On The 20th Century: Read, Watch, Do
By: Roundabout Theatre Company Feb. 20, 2015
Immerse yourself in the world of the madcap musical, On the Twentieth Century, with our recommended listening, reading and doing lists!
TO READ
Twentieth Century
by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, adapted by Ken Ludwig
The musical On the Twentieth Century is based on the 1932 version of this play-which is in turn based on Napoleon of Broadway, an unproduced play by Bruce Millholland. In 2010, playwright Ken Ludwig adapted the play into a streamlined two-act version (staged in a 2004 Roundabout Theatre Company revival directed by Walter Bobbie and starring Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche).
The Hollywood Studios
by Ethan Mordden
The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era
by Thomas Schatz
These two studies of the Hollywood studio system cover everything from the mechanics of vertical integration to the demands of the star system to the aesthetics of individual movie studios, providing a glimpse into the gilded-cage careers of On the Twentieth Century movie stars Lily Garland and Bruce Granit.
Night Trains: The Pullman System in the Golden Years of American Rail Travel
In June of 1938, the Twentieth Century Limited was redesigned by Henry Dreyfuss and the Pullman Company into a new, streamlined train that would travel from Chicago to New York in 16 hours of art deco luxury. The redesign also prompted the custom of "walking the red carpet" when exiting the train in New York. Passersby gathered to watch the illustrious passengers disembark, leading to the red-carpet tradition that is now synonymous with celebrity culture. This book offers photographs, maps, and an in-depth look at the history of Pullman cars in the US.
TO WATCH
This 1935 promotional film traces the journey of the Twentieth Century Limited from Chicago to New York. The exceptional period footage includes behind-the-scenes glimpses of the work put in by the train's porters, maids, and chefs.
This 1934 film based on the 1932 play was adapted directly by Hecht and MacArthur. Howard Hawks directs; John Barrymore and Carole Lombard star.
It Happened One Night and Bringing Up Baby
Two shining examples of 1930s screwball comedy, these films both feature oddball couples drawn together in bizarre circumstances. An irresistible alchemy of romantic tension and zany comedy puts these two titles at the top of an iconic list --- and offer insights into the genre Comden, Green, and Coleman were tapping into when they wrote the 30s-set On the Twentieth Century.
It Happened One Night
Bringing Up Baby
TO DO
A luxury retro take on rail travel, Pullman Rail Journeys offers Chicago and New Orleans service in restored mid-century rail cars. Accommodations include full meals, drinks, and, on some trips, live music. Click here to read an article from The New York Times about Pullman Rail Journeys.
New York Transit Museum
Not ready to commit to an overnight journey? Visit New York's kid-friendly Transit Museum, where you can explore historical subway cars, trolleys, and buses, view photographs of landscapes along the LIRR and Metro North routes (through Feb. 1), and watch model trains glide along a two-tiered track (through Feb. 22).
If On the Twentieth Century has you feeling nostalgic for the good old days of cinema, hop on the Turner Classic Movies bus to take a tour of movie Manhattan. The bus visits sites from iconic mid-century classics (King Kong, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Seven Year Itch) and more recent favorites (You've Got Mail, Ghostbusters). Longing for Hollywood glamour? The bus also has an LA route.
On the Twentieth Century is now in previews at the American Airlines Theatre. For more information and tickets, please visit our website.
Play Broadway Games
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