Friday, December 27, 2024

December 27 - Anna Russell; Oscar Levant (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for December 27th are here: Marlene Dietrich (2019), Anna Russell (2020), Anna Russell (2021)Oscar Levant (2022), and Anna Russell (2023)

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Anna Russell (27 December 1911 – 18 October 2006) was an English–Canadian singer and comedian. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m (Still) Not Making This Up, You Know


Today my daily birthday fuss ‘ll

Be a verse for Anna Russell,

A musical comedienne,

(That’s what they called way back then).


Anna Russell’s famous jokes

Were aimed at concert music folks,

(A culture given to habitual

Blind allegiances to ritual).

 

And yet pretensions thus deflated,

Continue onward unabated,

Which is the reason, truth to tell,

Her old routines have aged so well.

 

 

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

 

 

Oscar Levant (27 December 1906 – 14 August 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor, author, radio game show panelist, television talk show host, comedian and actor. 
 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raconteur


John Kieran praised Levant as having a "positive genius for making offhand cutting remarks that couldn't have been sharper if he'd honed them a week in his mind. Oscar was always good for a bright response edged with acid.” – Wikipedia


Oscar Levant, you may recall,

   Was famous for acerbic wit,

He’d launch a barb, and let it fall,

   To see if they would censor it.

 

 

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