Today we remember two great men. And one incredible lady The incredible men were Milton Berle and Oscar Hammerstein II. The very great lady was June Allyson.

Today is the birthday of one of the greatest lyrcists and musical book writers of all time: Oscar Hammerstein II. Sometimes confused as his father, Oscar was the son of a theatre builder. Oscar's father was the guy who invented "the pie-in-the-face" routine for vaudeville. But he was steadfastly opposed to Oscar II persuing the arts. That's incredible in my thinking, I must say! Oscar II had to hide the fact that he was studying the arts in college until after his father's death in 1914. His collaboration with Richard Rodgers was simply a "happy accident" because Lorenz Hart was simply too much of an alchollic to work on "Oklahoma" in 1943. Oscar's first collaboration was with Otto Harbach and his first musical was called "Always You" for which he wrote both book and lyrics. His second great collaboration came with the amazing Jerome Kern with whom he wrote "Sweet Adeline", "Music In The Air" "Very Warm For May" and of course the grand masterpiece itself "Showboat" in 1927. He also collaborated with Sigmund Romberg on "Desert Song" and "New Moon". Oscar remains today the only guy named Oscar to win the Oscar (the Academy Award). In fact he won it twice-- once for "The Last Time I saw Paris" ( I love that song) and "It Might As Well Be Spring" from "State Fair" He is without one doubt one of the most important figures in the history of American musical theatre and brought it to a full maturity. Oscar made the story of the musical,(the book) not the songs or the stars to what it remains today. The very last song he ever wrote before his death from cancer on August 23, 1960 was "Edelweiss" which was added to the score very late in the rehearsals of "The Sound of Music" Today is also the birthday of "Mr. Televison" himself: Milton Berle. Milton always slayed me as a kid. He could simply make my troubles go away. He would do anything for a laugh-- even if that meant manning a dress and a wig and becoming the ugliest woman on the planet. Funny thing, Oscar's first musical was called "Always You" and Uncle Miltie's theme song was "Always". At one time this incredible comedian had a guaranteed contract for twenty years from NBC at $200,000 a month-- not bad for 1951! I was very sad to hear of the death of June Allyson. She really was "the girl next door" and a most beautiful actress. She was famous for singing "Cleopatara" in Jerome Kern's "Leave it To Jane!" She also starred in several movies with Jimmy Stewart!God Bless You all that I mention here. You were all very influencial in my life! To Milton I would say "Make God Laugh-- Lord knows He Needs it". Until next time!