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Helen Morgan Collection

Known as the "Glorifier of the American Girl", Helen Morgan sang from the perch of a piano into the hearts of listeners worldwide.

Helen Morgan

5 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 4 hours, 9 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
5 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from February 16, 1936:

"Helen Morgan on Paul Whiteman Musical Varities"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Helen Morgan
(1900 – 1941)

Helen Morgan
They called Flo Ziegfeld the "glorifier of the American girl. Most of us would agree that she is pretty glorious without Mr. Ziegfeld's help, but we'll let the title stand. As glorious as she is, the American girl is not always the happy figure that the movies like to portray. For your consideration, we present the relatively short life of Helen Morgan.

Helen MorganKnown as a quintessential torch singer, Helen was born on a farm in Illinois. Farm life did not agree with her mother Lulu, who eventually moved with her daughter to Chicago. Helen did not go beyond the eighth grade in school. In 1923 she entered the Miss Montreal pageant, but was disqualified when her American citizenship was discovered.

Helen's high and somewhat wobbly voice wasn't fashionable in the twenties, but she took voice lessons and eventually found herself a successful torch singer in Chicago and New York speakeasies. Her gangster friends wanted to help her start her own nightclub, mostly as a front for their bootlegging operations.

Helen's nightclub performances were known for her signature "draped over the piano look. It has been said that Helen often sang while perched on the piano because she was too drunk to stand. None of this is mentioned by Flo Ziegfeld when he relates the story of how he discovered Helen on the second episode of The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air.

Ziegfeld cast Helen as Julie LaVerne in the stage adaptation of Edna Ferber's Showboat. The show was a pivotal moment for American musical theater, which to that point had consisted of unrealistic operettas and the Follies type revues that Ziegfeld was best known for. Showboat was a story of racial inequity and tragic, enduring love. Helen made the role her own through the premiere and several revivals. When the show first came to the screen as a part-talkie in 1929 another actress appeared as Julie, Helen sang two songs in the prologue. She played the role in the 1936 sound film of the show.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    5 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 9 min
    5 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 4 hours, 9 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 5 shows - total playtime 4 hours 9 minutes
    2. Campbell Playhouse 390331 17 Showboat.mp3
    3. Lets Have Fun 351022 first of series.mp3
    4. Paul Whiteman 360216 07 Musical Varieties Helen Morgan.mp3
    5. Stagestruck 540321 Life And Career Of Florenz Ziegfeld.mp3
    6. Ziegfeld Follies Of The Air 320410.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    5 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 9 min
    5 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 4 hours, 9 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 5 shows - total playtime 4 hours 9 minutes
    2. Campbell Playhouse 390331 17 Showboat.mp3
    3. Lets Have Fun 351022 first of series.mp3
    4. Paul Whiteman 360216 07 Musical Varieties Helen Morgan.mp3
    5. Stagestruck 540321 Life And Career Of Florenz Ziegfeld.mp3
    6. Ziegfeld Follies Of The Air 320410.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    5 recordings on 5 Audio CDs. Total playtime 4 hours, 9 min
    5 recordings on 5 Audio CDs
    total playtime 4 hours, 9 min

    Helen Morgan Disc A001

    1. Ziegfeld Follies Of The Air 320410

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Helen Morgan Disc A002

    1. Lets Have Fun 351022 first of series

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Helen Morgan Disc A003

    1. Paul Whiteman 360216 07 Musical Varieties Helen Morgan

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Helen Morgan Disc A004

    1. Campbell Playhouse 390331 17 Showboat

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Helen Morgan Disc A005

    1. Stagestruck 540321 Life And Career Of Florenz Ziegfeld

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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