The Philolexian Society of Columbia University
John La Touche
"Taking a Chance on Love"; The Golden Apple; libretto for The Ballad of Baby Doe.
From Notable Alumni · Foundation editorial
"Taking a Chance on Love"; The Golden Apple; libretto for The Ballad of Baby Doe. John La Touche (CC 1937) wrote what is, on a per-line basis, a respectable share of mid-century American song. Cabin in the Sky gave him "Taking a Chance on Love"; the Ballad for Americans gave wartime radio its anthem; The Golden Apple won the Drama Critics' Circle in 1954; and The Ballad of Baby Doe gave the modest American operatic repertory one of its only fixtures. He died at forty-one of a heart attack, having, to his credit, written enough.
Vital
- Full name
- John La Touche
Columbia & the Society
- Columbia
- Class of 1937 (Columbia College)
Works (18)
- 1928 Walpurgis Eve · Early play, pre-Columbia
- 1935 Flair-Flair, the Idol of Paree (book, lyrics, and music) · Columbia University Varsity Show
- 1937 Pins and Needles (sketch and lyrics) · ILGWU labor revue
- 1939 Ballad for Americans (lyrics) · Cantata
- 1939 Sing for Your Supper (lyrics) · Federal Theatre Project revue
- 1940 Cabin in the Sky (lyrics) · Broadway musical
- 1940 Taking a Chance on Love · Standalone song from Cabin in the Sky
- 1941 Banjo Eyes (lyrics) · Broadway musical
- 1942 The Lady Comes Across (lyrics) · Broadway musical
- 1944 Rhapsody (lyrics) · Broadway operetta
- 1945 Polonaise (lyrics) · Broadway operetta
- 1946 Beggar's Holiday (book and lyrics) · Broadway musical
- 1947 Dreams That Money Can Buy · Experimental film (dir. Hans Richter)
- 1954 Lazy Afternoon · Standalone song from The Golden Apple
- 1954 The Golden Apple (book and lyrics) · Broadway musical
- 1955 The Vamp (book and lyrics) · Broadway musical
- 1956 Candide (additional lyrics) · Broadway operetta
- 1956 The Ballad of Baby Doe (libretto) · Opera
Primary sources
The Columbia Daily Spectator
1933-12-18 Review Appears – Minus Critical Articles; Christmas Issue Features Stories, Poetry contributed poem
Review Appears - Minus Critical Articles; Christmas Issue Features Stories, Poetry The Columbia Review, Campus literary publication, completes its swing away from the critical attitude which dominated last year's issues, in the Christmas edition of the publication appearing on S. A. F. at noon today. This issue, the second of the year, is devoted exclusively to poetry, short stories, editorials and reviews. There are no critical articles. The inside of the front cover carries an announcement of the $5O prize contest sponsored by the Review in collaboration with Philolexian Society for undergraduate compositions in verse or short story form. Contributions by three Sophomores, one Freshman and the editor-in-chief, Harold H. Friedman '34, comprise the fiction list in the issue. "Prelude" by Robert Giroux '36, "Involution" by Robert P. Smith '36, "Panegyric" by Allen B. Ericson '37, "Man…
1934-04-24 Philolexian Will Try Experiment At Meeting of Modern Verse wrote libretto and won poetry contest
Philolexian Will Try Experiment At Meeting of Modern Verse Candlelight and Masks to Be Used at Unique Gathering in John Jay Tonight-Noted Pieces Will Be Read at Novel Poetry Recital Student members of Philolexian Society will read selections from modern American poetry at an experimental meeting of the organization in the John Jay Meeting Room at 8:30 o'clock tonight. Padraic Colum, Anna Hempstead Branch and Jean Starr Untermeyer, outstanding among younger American poets, will attend. Leonora Speyer may also be present. "Renascence," by Edna St. Vincent Millay, will be recited 'and selections will also be taken from Ezra Pound, H. D. (Hilda Doolittle), Robert Frost and Archibald MacLeish. Poems to Be Read in Dark The readings will take place in total darkness with the exception of two srr.ail candles resting on a small table in front of a curtain to which will be affixed masks.…
1934-04-25 Music, Masks and Candlesticks Add Color To Poetry Reading in Philo Experiment introduced the program; drew illustration
Music, Masks and Candlesticks Add Color To Poetry Reading in Philo Experiment "The rain it is a welcome sound "To one who's six feet underground" mused the poet as the piano tinkled brightly to suggest the patter of raindrops. Philolexian's experiment in revitalizing the recitation of poetry last night was skillfully executed in the John Jay meeting room, with R. Elliott Brock '37, providing musical backgrounds for the readings. Masks, designed by Professor Raymond M. Weaver, and illuminated by tall red candlesticks, served as visual stimulation. Treville La Touche '37, in introducing the program, declared, "We think that poetry has been divorced too much from its original meaning. We're trying to get back to the Greek form, to a musical accompaniment and a visual accompaniment." The readings were clear and sympathetically given. Changing moods : n the music heralded the variations in…
The Foundation's research archive
PHILOS, AS RECALLED BY MR. & MRS. WALTER SCHAAP AND CHARLES ROBERTSON
blue tick and red dagger; annotated 'TOLEDANO DOESN'T REMEMBER'; a telephone number is written after the name (not transcribed) · Confidence: CERTAIN
External references
Community-maintained record
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