Frank Loesser: Hollywood Born Broadway Baby
Frank Loesser: Hollywood Born Broadway Baby
By Kathryn Harris on December 08, 2009
Few theatre writers are as synonymous with New York as Frank Loesser. For generations, the New York of GUYS & DOLLS and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has captured the hearts and imaginations of people all over the world. Loesser's gift for transforming the gritty reality of gamblers and the fierce competition of the corporate world into insightful comedies has helped make New York's reputation as a thrilling and romantic city.
New York has been kind to Loesser, but that's not where his success began. Nearly a decade before his 1948 Broadway debut with WHERE'S CHARLEY, Loesser was out in Hollywood, writing the title song for the Paramount film Seventeen. From 1936 to 1939, Loesser wrote lyrics to songs in over sixty films, such as Destry Rides Again and Hurricane. His song for Seventeen, however, was his first attempt at writing music as well as lyrics. Insecure in his skills as a composer, undoubtedly due to his refusal of formal training, Loesser had previously worked with a variety of composers, only comfortable in contributing lyrics. Seventeen proved Loesser could write a song on his own, but it was during World War II that he refined his craft. Loesser enlisted in the army, where he worked in the Radio Productions Unit, producing recruitment shows that featured Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, and Rosalind Russell, amongst other celebrities. Surrounded by brilliant performers and without a collaborator, Loesser was in a perfect position to develop his confidence as a composer/lyricist.
Loesser didn't have to wait long. The military anthem "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition," Loesser's second song without a collaborator, was an instant hit. It was so popular that, as Susan Loesser notes in her biography of her father, "Schoolchildren sang it in assembly; housewives hummed it while they ironed; the Office of War Information, concerned that the public might tire of it prematurely, limited its performance to once every four hours....The song sold over two million records and a million copies of sheet music." In 1943, Loesser found another creative outlet when he transferred to the Special Services Unit. Back in New York, Loesser helped write "Blueprint Specials"-ready-to-go shows for soldiers to perform themselves. These shows consisted of songs, sketches, and even set and costume ideas. Loesser was amazingly prolific during his time in the armed services; his songs from this period include "Thank Your Lucky Stars," "The Road To Victory," and "First Class Private Mary Brown."
Returning to Hollywood, Loesser resumed writing songs for films; only this time, he wrote the words and the music. Loesser wrote countless songs in Hollywood, many of which, like "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and "Now That I Need You," grace movie soundtracks to this day. Still, Loesser wasn't content with songwriting; he wanted something greater. So when producers Cy Feur and Ernest Martin urged him to write the score for their Broadway-bound musical, WHERE'S CHARLEY?, Loesser packed his bags and moved back to New York. Armed with his experiences in Hollywood and the military, Loesser was ready to take Broadway by storm. And that's exactly what he did.
For more information about Frank Loesser and to license any of his shows, check out our Frank Loesser MTI page.
New York has been kind to Loesser, but that's not where his success began. Nearly a decade before his 1948 Broadway debut with WHERE'S CHARLEY, Loesser was out in Hollywood, writing the title song for the Paramount film Seventeen. From 1936 to 1939, Loesser wrote lyrics to songs in over sixty films, such as Destry Rides Again and Hurricane. His song for Seventeen, however, was his first attempt at writing music as well as lyrics. Insecure in his skills as a composer, undoubtedly due to his refusal of formal training, Loesser had previously worked with a variety of composers, only comfortable in contributing lyrics. Seventeen proved Loesser could write a song on his own, but it was during World War II that he refined his craft. Loesser enlisted in the army, where he worked in the Radio Productions Unit, producing recruitment shows that featured Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, and Rosalind Russell, amongst other celebrities. Surrounded by brilliant performers and without a collaborator, Loesser was in a perfect position to develop his confidence as a composer/lyricist.
This hit was Frank Loesser's first as a composer/lyricist.
Loesser didn't have to wait long. The military anthem "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition," Loesser's second song without a collaborator, was an instant hit. It was so popular that, as Susan Loesser notes in her biography of her father, "Schoolchildren sang it in assembly; housewives hummed it while they ironed; the Office of War Information, concerned that the public might tire of it prematurely, limited its performance to once every four hours....The song sold over two million records and a million copies of sheet music." In 1943, Loesser found another creative outlet when he transferred to the Special Services Unit. Back in New York, Loesser helped write "Blueprint Specials"-ready-to-go shows for soldiers to perform themselves. These shows consisted of songs, sketches, and even set and costume ideas. Loesser was amazingly prolific during his time in the armed services; his songs from this period include "Thank Your Lucky Stars," "The Road To Victory," and "First Class Private Mary Brown."
In the military, Loesser became a hugely popular songwriter.
Returning to Hollywood, Loesser resumed writing songs for films; only this time, he wrote the words and the music. Loesser wrote countless songs in Hollywood, many of which, like "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and "Now That I Need You," grace movie soundtracks to this day. Still, Loesser wasn't content with songwriting; he wanted something greater. So when producers Cy Feur and Ernest Martin urged him to write the score for their Broadway-bound musical, WHERE'S CHARLEY?, Loesser packed his bags and moved back to New York. Armed with his experiences in Hollywood and the military, Loesser was ready to take Broadway by storm. And that's exactly what he did.
For more information about Frank Loesser and to license any of his shows, check out our Frank Loesser MTI page.
About the author
