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July, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 3
Berlin also revised a portion of the existing
“SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE” lyrics, to reflect the passage of time. The
march-like tempo, while ideal for a soldiers’
Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century chorus, was modified to showcase Kate
Smith’s warm, vibrant contralto.
Armistice Day arrived. Kate took her place
By Donald-Brian Johnson at the radio mic, and “God Bless America”
had its official premiere. The song was an
This Month’s Feature— overnight hit, (only twenty years in the
making!) “God Bless America” proved so
GOD BLESS AMERICA popular that Smith featured it week after week

(and Irving Berlin) on her show, eventually reprising it in the film
“Irving Berlin has no place in American This Is The Army.
For Irving Berlin, America proved the land
music. Irving Berlin is American music.” of opportunity. He’d arrived from Russia in A riff on one of the World War I era’s
most popular musical styles:
Composer Jerome Kern, 1925 1893, with nothing. Thanks to talent, hard Berlin’s “The Ragtime Soldier
You must know the song. You’ll hear it a lot work, and an Man”. $25-50.
this Fourth of July. Some folks like it better than eagerness to
our National Anthem. Some folks think it is our embrace every possibility presented, Berlin
National Anthem. Most everyone agrees that it’s carved out a legendary career that’s lasted well
easier to sing. It’s Irving Berlin’s “God Bless beyond his death in 1989, at the age of 101.
America”. Since its introduction on Armistice Berlin never forgot all that America had
Day, 1938, this stirring patriotic hymn has given him and expressed his gratitude in the
captured America’s collective heart. way he knew best: through words and music.
Although closely identified with World War There was the fund-raising, morale-boosting
II, wartime revues, Yip, Yip, Yaphank and This
“God Bless America” was partially written Is The Army. Both featured Berlin himself
during an earlier conflict — World War I. piping out “Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The
Berlin intended it for Yip, Yip, Yaphank, his Morning”, and every penny raised was donated
1918 all-soldier revue. However, a glut of A good idea revisited: “Any Bonds Today?” was written to to the war effort. (For This Is The Army, that
similarly themed material led him to put “God Souvenir song folio for Berlin’s sell defense savings bonds & stamps amounted to 10 million dollars.)
Bless America” away for another day. all-soldier World War II revue, during World War II. Among its any Continued on Page 5
That day came in 1938, at the This Is The Army. $20-25. interpreters: Bugs Bunny! $20-25.
request of revered radio songstress
Kate Smith. The “songbird of the Visit Historic Downtown
South” asked Berlin if he might have MADDY'S ANTIQUES
a song suited to her November 10th 121 W. Oak St.
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As there was just a chorus with by Florida Monthly Magazine Country, Primitives,
no verse, Berlin quickly wrote one. “Come Spend the Day With US” Vintage Sports
Although seldom sung today, those
lines proved the ideal lead-in to the
now-familiar refrain: Thur. & Fri. 12-4, Sat. 10-4 or by appt.
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God Bless America, my home sweet home!”
MONTHLY ANTIQUE FAIR
The lady who sang
it: big-voiced, 4TH SATURDAY 8am-3pm
big-hearted Kate
Smith, in an NBC
publicity photo. JULY 27
Above: He wrote it,
and he performed AUG 24 • SEP 28
it too, in Yip Yip Booth Info 863-993-5105
Yaphank: Berlin’s
“Oh! How I Hate
To Get Up In The
Morning”. $25-50.