Paul Whiteman - It's Only A Paper Moon 1933 Peggy Healy

Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra - It's Only A Paper Moon 1933 Peggy Healy on Vocals. (Victor) 9-12-1933 New York, New York

"It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose. It was originally titled “If You Believed in Me,” but later went by the more popular title “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” The song was written for an unsuccessful Broadway play called The Great Magoo, set in Coney Island. it was subsequently used in the movie Take a Chance in 1933 when it was sung by June Knight and Charles "Buddy" Rogers. Paul Whiteman recorded a successful hit version (with a vocal by Peggy Healy) released in 1933 featuring Bunny Berigan on trumpet. Another popular recording in 1933 was by Cliff Edwards.

[jamesallen]

Always loved Paul Whiteman and this recording. The photographs are wonderful! (glad you included the Ryan and Tatum O'neal picture)!

[mikekennedy]

Loved this catchy song since hearing it for the first time in the movie Paper Moon in 1973. Thank you for posting it and all the great photos, including the O'Neals.

[tony]

I agree, the photos are fascinating. The vocal version is lovely.

[stevefabian]

Peggy Healy's original is still the best

[mariorollo]

Was born and heard this song melody many times. Fell in love with it in the forties. Mario Rollo

[EddieC]

It's like each picture has a story to tell.

[sgirl]

Watching Paper Moon, and I am loving all the moon pics in this vid. Thanks for posting this!

[j_go.]

If you were to turn on the radio in 1933 this would be the new music. Seems like an interesting era. 🙂

[roybo]

OK! I Know this Movie very Well! The Movie was supposed to be set in 1935! "After You`ve Gone" by Tommy Dorsey`s Orchestra being used would have placed the Movie date to late 1936! Another Leo Riceman`s Until The Real Thing Comes Along, is another later song! But One song was a total Mistake! Altho written in 1935, The Recording used was from 1941!! Just for Fun, See if You can Answer what song it was!

[roybo]

MAN! You`re after My Heart! I Know some of the Awesome folks from the Movie "Paper Moon" Since I was a child, This Has become a LARGE Part of My Life! I even Have one of the Spinning Radiator Ornaments on My 1925 Dodge! I have drove My Cars down the Roads where it was filmed! Talk about Surreal!! Eleanor Bogart (The Poor Widow Stanly) Was like a Aunt to Me! I LOVE Her! Sadly She Passed in 2014! Her roomate Wilda Smith is just as AWESOME! I have a silly Photo of Me standing By the Paper moon as well! By the way, The Ryan & Tatum O`Neal pic at the end is Mirrored, Backwards! BUT I LOVE IT! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THIS!

[moonwalkerfilms]

Since the movie by its name I have loved this song. This version above all others.

[petergrundy]

I just think of my mum when I hear this

[alexanderduerrwilliams]

Great track - first recording of this song I believe. Love all the moon images you got!!

[kystars]

Such beautiful music and TRUE AMERICANA

[nmuphelps]

Superb and unforgettable!!! THANK YOU!!

[jaymorgenthal]

Paul Whiteman played himself in the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue.

[nmuphelps]

Vivien Leigh unforgettably sings it in "A StreetCar Named Desire" film by Tennessee Williams!

[thereisnospoon]

Now, that brings back memories. What a great song.

[Uniform]

The slideshow is awesome! Thanks for making this!

[glennmorris]

2022 September - this melody is in my head today - labor day.
For every working American this day is a tribute to you - and tonight when the sun sets - look up into the sky and enjoy the lamp light of the paper moon.