Paul Francis Webster
Paul Francis Webster
Paul Francis Webster was born on December 20, 1907 in New York City. He attended Cornell University and New York University and, for a time, was a sailor and then a dance instructor. However, by 1931 his career as a lyricist had begun and he would become one of Hollywood’s most successful lyricists.
In 1935, he went to Hollywood under contract with Twentieth Century Fox with the intent to write for Shirley Temple films. Soon after, he became a freelance writer and in 1941 he had his first hit with Duke Ellington entitled "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)".
After 1950, Webster worked mostly for MGM, and primarily with composer Sammy Fain. Together they won two Academy Awards, for the song "Secret Love" from the film Calamity Jane (1953), and then for "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" from the 1955 film Love Is a Many Splendored Thing. Working with composer Johnny Mandel, he won a third Academy Award for the song "The Shadow Of Your Smile" from the 1965 film The Sandpiper.
Outside of films, Webster’s songs achieved popular recognition with the help from recording artists such as Peggy Lee and her 1950 hit recording of “Black Coffee”. Tony Bennett recorded and charted several Webster songs including the 1962 hit recording of "Tender Is the Night", "A Time For Love" recorded in 1966, and "Days of Love" in 1967.
In addition to those already mentioned, Webster’s long list of collaborators includes Hoagy Carmichael, Harry Revel, Rudolf Friml, Lew Pollack, Jerry Livingston, John Jacob Loeb, Max Steiner, Alfred Newman, Bronislaw Kaper, Frank Churchill, Franz Waxman, and Dmitri Tiomkin.
Paul Francis Webster died in Beverly Hills, California in 1984.
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Did you see our latest news earlier in the week? Chitty flies again! We're thrilled to announce that rights to the full, 2-act version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are now available without restrictions for performances scheduled to take place before 31st December 2023. Applications for 2024 are currently restricted to those in venues of less than 500 seats. Apply today! www.mtishows.co.uk/chitty-chitty-bang-bang #chittychittybangbang #newrelease #trulyscrumptious
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Xanadu is now available for licensing! You have to believe we are magic... Xanadu is a moving, electrifying tale of endless fun that will keep audiences in stitches, while the original, legendary chart-topping tunes lift them out of their seats. Find out more: www.mtishows.co.uk/xanadu #xanadu #newshow #amateurtheatre #licensing #olivianewtonjohn #strangemagic
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Bravo to everyone at @_spotlight.theatre who went Into the Woods at Nottingham Arts Theatre earlier in the month. These photos look great! Photo credit: Martin Holtom. #intothewoods #nottingham #amateurtheatre #amdram
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A huge congratulations to everyone at @green_room_productions on their hugely successful production of Sunshine on Leith. We really would have walked 500 miles to grab a ticket. #sunshineonleith #pottersbar #amateurtheatre #wyllyotts
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Do you love musicals and want to work at MTI? We're searching for a new Licensing Assistant / Receptionist. The successful candidate will be required to work from our newly refurbished office in London at 12-14 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JJ. The core duties/responsibilities will include: Reception duties: * answering a busy telephone switchboard * greeting all visitors to the office Amateur Licensing support: * show availability requests * answering basic enquiries both via phone and in email * general administrative support as required Professional Licensing support: * general enquiries * generation of invoices as per instructions from the Professional Licensing team * vetting of foreign language translations The successful candidate will have a keen interest in musical theatre (on or off stage) and have excellent administrative skills. For full details visit: https://www.mtishows.co.uk/.../job-vacancy-licensing... #vacancy #licensing #receptionist #job #musicals #opportunity
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JTF is making the news! @skynews @fyi_skykids came to Birmingham last month to share the power of jazz hands and spirit fingers with a wider audience. The JTF piece will air Saturday at 10:30 and 16:30 and then on Sunday at 10:30. We can't wait! Check out this sneak peak, which follows Timi from The British Theatre Academy. #jtf22 #news #jazzhands #broadwayjr
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