Manhattan played in 1926 by Vee Lawnhurst on a Welte Player Piano Roll2012_05_31_17_11_11.wmv

This is a 1925 recording of Manhattan, the first big hit of Rodgers and Hart. Pianist Vee Lawnhurst makes this a musical treat. Let me know what you think. You can compare this video with the same song--Manhattan--only it's played by Edythe Baker for The Aeolian Company
This song was in the Garrick Gayeties of 1925. . The lyrics by Larry Hart are worth reading, (Verse) Summer's journey to Niagara--And to other places-- aggravate all our cares--We'll save our fares---I've a cozy little flat-- in what is known as old Manhat-tan--We'll settle down--Right here in town (Chorus:) We'll have Manhattan--the Bronx and Staten--Island, too. It's lovely going through the zoo. -It's very fancy, on old Delancey---Street you know, The subway charms us so -- as balmy breezes blow--To and fro. --And tell me what street--Compares to Mott St.--In July? Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by. The city's a wondrous toy, Just made for a girl and boy ---We'll turn Manhattan Into an isle of joy. (Chorus 2): We'll go to Greenwich, where modern men itch--To be free--And Bowling Green you'll see with me.. We'll go to Brighton --The fish you'll frighten -When you're in --Your bathing suit so thin--, Will make the shellfish grin-- Fin to fin----- I'd like to take a Sail on Jamaica Bay- with you And fair Canarsie's lakes we'll view. The city's bustle cannot destroy, The dreams of a girl and boy. We'll turn Manhattan Into an isle of joy. (Chorus 3) We'll go to Yonkers,-- where true love conquers In the wild And starve together, dear, at Childs. We'll go to Coney--, and have baloney -On a roll, In Central Park we'll stroll-- Where our first kiss we stole,- soul to soul.---Our future babies, -we'll take to Abie's---Irish Rose.---I hope they live to see it close ---The city's bustle can never spoil----The dreams of a boy and goil-- We'll turn Manhattan Into an isle of joy. (end of lyrics)
Let me try to explain two of the jokes that are not hardly understood anymore. Childs was a fancy restaurant in Brooklyn, and they must have had high prices. The other reference is to Abie's Irish Rose, a play that had a record, and seemingly endless long run on Broadway when this song was written. The shocking plot involved a young Jewish man named Abraham, but Jews with this name were typically nicknamed "Abie". In any event, Abie falls in love with an Irish Catholic girl, and this subject-- (Yawn)-- back then was really shocking. When Hart says he hopes his future babies will live to see it close, he is wishing them a long life.