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“It's Magic! - A Tribute to Sammy Cahn” Benefiting the Wilshire Theater
By Jonathan Weichsel
The Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills was one of the last great film palaces built. For the pat few years, the Wilshire Theater Revitalization Project has been hard at work restoring the theater to its former glory, funded completely by private donations. I was lucky enough to attend a star studded fundraising event to benefit the theater. I got to mix with citizens of Beverly Hills who have donated their time and money to the worthy cause.
The fundraising event was called "It's Magic - A Tribute to Sammy Cahn." Sammy Cahn was an Academy Award winning songwriter, who wrote song lyrics for some of the greatest performers of the 1940's and 1950's, including Frank Sinatra and Doris Day.
A great cast of famous musical performers showed up at The Wilshire to sing some of Sammy Cahn's most well known songs. The cast included Karen Morrow, Byron Motley, Judith Owen, Freda Payne, Harry Shearer, and Steve Tyrell.
Overall the singing had a very authentic feel. The show was not so much a polished production, as a chance for fans of Sammy Cahn, who happen to be great performers themselves, to sing some of their favorite songs of his in a semi-intimate setting.
Broadway star Karen Morrow stole the show with her renditions of "Five Minutes More," and "I Should Care," but Harry Shearer, of The Simpsons fame, sang a very memorable duet of "Love and Marriage" with his real-life wife Judith Owen, a popular Welsh singer-songwriter. Judith Owen gave a few great performances throughout evening, but her most memorable was the tongue twister of a song, "Thoroughly Modern Millie." Steve Tyrell seemed the most at home with the music. His renditions were professionally suave and cool.
Each song was introduced by the evening's host, Leonard Maltin. Maltin did what he does best, that is, he narrated interesting and amusing anecdotes from Sammy Cahn's life to the appreciative crowd. Each and every song that Cahn wrote had a story behind it.
Maltin also made some good points about what Made Cahn so great. Cahn was a songwriter possessing a rare gift with words. The one word Maltin used over and over to describe Cahn was "clever." Cahn wasn't trying to create sublime masterpieces. He was trying to create music that was fun and catchy. His art is in the escapist category. This is not to say that his songs aren't beautiful and moving, it's just he put fun first.
So far the Revitalization Project has done a brilliant job restoring the Wilshire Theater, which was built in 1929 and designed by S. Charles Lee. The gilt lattice work running up and down the proscenium is a stunning sight, as is the gilt sun carved onto the ceiling. The large columns have all been restored, and new carpeting and seats have been put in. However, the theater is still only in the first phase of a three phase project.
They just don't make buildings like the Wilshire Theater anymore. It is vital that Los Angeles starts preserving some of its history, or else one day it will all be gone. Help Los Angeles out by seeing a show or concert at the Wilshire Theater.
Valley Scene spoke briefly with Leonard Maltin and Harry Shearer at the reception after the show.
V.S.: What does the Wilshire Theater mean to you?
Leonard Maltin: I love classic theaters in general. I always participate in LA Conservancy's annual series "Take Over Theaters on Broadway"
I love what has already been accomplished here and I can't think of a better use for this theater than for it to become a cultural center.
Harry Shearer: I've been on stage at the Wilshire Theater three times. Once with the Folksmen, once with Al Gore, and now.
The Wilshire Theater is one of those rare things in Los Angeles where history is honored and history is appreciated and I am very moved by that.
V.S.: What does Sammy Cahn mean to you?
Leonard Maltin: Sammy Cahn was one of the giants, but it was an era of giants.
Harry Shearer: I grew up with Frank Sinatra. The great Capitol Records got me through high school so the music is very much embedded in me. I love it. I love his way with words.
And so, with music like that of Sammy Cahn, the majesty of the Wilshire Theater lives on.