Fun
Bathtubs over Broadway
Dear Kay,
This is just the best.
Imagine a jaded comedy writer who, as part of his job writing for David Letterman, was responsible for a recurring bit called “Dave’s Record Collection.” This writer, Steve Young, spent a fair amount of time in vinyl shops in search of the weirdest records he could find, so that Dave could riff on them.
In the course of laying hands on Eddie Albert Sings and Narrates America, Steve discovered LPs with mysterious titles like The Bathrooms Are Coming!—a recording produced by American Standard Plumbing Co.
It was the start of an obsession with the hidden world of industrial musicals, and the stuff of a truly delightful movie that just started streaming online.
Hubbo and I met Steve Young last year, when this movie, Bathtubs over Broadway, was brand new. Since then, this feature-length documentary, directed by Dava Whisenant, has been collecting Writer’s Guild awards and making the rounds of film festivals.
Roger Ebert’s review lays it all out for you. But I encourage you to watch this movie before reading the review. It is so odd and funny and surprising and moving that I don’t want to spoil it for you. Sometimes it’s the best fun to watch a movie with no idea what you’re going to see.
Buy or rent Bathtubs over Broadway from these sources:
Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU, Redbox, Fandango Now, Microsoft
It’s also still appearing in theaters across the country—which is the best way to see this crowd-pleasing movie. Here’s the list of upcoming screenings.
Love,
Ann
PS You can hear “An Exxon Dealer’s Wife” from 1979 right here—just scroll down. It is completely insane. “This dealer’s wife is a full-service island.” WUT?
OMG! As a huge musical theater fan, I am so excited to know about this! Thank you so much for starting my day with this discovery!
And don’t miss the Fresh Air episode about industrial musicals: https://www.npr.org/2018/12/07/674569022/the-bizarre-world-of-industrial-musicals
So, so good!
So glad you mentioned this Jena. Teri Gross interview is so interesting and fun.
The Great British Baking Show is amazing! It’s too bad they will not be producing anymore. I also love to knit to Call the Midwife on PBS.
MDK snippets are the best, Saturday brought me back with the Hal David and Burt Bacharach tunes. Such talent!
Thanks again.
Off-topic question, sorry. I’ve saved a bunch if your great “how-to” articles with no problems, but now when I try to save Loome Tool/stitch markers, the ribbon turns red but the article isn’t on my list. Is there a maximum we can save, maybe???
Thanks
I haven’t seen the movie, yet, but look forward to it.. Back in the day, industrial shows helped pay the bills. I stitched up quit a few costumes between theatre productions.
I remember either Fresh Air or somone one covering Industrial Musicals. Can’t wait to see this!
Terry Gross of Fresh Air on NPR (I heard the pidcast version) also did a great interview about it. So glad I now know how to see it, thanks to you.
This is amazing!! Never knew there was such a thing as Industrial musicals
I heard about these musicals on a podcast at some point. My dad had worked on a couple of automotive shows in Cleveland in the early ’60’s as a young stage manager. I’m very excited to hear more songs (those I heard on the podcast were really good!).
Bathtubs over Broadway is coming to Netflix on May 9.
Thank you! I hadn’t heard about this film, and it made my week. So unexpectedly inspiring.