Goodbye Blue Laws, Hello “Rhapsody in Blue”
In 1933, a 139-year-old Pennsylvania “Blue Law” that had prohibited the performance of major musical concerts on the Sabbath was repealed. George Gershwin and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra were the first concert after this repeal. The day before George noted, “I dare say that if beer were banished from Austria, 100,000 musicians would be out of work” (St. Petersburg Times, Nov 20th, 1933). On Sunday, Nov 20 1933, they performed Concerto in F, An American in Paris, and, fittingly, Rhapsody in Blue. To top it all off, Gershwin sold the first ticket to the landmark performance date himself, at 2pm on the day of the concert at the Syria Mosque. Amid popping flashbulbs, Gershwin said to the crowd, “I consider it a great honor to be able to sell the first ticket ever sold in Pittsburgh for a Sunday concert. Although I like blue music, I can’t say I’m very fond of Blue Laws” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov 20th, 1933).
Gershwin with the first ticket and the ticket buyer, c/o Pittsburgh Music History.
Further Reading:
“Sabbath Music in Pennsylvania.” Spokane Daily Chronicle, November 4, 1933, 7. Electronic copy.
“Gershwin Says Repeal Will Help Musicians.” St. Petersburg Times, November 20, 1933, 2. Electronic copy.
Suriano, Gregory. “Gershwin In Pittsburgh: the ins and outs of the great musician’s ties to the city.” Pittsburgh Quarterly, Spring 2012. Electronic copy.
“Repeal Will Further Music, Says Gershwin.” The Cornell Daily Sun, November 20, 1933. Electronic copy.
Very nice, thank you for an informative article.