Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia
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Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia
@aithpodcast.bsky.social
The official feed of the podcast - AND THE BOOK - that tells the deep and fascinating History of Theater in the city of Philadelphia.
www.aithpodcast.com
(On the former Bird Site we were "@schmeterpitz")
We don’t want the place to get all ahoo.
November 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
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On Patreon, there are upcoming bonus episodes about Cole Porter musicals premiering on Quaker City stages. To join in the fun, all it takes is a small gift of support!
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November 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Listen the episode about "The Music Man" from Season Three of our podcast!
www.aithpodcast.com/the-music-ma...
78. "The Music Man" on Broad Street
The Philadelphia story of the development and world premiere of that famous Iowa musical, by Meredith Willson, "The Music Man."
www.aithpodcast.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Well . . . . Shillington PA is John Updike country, after all. Anything could happen. #RabbitRun
November 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians, the pride of Center Valley, PA, was the onstage orchestra for "The New Yorkers.

Waring had already recorded one of Cole Porter's most iconic songs from the show, "Love for Sale," for RCA Victor across the river in Camden NJ.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=95GJ...
1930 Fred Waring - Love For Sale (The Three Waring Girls, vocal)
YouTube video by The78Prof
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The entirety of Chapter 28 in Ethel Merman's memoirs:
November 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
(The pangram that day was PETTIFOG. That is not a word . . . I will not relitigate the matter, nor accept any appeals. Harumph.)
November 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
. . and, ahem, we also did an entire episode about Porter's biggest hit ever, which also had it's world premiere at the Shubert Theatre in Philly:
www.aithpodcast.com/kiss-me-kate...
74. "Kiss Me, Kate" World Premiere
The story of Cole Porter's classic musical Kiss Me, Kate's world premiere opening in Philadelphia on December 2, 1948.
www.aithpodcast.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
(Addendum) - Critics loved it, but it did suffer a bit in comparison to the *previous* tryout show at the Shubert - "Guys and Dolls" - which was still in town at a nearby Philly theater. We covered that story in one of the most popular episodes of our podcast.
www.aithpodcast.com/guys-and-dol...
76. "Guys and Dolls" in Philadelphia
The most iconic New York musical ever - but its original success can be credited to the "tryout-town" audiences in Philly!
www.aithpodcast.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
(3 of 3) Greenwood's big number was "Nobody's Chasing Me." It was a typical Cole Porter 'list" song:

"The cook is chasing the chicken
The pea wakes up, pee-wee-wee
The cat is taking a lickin’
But nobody’s taking me!"

Nobody wants to own me
And I object
Nobody wants to phone me
Even collect!
November 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
However the show centered his jealous wife Hera, played by a real-life goddess of the theater, Charlotte Greenwood.

Greenwood, in fact, was from #Philadelphia. But she had left to become an "eccentric dancer" in vaudeville. She was 6 feet tall and she could kick her leg up over her head. (2 of 3)
November 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Have you ever considered taking acting lessons and Going On The Stage? Could be your next great career move!
November 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM