Chamberlin Brown’s Scrapbook (1932)
Eubie Blake (Lyrics)
Thomas “Fats” Waller (Lyrics, Music)
1 – 8 August, 1932
A musical revue set in vaudeville style. (Source: Wikipedia)
Perhaps Chamberlain Brown’s most controversial Broadway play was Chamberlain Brown’s Scrap Book that opened at the Ambassador Theatre in 1932. He classified it as a “vaudeville,” thus permitting more than eight performances a week. However, Actors’ Equity Association ruled the show a revue and demanded its members give immediate notice. A week later, the ruling was overturned, but Chamberlain Brown’s victory was short-lived, since the musicians refused to work without being paid first, causing the production to close. (This incident is documented in correspondence with Actors’ Equity Association.) His stock production of A Church Mouse ran at the Mansfield Theatre in June and July of 1933. (Source: NYPL)
