Today, a special treat. Meredith d'Ambrosio (above) singing and accompanying herself on piano in a 1974 documentary Forever Gershwin. which hasn't been seen since it first aired on Boston television. But first, some background and recollections from the producer and Meredith.
The story begins in late 1973 and early 1974, when Stephen Schlow produced a half-hour documentary on George Gershwin that would air on Boston's WCVB-TV Channel in May 1974. As Stephen told me after reaching out by email recently, he interviewed Ed Jablonsky (Gershwin's biographer) and composer Kay Swift, who wrote the music for Can't We Be Friends and Fine and Dandy.
Kay Swift was a composer who had a long affair with Gershwin. She first met him in 1925, when he was in California, and divorced to marry him. Instead, they continued the affair until his death in 1937. So having her on camera was a coup.
But Stephen's documentary needed music to illustrate Gershwin's songs. Stephen picks up the story:
I knew Meredith from my radio days. One day, while driving home, I saw her on the street. I stopped and asked if she would perform on camera in the documentary. She agreed.
We set up shooting for one night at Mill Falls Restaurant, which operated at 383 Elliot St., in Newton, just outside of Boston. Meredith sang five Gershwin songs while accompanying herself on piano. Only portions of these tunes made it into the documentary.
Sadly, once we used as much as of Meredith as we could in the film, the film was transferred to tape and the reels, including Meredith's full performances, were scrapped for silver. That was a common practice in those days. I'm just grateful we have what we have.
Here's Meredith's recollections after I sent the mp4 along to have a new look:
I hardly remember any details. It was my first experience being filmed while playing and singing. Unfortunately, it doesn't show me completing a song, I recall performing five (I think) songs in a row of my favorite Gershwin tunes at the time. Being very young, I kept thinking that I was just beginning to create my own style of playing, though I knew I wasn't there yet.
I was surprised that the songs were cut short in the film, but I understand that the subject of the documentary was about George Gershwin's life, not about my performing his songs. I do remember that the Gershwin family was hoping Bobby Short would be interpreting the songs, though the team's final decision was in my favor to play and sing.
Watching the film now, after many decades, I am amused that I looked so young. My hair was so long and the streaks of blond were showing in my dirty blond hair (or how I remember it appearing in my young years). I always believed I was not photogenic, but now that I see me back then, I think I must have been more attractive than I thought. I mostly remember that I was quiet and shy, and mostly silly.
Here's Forever Gershwin. The documentary appears here and on YouTube with Stephen Schlow's permission. If you just want to see and hear Meredith, you'll have to advance the time bar to her slots...
A special thanks to Stephen Schlow and Meredith d'Ambrosio.
