The sketches were loosely based on the news and the lives and affairs of the rich and famous, as well as other prominent personalities of the day, such as Joan Crawford, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Noël Coward, Josephine Baker, and Aimee Semple McPherson.

Bach later did this); a hotel staff falling under the influence of Noël Coward; and a fictional Supreme Court decision that says musicals cannot end with reprises, resulting in a new number, "Not for All the Rice in China" (satirizing Barbara Hutton's relationship with Alexis Mdivani), as a finale.

[3] † Omitted from 1998 revival In James Kaplan’s biography of Berlin he writes “The show had a successful tryout at Philadelphia’s Forrest Theatre in early September, although opening night was marred by an ugly incident all too in tune with the times: the stars Clifton Webb, Marilyn Miller, and Helen Broderick refused to take a bow with Ethel Waters.

“They took their bows with Waters at the next show.” Irving Berlin: New York Genius, on page 147 The revue opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on September 30, 1933, and became a hit, running for 400 performances, which was rare during the Great Depression.

Directed by Christopher Ashley with musical staging by Kathleen Marshall, the cast included Kevin Chamberlin, Judy Kuhn, Howard McGillin, Paula Newsome, Mary Beth Peil and B. D. Wong.