Joe Bologna and Renee Taylor's Copy of Caesar's Hours by Sid Caesar

Caesar's Hours:  My Life in Comedy, With Love and Laughter is Sid Caesar's memoir written with Eddy Friedfeld and published in 2003. A signed copy inscribed to Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna was sold on eBay in May. The seller, rialtos, explains what makes this such an interesting association copy.

Sid Caesar
eBay listing ended May 30, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/205515073773?itmmeta=01K39JYESBCATZEXHK8QZ900K5&hash=item2fd9a728ed:g:dScAAOSw~EBoNdyd&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAAwFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1egXFbtHs%2BtAh%2FNjdCj9fv%2FXM9nAbt0DgHEjqb6GTZ34%2B0xM0MgcaG%2Bm%2F2MMjSdXaq447MvZg8kTineBloCqmPtiSBJOoPklXBoMPhJcua0VP%2BKqK0Faj696CGGowVouioG%2Bwi3o%2BPmR38OJLjmrFm79Uz4d6%2BktxU2QSgqIWuxMHXdaddhYtgWwUTyH8so5lp60IN%2FzkNz79Q7bL4%2FzXVOJTJjfsO0jnKLGwNCz0L13Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-Ls-bKaZg&pfm=1

Sid Caesar
eBay item description

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Clive Hirschhorn's Copy of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Something familiar: the 1963 book version of the Broadway musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." 

Something peculiar: that book signed by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and by Larry Gelbart, who wrote the book with Burt Shevelove. Gelbart inscribed the book to London theater critic Clive Hirschhorn on behalf of Shevelove and himself. Sondheim signed his autograph. It's quite a rarity, but maybe peculiar isn't the right word.

The cover illustration is not by Al Hirschfeld, who has one interior illustration, but by Rudy Nappi, best know for his Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew book covers. Here Zero Mostel looks nothing like a boy detective but he seems to have found what he was looking for.

This very desirable book was priced at $975 back on May 24.

Since then, the booksellers, Lakin & Marley, have reconsidered the price. It now goes for an even $1,200.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
AbeBooks listing accessed July 1, 2024

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/FUNNY-THING-HAPPENED-WAY-FORUN-Inscribed/31879062410/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
AbeBooks item description

"Comedy Tonight"

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"Pretty Little Picture" with Added Harmonies

When "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" was revived in 1996, composer Stephen Sondheim restored some complex harmonies to the third verse of "Pretty Little Picture" that had been dropped from the original 1962 Broadway production. The result is fresh and interesting although perhaps a little distracting. (These revisions can be heard starting at 1:39 on the video.) The 1996 production ended up dropping the number altogether—inexcusably, I know—but it was included in the cast recording.

"Pretty Little Picture"

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

1996 Broadway Revival

Nathan Lane as Pseudolus
Jim Stanek as Hero
Jessica Boevers as Philia

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Peter de Sève, Original 1996 Broadway Cast Recording

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Funny_Thing_Happened_on_the_Way_to_the_Forum

Note:  As you probably know by now, I have more blog posts about Broadway and also about Stephen Sondheim.

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"Pretty Little Picture"

Frank Cotham's drawing for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #457

The drawing for last week's New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest by Frank Cotham got me to thinking about a Broadway score I've been familiar with for as long as I can remember. While galley slaves show up from time to time as a cartoon trope, they also make a darkly humorous appearance in a song by Stephen Sondheim. Early in the musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," the Roman slave Pseudolus paints a romantic "Pretty Little Picture" for an eager young couple in the hopes of being able to win his own freedom.

"Pretty Little Picture"

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

Original Broadway Cast Recording (1962)

Zero Mostel as Pseudolus

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Note:  Be sure to explore this blog's archives for posts about Broadway in general and about Stephen Sondheim in particular.

Posts about Frank Cotham's Cartoon Caption Contests are also worth a look, especially if you like to see my captions go down in flames.

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