"Sweet Leilani" was featured in the 1937 film, Waikiki Wedding. It
won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and Bing Crosby’s
record became one of the biggest hits of the year.
Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter
Leilani, who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular
Hawaiian name, meaning "heavenly garland of flowers".
Composer, bandleader, and songwriter Harry Owens
The film’s musical score was among the first to feature the eerie sounds of the
theremin, an early electronic musical instrument named after its Russian inventor, Professor Leon Theremin. It was used to create the feelings of alcoholism in this
story about an alcoholic.
Leon Theremin with his invention
The Beatles made a taped appearance on American Bandstand, where
they premiered one of their new music videos for the song “Strawberry
Fields Forever”.
Jane and Peter Fonda with their father Henry in the 1950s
Peter Henry Fonda studied acting in Omaha, Nebraska, the home town
of his father Henry. While attending the University of Nebraska, Fonda
joined the Omaha Community Playhouse, where many actors, including
his father and Marlon Brando, had begun their careers.
Fonda found work on Broadway where he gained recognition in Blood,
Sweat and Stanley Poole, before going to Hollywood to make films. He
began his movie career in romantic leading roles, debuting in Tammy
and the Doctor (1963).
1969
2007
