George first went to London in 1923. He had been invited to work on a show called ‘Silver Lining’ but this was eventually re-named ‘The Rainbow’.
He was thrilled when the Customs Officer at Southampton recognised him as the writer of ‘Swanee’ and also when he went ashore, he was interviewed by a reporter. He could not have had a better welcome to England, especially as this was his first trip abroad.
‘The Rainbow’ opened at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square on 3 April 1923. The famous cinema was built here after the 9-month run of ‘Lady Be Good’.
He returned in July 1924 to work on the show ‘Primrose’ with British lyricist, Desmond Carter. He stayed with his producer friend, Alex Aarons and his wife Ella in their flat at 10 Berkeley Street. George described it as “one of the cheeriest flats”. This is just round the corner from Berkeley Square, and the first song they composed was ‘Berkeley Square and Kew’.
George loved being in London – dining out, shopping, watching tennis at Wimbledon, and playing golf with Primrose’s co-librettist, Guy Bolton. As in New York, he socialised with many of the city’s notables, mentioning the Earl of Latham, Lord Berners, Otto Kahn and Prince George in a letter to Em-Lou (Emily and Lou Paley – could George have been the first person to amalgamate a couple’s name in this way?)
‘Primrose’ opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in September 1924. This is now the New London Theatre on the corner of Drury Lane and Parker Street, and in 2015 was the home of ‘War Horse’.
In May 1925, he and Alex came back to London to prepare the English version of the show ‘Tell Me More’.
The singer Eva Gauthier asked George to be her accompanist again in her famous recital programme ‘From Java to Jazz’ which they had performed two years earlier at the Aeolian Hall in New York. This now took place at the Aeolian Hall at 135-7 New Bond Street.
The London production of ‘Lady Be Good’ opened in July 1926. Again, George worked with Desmond Carter to adapt this show, starring the Astaires, for the London audiences. On this trip, George stayed in a flat at 49 Pall Mall.
The opening night party was at the Embassy Club at 29 Old Burlington Street, then the most fashionable club in London. There were many famous people there as well as members of the aristocracy, and George stayed all night, happily playing songs from ‘Lady Be Good’. There is now a new building on this site called Burlington Gate.
On 16 March 1928, George arrived in England for what would be his final visit. This time, he had come with Ira and Leonore, and his sister, Frances. Soon after arriving in London, Gertrude Lawrence took him shopping; they went to Savile Row for suits…
Hawes and Curtis in Jermyn Street for ties and shirts…
Then, to Scott’s for lunch which was then at 18 Coventry Street, just off Piccadilly Circus.
This is now part of the Trocadero Centre but the ‘S’ monogram remains.
George and Ira visited the Chappell office at 50 New Bond Street. They met the owner, Max Drefus, as well as their musical colleagues and friends Phil Charig, Vincent Youmens, Robert Russell Bennett and Jerome Kern.
Other highlights of this trip were dinner with the Mountbattens, chatting with the Prince of Wales at the Embassy Club and attending a party in George’s honour at the Kit Kat Club. This was in the basement of the Capitol Theatre which was on the corner of Haymarket and Jermyn Street.
The club was just over the road from the London Pavilion where he went to see the premiere of Noel Coward’s ‘This Year of Grace’ with his sister, earlier that evening.
On their last night in London, dinner with Gertrude Lawrence was followed by her final, exuberant performance in ‘Oh Kay’ at His Majesty’s Theatre in the Haymarket. Now, of course, this is called Her Majesty’s Theatre and has been home to ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for many years.
Gershwin in New York 