower Drum Song was made into a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and Jade Snow Wong, author of Fifth Chinese Daughter.

Dynamic tonality

For example, one could learn to play Rodgers and Hammerstein's Do-Re-Mi in its original 12-tone equal temperament (12-tet) and then play it with exactly the same finger-movements, on exactly the same note-controlling buttons, while smoothly changing the tuning in real time across the syntonic temperament's tuning continuum.

Green Grow the Lilacs

Green Grow the Lilacs became the basis of the libretto for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!.

Kam Tong

Kam Tong (December 18, 1906 – November 8, 1969) was a Chinese American actor best known for his role as Hey Boy on the television series Have Gun – Will Travel and as Dr. Li in the film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song.

Me and Juliet

After Rodgers and Hammerstein had another hit with The King and I, Rodgers proposed the backstage project to his partner.

Mongkut

Her story would become the inspiration for the Hollywood movie Anna and the King of Siam and the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, which, because of their fictionalized historical references and perceived disrespectful treatment of King Mongkut, were initially banned in Thailand as the Thai government and people considered them to be lèse majesté.

Tales of the South Pacific

The highly successful musical play South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein, which opened on Broadway on April 7, 1949, was based on the stories in Tales of the South Pacific. In particular, the stories used were Fo' Dollah, about Bloody Mary, Liat, and Lieutenant Cable; and Our Heroine, about Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque.

The Horn Blows at Midnight

This may have contributed to its poor reception, although the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, also dealing with the afterlife, opened on Broadway at roughly the same time and became a hit.

Theatre Guild, Glasgow

Their first profit making show for some years was Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! in 1995.

William LeMassena

He appeared as the Heavenly Friend who serves as a guide to Gordon MacRae on his return trip to Earth in the 1956 film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel.


Brunswick Four

Their chosen song, “I Enjoy Being A Dyke” (a parody of "I Enjoy Being a Girl", a song by Rodgers and Hammerstein from the musical play Flower Drum Song) drew the attention of the bar's owner.

You've Got to Be Carefully Taught

"You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" (sometimes "You've Got to Be Taught" or "Carefully Taught") is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.