Barry Humphries: Barry's Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

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Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

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As a tribute to Dame Edna's alter-ego, another chance to hear his Radio 2 show from 2020.

Another chance to hear Barry Humphries on Radio 2 in a programme first broadcast in 2020. Barry died in April 2023 aged 89.

Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces: Series 4: The World is Waiting for Sunshine - Wonders of Pre-Code Movies

The World is Waiting for Sunshine - Wonders of Pre-Code Movies

Series 4

BBC Radio 2 - Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces, Series 4, The World is Waiting for Sunshine - Wonders of Pre-Code Movies

Barry Humphries celebrates recording stars of the first half of the 20th Century.

With his turntable time machine spinning at a rate of 78RPM, Barry Humphries transports listeners back to the first half of the 20th century.

In this second programme (of the four-part series), Barry celebrates the wonders of early pre-code cinema. By pre-code, he means the era before the introduction of the Motion Picture Production Code, which subsequently became the Hays Code after the man charged with writing it, William Harrison Hays. It was a successful attempt by the American Film Industry, after a period of Hollywood scandals, to bring in a policy of self-regulation and thereby, hopefully, prevent wholesale government censorship.

Among the films mentioned is the 1917 film Cleopatra. It is one of the best examples of a pre-code film, but sadly it has now been completely lost.

In this particular programme, Barry also recognises the achievements of Australian actors (including Annette Kellerman) during the early days of cinema.  

Music in this episode includes:
•	I'm Going to Get Lit Up (When the Lights Go on in London) - Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans.  The song was used during the Second World War to alert the French resistance that the Allied Invasion was imminent.
•	Du Bist Mein Greta Garbo – by Dajos Bella and band.  The title means You Are My Greta Garbo.  The band of Hungarian born violinist Dajos Bella was one of the most popular in Berlin during the 20s and early 30s.  It broke up suddenly at the end of 1933, when he emigrated to South America to escape the Nazis.  He lived the rest of his life in Buenos Aires and died, in 1978.  
•	Cleopatra Had a Jazz Band - Sam Ash
•	Laugh Clown Laugh - Fred Warring
•	The World is Waiting for Sunshine - Isham Jones
•	California Here I Come - Al Jolson
•	Dapper Dan - Jack Buchanan and the Trix Sisters
•	How'd You Like to Spoon with Me - Angela Lansbury

Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces: Series 4

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Barry Humphries on Radio 2 in a programme first broadcast in 2020.

Barry Humphries on Radio 2 in a programme first broadcast in 2020. Barry died in April 2023 aged 89.

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Barry Humphries Forgotten Musical Masterpieces

Series 4

The World is Waiting for Sunshine - Wonders of Pre-Code Movies

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