I Got the Show Right Here: The Amazing True Story of How an Obscure Brooklyn Horn Player Became the Last Great Broadway Showman

by Cy Feuer, Ken Gross

(Applause Books). " A highly entertaining showbiz memoir . . . The shows were fantastic." The Washington Post "We laughed and we cried at Cy Feuer's wonderfully warm, brash, and colorful memoir of his life in the New York theater and happily recommend it to anyone who has ever been to a Broadway musical. . ." Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan. This is the rags to riches story of Cy Feuer, who, after becoming the executive officer of the Air Corps film division in World War II, teamed up with the late Ernie Martin to become a legendary Broadway musical producer. Their first hit was Where's Charley? in 1948 featuring Ray Bolger. Next up was the smash Guys and Dolls , which enabled them to hire Cole Porter for their next show, Can-Can . Feuer signed 17-year-old Julie Andrews for her Broadway debut in The Boyfriend , another hit. He hit the bulls-eye one more time with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying , his third collaboration with composer Frank Loesser. The first five musicals Feuer and Martin produced were hits, and at one point, all were running simultaneously on Broadway. He would later go to battle with Bob Fosse as producer of the acclaimed 1973 film version of Cabaret .

Genres: Theatre

294 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2003

Reviews

[Russell Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a theater nut, I got the book right here: Cy Feuer’s I Got the Show Right Here…The Amazing, True Story of How an Obscure Brooklyn Horn Player Became the Last Great Broadway Showman. Feuer, at age 90, looks back on his life and with remarkable clarity, wisdom, and humor relates how he became part of a two man team who produced such giant Broadway hit musicals as Where’s Charley?, Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His anecdotes are priceless for theater buffs. This was the golden age of Broadway musicals, and Feuer and his partner Ernie Martin are responsible for bringing composer Frank Loesser to Broadway, first with Where’s Charley? and again with one of Broadway’s finest achievements, Guys and Dolls. The stories about the latter show are worth reading the book for, even if you’ve never heard of some of the other shows. But to learn how all their shows came about, how composers, writers, directors, and stars acted as shows developed is a treasure trove for people like me, who lives and breathes Broadway musicals. In the book, we hear how legendary playwright George S. Kaufmann was fired from one of the duo’s shows, we experience Cole Porter’s personal excesses and are apprised of the reason for them, we find out how Julie Andrews blossomed into a star, and we go on the journey of Cabaret, the movie, as Feuer deals with the genius of Bob Fosse. These are only the highlights of the book. It is chockfull of stories, long and short, that are funny, sad, and full of heart. Feuer, himself, was a treasure, and we are blessed that he wrote this book.

[James Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for any fan of the American Theater. Cy Feuer explains how he got where he got, as one of the most successful Broadway producers of the 20th century, delivering some absolute classics. Endless details and insights into how a show becomes a hit. The ending is a surprise too, with his ventures into some memorable films.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Wish he included even more.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this history of the shows produced by this musical theatre team. Their names don't roll off your tongue like Rogers & Hammerstein, but they produced a solid body of classic musicals. The best part of the book for me was all the backstage gossip, inside information, and little tidbits about famous people. But it was written in an easy to read style.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely showbiz memoir. The beginning is a kind of "and then...and then..." recounting. But as the book progresses, Feuer adds nuance and the stories become much richer. They sure don't make musicals like they used to!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this at Marden's for something like 50 cents or a dollar. Fabulous, read it mostly at work at the G-Hop during lunch breaks.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best show business books I ever read. I wanted more!