"By the Light of the Silvery Moon," classic Broadway song (1909) recorded by Doris Day

An American classic! "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is a popular song originally published in 1909 but recorded many times since and also featured in the film of the same name sung by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae. The music is by vaudevillian/singer/impresario Gus Edwards, whose other hits included "In My Merry Oldsmobile." Lyricist Edward Madden was a successful songwriter who also wrote the lyric to the hit "Moonlight Bay." #broadwaymusicals #broadway #1900smusic It was featured on Broadway in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1909 (sung by Lillian Lorraine) and also in the 1909 Broadway musical Miss Innocence. The song enjoyed recordings in its day (by popular singers Ada Jones, Billy Murray, and the Peerless Quartet) and continued to be a recording favorite over the ensuing decades, with later performances by stars such as Etta James, Bing Crosby, Fats Waller, Ray Charles, Burl Ives, Mitch Miller, Jackie Wilson, and Julie Andrews. I also learned that William Frawley (yes, I Love Lucy fans, Fred Mertz!) recorded the song on an album, "Bill Frawley Sings the Old Ones." To my surprise, it wasn't just a novelty album; Bill can really sing! Many will probably recognize the song as the inspiration behind the 1953 Hollywood film By the Light of the Silvery Moon, starring Doris Day and Gordon MacRae. Doris and Gordon, as small-town sweethearts in early 20th century America, sing the song as a duet at the piano in her family's parlor (   • Doris Day - "By The Light Of The Silvery M...  . It's a fun film, sort of in the Meet Me in St. Louis mold, featuring silly family misunderstandings and an assortment of American popular songs from the early 20th century (and Leon Ames, perhaps best remembered as the father from Meet Me In St. Louis, plays Doris's father in the film!). Warner Brothers liked pairing Doris and Gordon on screen; By the Light of the Silvery Moon was a sequel to their hit film On Moonlight Bay. Lyric: Place: park, Scene: dark, Silvery moon is shining through the trees; Cast: two, me, you, Sound of kisses floating on the breeze. Act one, be - gun, Dialogue: "Where would you like to spoon?" My cue, with you, Underneath the silvery moon. By the light of the silvery moon, I want to spoon, To my honey I'll croon love's tune, Honeymoon, keep a-shinin' in June, Your silvery beams will bring love dreams, We'll be cuddlin' soon, By the silvery moon. Act two, Scene: new, Roses blooming all around the place; Cast: three, You, me, Preacher with a solemn-looking face. Choir sings, bell rings, Preacher: "You are wed forevermore," Act two, all though, Every night the same encore By the light of the silvery moon, I want to spoon, To my honey I'll croon love's tune, Honeymoon, keep a-shinin' in June, Your silvery beams will bring love dreams, We'll be cuddlin' soon, By the silvery moon.