Banjo Eyes

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Banjo Eyes
Page from souvenir program (cropped)
Music Vernon Duke
Lyrics John LaTouche
Book Joseph Quinlan and Izzy Elinson
Productions 1941 Broadway

Banjo Eyes is a musical with a book by Joseph Quinlan and Izzy Ellinson, based on the play, “Three Men on a Horse” by John Cecil Holm and George Abbott, with music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John LaTouche, additional lyrics by Harold Adamson and song “We Did It Before” by Charles Tobias and Cliff Friend. The show was staged by Hassard Short.

Produced by Albert Lewis, the Broadway production, opened on December 25, 1941 at the Hollywood Theatre, where it ran for 126 performances. Cast starred Eddie Cantor, with Lionel Stander.

This show did not follow the play it was based on. In the musical, the greeting card writer gets his tips on the horses in a dream, where he talks to the horses to find out the winner. Because the show opened shortly after Pearl Harbor, one of the moving songs of World War II was interpolated into the show, “We Did It Before (We’ll Do It Again).” The show stopper, however, was “We’re Having a Baby” replete with Eddie’s famous rolling eyes and clapping hands.


Songs

Act I

  • Birthday Card
  • Valentine’s Day Card
  • Easter Greetings
  • Merry Christmas
  • Mother’s Day
  • I’ll Take the City
  • The Toast of the Boys at the Post (music and lyrics by George Sumner)
  • I’ve Got to hand It to You
  • A Nickel to My Name
  • Who Started the Rhumba?
  • It Could Only Happen in the Movies (lyrics by Harold Adamson)

Act II
v • d • e
Musicals by Vernon Duke

Walk a Little Faster · Cabin In The Sky · Banjo Eyes ·

[edit] External links