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October 1999

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"A LISTSERV list for discussions pertaining to New York State history." <[log in to unmask]>
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Edward Knoblauch <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:08:09 -0400
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Ian,

The 1953 musical "The Farmer Takes a Wife" with Betty Grable was based on
the novel "Rome Haul" by Walter D. Edmonds. It was an account of life on the
Erie Canal around 1850 and the coming of the railroads. The musical had this
song: Can You Spell Schenectady?
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields

You might be able to get a copy of the movie at a good video store.

Edward Knoblauch
Managing Editor
The Encyclopedia of New York State
518 474 7477
----- Original Message -----
From: Ian McGiver <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 1999 7:48 PM
Subject: Spell Schenectady


> A number of years ago (in the late 1960s or early 1970s) I heard a song on
> a Capital District Radio Station (possibly WGY). At that time the song
> was already quite old. The title and/or main refrain of the song was "I
> can't
> Spell Schenectady." There  were references to all sorts of things that the
> narrator could do--except to spell Schenectady.
>         I have presumed that the song had roots in Vaudeville days, but
> perhaps there were reasons for Schenectady being on the nation's
> mental/cultural map at the time song was written?
>         Is anyone on the list familiar with this song? Do you know
> where I could  (relatively easily) get a recording?
>         Thanks
>
> Ian McGiver
> [log in to unmask]
>

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