Hellzapoppin' (play)
"Hellzapoppin'" is a unique and innovative play that opened on September 22, 1938, at the Forty-sixth Street Theatre in New York City. Created by the comedy team of John "Ole" Olsen and Harold "Chic" Johnson, with music and lyrics by Sammy Fain and Charles Tobias, the show is characterized by its blend of wacky humor, audience participation, and adult-themed content. It is notable for its vaudeville and burlesque influences, featuring a variety of acts including clowns, magicians, and singing groups like the Charioteers, along with dance performances from the Lindy Hop troupe Whitey's Steppers.
"Hellzapoppin'" was rewritten throughout its run to keep the content fresh and relevant, allowing it to maintain a strong appeal during a time when audiences sought escapism from the economic hardships of the late 1930s. The production ran for over three years, totaling 1,404 performances, making it the longest-running Broadway musical at that time. The show’s anything-goes atmosphere and diverse cast contributed to its popularity, encouraging repeat attendance and fostering a communal sense of joy and unpredictability. "Hellzapoppin'" remains a significant work in the history of American theater for its daring and creative approach to entertainment.
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Subject Terms
Hellzapoppin' (play)
Identification Broadway musical revue
Dates November 26, 1938, through December 17, 1941
With 1,404 performances, Hellzapoppin’ was the longest running Broadway musical to that time.
Written by the comedy team of John “Ole” Olsen and Harold “Chic” Johnson, with music and lyrics by Sammy Fain and Charles Tobias, Hellzapoppin’ presented a wacky, unpredictable night of songs, sight gags, audience participation, and adult-laden humor and double entendre. The show drew large audiences that were in need of an escape. The show ran more than three years, for 1,404 performances, and was the longest running Broadway musical in history at its time.
Hellzapoppin’ opened at the Forty-sixth Street Theatre on September 22, 1938, before transferring to the much larger Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on November 26. Less than a month before closing, it moved to the Majestic Theatre. Later, it toured the United States extensively, albeit in a much smaller production.
More akin to vaudeville and burlesque than a traditional Broadway musical, Hellzapoppin’ was rewritten throughout its run to remain current and topical. Its comic sketches were the highlight of the evening; these included scenes with clowns, trained pigeons, planted audience members, and even Adolf Hitler speaking in a Yiddish accent. Perhaps its most famous contributor was Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote a song later added to the run.
The anything-goes atmosphere encouraged audiences to return, helping boost the three dollar ticket sales. The rotating cast of entertainers was also popular and included the Radio Rogues, the singing group the Charioteers, identical-twin dancers Bettymae and Beverly Crane, and the Lindy Hop dance troupe Whitey’s Steppers. Magicians, Hawaiian music, comedy teams, impersonators, clowns, and stuntmen filled out the cast.
Impact
Hellzapoppin’ benefited from the need for escapism during the late 1930’s. After years of economic depression and uncertainty in the United States, the musical offered audiences a chance to experience a place in which chaos was entertaining and unexpected.
Bibliography
Bordman, Gerald, and Thomas S. Hischak. “Hellzapoppin’.” In The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
Hinckley, David. “Modern Mildew. Hellzapoppin’ 1938.” New York Daily News, September, 2005.