ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HISTORY OF BROADWAY - HOLLYWOOD-SWING -POP MUSIC VOL. 1 - by Harvey Sheldon
This extremely comprehensive history of my book provides information on many aspects of musical theater: from the history of stage and film musicals to reviews and essays on current and past productions; from profiles of New York City venues that have housed musicals to an encouraging guide. The history of Tin Pan Alley to the Brill building of America's greatest pop music ever written from the 20's to the 50's. The history of the Big Band Swing Era and of the Afro Cuban Big Bands. Also find several chapters on unique topics, like " What is a Film Score?," Bio's of all major composers and lyricists. Special Feature sections with in-depth information of important figures and topics in the world of Broadway and Hollywood musicals and from the Big Swing Big Band Era. You will learn about some of the most important musicals ever written. Start with the introduction to musical theater history, which is followed links to musicals from "Show Boat ,"Annie Get Your Gun" through to "The Wizard of Oz." complete with information about the historical relevance of the shows. America at the turn of the 20th century lacking a national culture was to emerge into a revolutionary change brought on from newly arrived immigrants from Russian Jews and Italians with Afro Americans. Radio, records, television, internet,Movies, pop concerts and night clubs did not exist for entertainment. America had only grand opera and imported European performances. Across the country theaters did not exist, only beer halls. The newly arriving Russian Jewish immigrants would build beautiful, lavish palace type theaters in the major cities of America, because America had none. American lives and experiences and seeing the technology of changes, fashions, music ,singing, dancing and the new habits of entertainment for all classes of Americans. The political impact and how this made America better place and influenced the world to their new forms of music...from Broadway musical revues, to musical comedy from Broadway to Hollywood, records, radio, movies and live performances. Coming to America they realized they had new found freedom because of the Free Enterprise- Capitalistic economic system. They were taught that to acquire wealth that "The greatest risk is not taking the risk". They took the risk. The newly arrived Russian Jewish immigrants would create and invent the movie industry. Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures, Paramount, Metro Goldwyn and Mayer (MGM), and others. General Sarnoff creating R.C.A. record company and the manufacturing of radio's, and N.B.C. radio network, William S. Paley would create C.B.S. radio network and Columbia record company. All of them, the composers, lyricists, singers, and musicians leading the Big Swing Bands would emerge as millionaires in wealth and create hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans. All of the movie producers built hundreds of new theaters across America. Later they would create the television industry. This meant that all of America could afford to this new form of music and entertainment, even during the years of the Great Depression. Without the Federal Government intervening, all of this wealth and creations of nearly a million jobs of the confidence and faith in the American Way
Jack White has officially published Jack White Collected Lyrics and Selected Writing Volume 1, available now at Third Man physical storefronts, online, and booksellers in the United States.
Puscifer has expanded its universe with the launch of the band’s first comic book series, “Tales From The Pusciverse.” Issue #1 centers on Bellendia Black, a character first seen in the band’s “Pendulum” video.
Song Sung Blue, starring Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, will be available to buy or rent on digital platforms on January 13, 2026, and on Blu-ray and DVD on February 17, 2026.
The cast and creative team of Broadway’s current revival of Ragtime had their first listen of the show’s official Broadway cast album at a listening party.
Blue Moon, Richard Linklater's portrait of Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, will be available on Blu-ray on January 27 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
The audiobook of Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, a memoir written by Marc Shaiman, is slated for release on the same day as print publication.
Writer, composer, and producer T.J. Armand has announced the release of Happy Hour Blues – Volume 2 (Demo Sessions), the latest chapter in his three-volume recording project.
Considering Our Town playwright Thornton Wilder's life and work through a queer lens is the theme of a new collection of essays by D.R. Lewis, the American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association and Foundation ATCA's 2024-2025 Helbing Fellow.
Grammy-winning producer, guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli will celebrate the centennial of iconic singer Tony Bennett with a pair of heartfelt tributes.
The weather outside might be frightful for a while, but what better time to stay in and snuggle up with a great Broadway read? This season, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 20 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's winter reading list.
The Broadway recording of Good Night and Good Luck, starring George Clooney, will come to DVD and Blu-ray on December 30 from Magnolia Pictures. Pre-orders are available now.
A new sing-along karaoke edition of the Wicked: For Good soundtrack has been released, allowing fans to belt out their favorite tunes, including 'No Good Deed,' 'As Long As You're Mine,' 'For Good,' and more. Check out the new soundtrack here.
Julie Benko - the singer and actor who rose to national prominence in Broadway's Funny Girl - will release Euphonic Gumbo, a vibrant new album steeped in the musical and cultural histories of New Orleans.
Get your voices ready! This Friday, a new sing-along edition of the Wicked: For Good soundtrack will be released, allowing fans to belt out their favorite tunes, including 'No Good Deed,' 'As Long As You're Mine,' and 'For Good,' which is available now.
PENTATONE will release Vesper, an album from trailblazing guitarist Sean Shibe, featuring three major contemporary voices who have each reshaped the expressive possibilities of the instrument: Thomas Adès, Harrison Birtwistle,and James Dillon.
With Christmas right around the corner, Michigan-born tenor Glenn Seven Allen is spreading holiday cheer with his debut of 'Michigan Christmas', a song written and originally recorded by Broadway star and Saginaw native Brian d'Arcy James.
Center Stage Records has announced the release of The Lightning Thief: Original London Cast Recording on CD. The album is also available in streaming and digital formats.
Center Stage Records has released “Fly High” – the new single from Chloe Tucker Caine of the Netflix show “Owning Manhattan” – in digital and streaming formats.
Center Stage Records has released Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical – Original Cast Recording in streaming and digital formats. It is set to be released in CD formt.
Center Stage Records will release the original cast recording of Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical, the TheaterWorksUSA production based on Dav Pilkey’s book series. BroadwayWorld has your exclusive first listen of the album with a new single, 'My Sister, Naomi,' Watch the video!
On Friday, February 6, 2026, the two-time GRAMMY Award-nominated Neave Trio will release its eighth commercial album, In Her Hands. The ensemble will present a program of piano trios celebrating three women composers in the early modern era: Clara Schumann, Dora Pejačević, and Cécile Chaminade.
The cast album of THE ONE: The Life of Legendary Boxer Muhammad Ali, written and directed by David Serero, is now officially released across all major music platforms.
Darius de Haas joins The Roundtable for a gorgeous, soulful conversation about his brand-new holiday album “Let Me Carry You This Christmas.” We talk about the heart behind the project, the family love that inspired it, and how this music became a tribute to connection, healing, and joy.
Writer, composer, and producer T.J. Armand has released Happy Hour Blues: Lyrics, Notes & Reflections, the companion book to his three-volume recording project.
Desi Oakley has released the official music video for her new holiday single, “Christmas on the Coast,” written by Dan Diaz and Martin Storrow. Oakley is known for Waitress, Chicago and more.
Republic Records has released the official score album for Wicked: For Good, containing all the instrumental underscoring written for the film by Stephen Schwartz and John Powell. Listen to it now!
Jill Schoelen will release her first Christmas album Christmas Is Forever and launch 'Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - The Music Video'.
Out just in time for the holidays is Let Me Carry You This Christmas, a new holiday album by award-winning singer and actor Darius de Haas. Watch in this video as we bring you an exclusive look at 'Silent Night'.
Meyer Media will release Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, the cinematic and evocative new album from Florida-based composer Paul Richards out on Friday, December 12th.