The Wonderful World of Chemistry

The Wonderful World of Chemistry
Live and filmed actors "interact" during the flower-passing scene
MusicMichael Brown
LyricsMichael Brown
BookMichael Brown
Productions1964 World's Fair

The Wonderful World of Chemistry is a 1964 industrial musical revue by Michael Brown. Regular performances were a feature of the DuPont Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair.[1]

The extravaganza of mid 20th century American material optimism extolled the virtues of DuPont products such as nylon, mylar, and corfam, featuring characters such as the Happy Plastic Family.[2] The production was an early example of a multimedia production,[3] as the players interacted with actors in film clips in parts of the show,[4][5] this requiring split-second timing for the actors to remain in sych with the films.[6]

Every day that we are living
is such a thrill
that we can't stay nonchalant!
Better things for better living
are coming still
– that's the promise of DuPont![7]

The 28-minute show, which was presented live 42 times a day by six different casts[5] (with two running simultaneously in separate theaters)[6] also traced the history of chemistry from Ancient Greece forward, and also featured players wearing high-end designer clothes made of DuPont fabrics[4] (designers included Oleg Cassini, Ceil Chapman, and Donald Brooks).[5]

The original production was directed as well as written by Michael Brown, with musical direction by Norman Paris and choreography by Hugh Lambert, Dorothy Love, and Buddy Schwab.[8] Elliot Unger and Elliot produced the films, and animation was done by Ernest Pintoff.

The soundtrack was released by DuPont in 1964 on 7" vinyl, credited to the Norman Paris Quintet & Orchestra with backing vocals by the David Carter Singers.[9]

No revivals are known to have been staged since the original run.[speculation?]

Musical numbers

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  • "E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Company"
  • "With Antron And Nylon..."
  • "The Happy Plastics Family"
  • "We're Gonna Have Shoes"
  • "Better Things For Better Living"

References

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  1. ^ Debolt, Abbe A.; Baugess, James A., eds. (2011). Encyclopedia of the Sixties: A Decade of Culture and Counterculture. Greenwood. p. 465. ISBN 978-0313329449. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  2. ^ ds (May 30, 2012). "World's Fair Wednesday – Wonderful World of Chemistry". Timid Futures. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  3. ^ Ryan Ritchey (April 11, 2012). "Image of the week: April 11, 2012". After the Fair. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Du Pont - Chemical Comedy". WorldsFairPhotos.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Charles E. Petty (September–October 1964). "First Year at the Fair" (PDF). DuPont Magazine. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Wonderful World of CHEMISTRY" (PDF). Business Screen. 23 (3): 37. May 1964. Retrieved October 18, 2021. via Hagley Digital Archives
  7. ^ Admin (May 23, 2012). "The Wonderful World of Chemistry". The Chicago Blog. University of Chicago Press. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Wonderful World of Chemistry, part 1 and part 2". Hagley Digital Archives. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  9. ^ The Wonderful World of Chemistry at Discogs
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