Most of us who have heard the song “Second Hand Rose” over the years probably associate it with Barbra Streisand in the 1968 film “Funny Girl.” Interestingly, the song was not part of the original 1964 Broadway musical by the same name but was added for the film. Go figure.
The song bemoans (with tongue in cheek) the sad-to-her life of the daughter of a second-hand dealer—her home, her clothes, and even her boyfriend. Ah, woe is she!
Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a look at the film version and listen to the great Barbra!
Those of us with a grey hair or two might recall, however, the performer who originated the song and on whose story the musical and film was based, Fanny Brice.
The song was written by Grant Clarke and James F. Hanley, Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songwriters, specifically for Brice’s appearance in the “Ziegfeld Follies” of 1921.
A critic at the time describing Brice wrote: “This inimitable artist chalked up one of the few high marks of the evening with this song. For clarity of utterance, economy of means and a highly developed comic sense, Miss Brice has no peer on our stage.” A pretty good review!
Here she is in costume and makeup for the role. Not much like Barbra!
Click or tap on the triangle in the next image to hear the way SHE sang it.
Brice (nee Fiania Borach, 1891- 1951) was born into a Hungarian-Jewish family in Manhattan. Her father ran a saloon and she became an entertainer first in Burlesque and then in the Follies. In all, she was a model, comedienne, singer, recording artist, and stage as well as film actress.
She became the star of many Broadway musicals and shows during her career and her good looks, comedic personality, and brassy but beautiful Broadway voice made her a popular headliner of the ever-renewing Follies in the teens, 20s, and 30s.
Here’s another from the Follies of 1921.
Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for Brice’s original take on what has become a jazz standard of today.
Through the 1950s, Brice’s persona and rubber-faced looks became cemented in comedy. The medium of radio gave her another broad audience with her most memorable role as the creator and star of the top-rated radio series “The Baby Snooks Show.”
Needless to say, a rather broad range of talent—from burlesque girl to bratty toddler! Click or tap on the triangle in the next image to see two “child stars” play with each other!
Interestingly, Bruce always performed as Baby Snooks in costume even though it was a radio show with no studio audience! Go figure.
For her contributions to the film and radio industries, Brice was posthumously inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with two stars, one for radio and one for film.
And, of course, the ultimate American honor!
As to our songwriters, Grant Clarke (1891-1931) was a prolific contributor to Tin Pan Alley and Broadway of the era and wrote hits like “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” and “Oogie, Oogie, Wa Wa.”
Albeit a bit off theme, this song is too much fun to leave out of our story! Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a laugh and listen. But, you really don’t have to!
James F. Hanley (1892-1942), also of Tin Pan Alley and Broadway, wrote such standards as “Back Home Again in Indiana” and “Zing Went the Stings of My Heart.”
Those were the days! Click or tap on the triangle in the next image for a look and listen to this pop oldie.
So, we have another song—“Second Hand Rose”—of more than one generation, the Streisand latter paying homage to the Brice former. Both renditions live on.
So, gentle readers, let’s end with a quiz! Can you name the four most popular character dolls of the early 1940s?
Good job! Stumped? STAY TUNED!
NOHOBANJO OF NORTHAMPTON, AND NOW EASTHAMPTON, "MUSICAL MUSINGS" 