“Thoroughly Modern Millie”

Reference Dictionary

 

This is a dictionary (of sorts) of all the references in lyrics to “Millie” whose origins you might not know.  Hope this helps if you were wondering something!  By the way, this is only references in the songs (we haven’t memorized the script!) and songs that aren’t here are songs in which we couldn’t think of anything that needed defining.  If you have something you’d like us to find out about for you, send us an email.

 

Not For the Life of Me

·        Macy’s: Well-known New York department store.  Located at 34^th and Herald Square.  Founded in 1857 by Rowland H. Macy.  Moved to Herald Square in 1902.

·        “Brothers Brooks”: Actually Brooks Brothers.  Founded by Henry Sands Brooks.  Originally opened at the corner of Catherine and Cherry Streets in New York City.  The current name was adopted when Brooks’ sons, Daniel, John, and Elisha, took over the business.  The store has moved many times, but the Brooks Brothers Millie would have know was at Madison Avenue and 44^th Street.

·        Note about this song:  Millie says, “It’s one block north to Macy’s and two to Brothers Brooks.”  If we assume that she is in Penn Station, at 33^rd Street, it is indeed one block north to Macy’s but it is eleven blocks north and several blocks east to Brooks Brothers.

 

Thoroughly Modern Millie

·        Vanity Fair: Society and Fashion Magazine.  Founded in 1868 by Thomas Gibson Bowles.

 

How the Other Half Lives

·        “Berlitz class”: Berlitz International Inc. is a company that gives classes in language and culture of other countries.  Founded by Maximilien D. Berlitz in 1878 in Providence Rhode Island, USA.

·        “Hell’s Kitchenette”: Actually Hell’s kitchen, a neighborhood in Manhattan; more specifically, 39^th between 9^th and 10^th and the area surrounding it.  The area was, at the time “Millie” takes place, thought of as  “probably the lowest and filthiest of the city.”

·        “The Isle of Coney”: Actually Coney Island, now a famous amusement park on the outskirts of New York City.  In the 1920s and 1930s, it was a well-known vacation spot for the lower classes.

·        Saks Fifth Avenue: a retail store that originally opened between 49^th and 50^th on 5^th Avenue on September 15, 1924.  (Note: Since “Millie” takes place in 1922, and Saks opened in 1924, Millie, if she were a real woman, would not have known about Saks at the time of the show.)

·        Bergdorf Goodman:  This store does not have any information posted for us to research.  We have written to the store to ask them, and we’ll post the info ASAP.

They Don’t Know

·        Chekhov: Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.  Russian playwright.  Born 1860, Taganrog, Russia.  Died 1904, Germany.

·        Ibsen: Henrik Ibsen.  One of the four “great” Norwegian playwrights.  Generally acknowledged as the father of modern prose drama.  Born 1828, Skien, Norway.  Died 1906, Christiania, Norway. 

·        Shaw: Though Shaw is a common name, this probably refers to George Bernard Shaw.  Irish playwright, literary critic, socialist spokesman, and a leading figure in 20^th century theatre.  Born 1856, Dublin, Ireland.  Died 1950, Ayot St. Lawrence, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.

·        Moliere: Moliere (actually Jean-Baptiste Poquelin).  French playwright and actor.  Born 1622, Paris, France.  Died 1673, Paris. 

·        Peter Pan:  The original play of Peter Pan, by James Barrie (author of the book).  Originally performed December 27, 1904.

·        Duse: Eleanora Duse.  Italian actress.  Born 1858, died 1924.

·        Helen Hayes: American actress.  Born 1900, Washington, DC.  Died 1993.

·        Bernhardt: Sarah Bernhardt. French actress, sometimes called the “Grande Dame of French theatre.”  Born 1844, Paris, France.  Died 1923. 

What Do I Need With Love?

·        “Peter Rabbit’s missing footsie”:  The rabbit’s foot is often said to be lucky.  While this has become a common belief in American popular culture, there are two possible explanations for its origin.

                                                             i.      Long ago, in African voodoo beliefs, it was said that if you rubbed the left hind foot of a rabbit, it would activate protective magic. 

                                                          ii.      In Medieval Europe, witches were said to turn themselves into hares to escape capture.  Carrying a hare’s foot would supposedly protect you from them.

Only In New York.

· The Wonders of the World: The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were first listed in the second century BC.  They are: The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Statue of Zeus (Jupiter) at Olympia, The Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, The Colossus of Rhodes, and The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria

Forget About the Boy

· Albatross: In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a sailor kills an albatross and it is said to hang around his neck like lead.  This reference could imply that Jimmy is not doing anything, and is just bothering her.

Long As I’m Here With You

·        “Sevens Every Roll”: in a dice game commonly played in casinos, ‘sevens’ is a very desirable roll.

·        The Yankees:  New York’s American League Major League Baseball team, they have won many World Series.  They were originally the New York Highlanders, but were renamed the New York Yankees in 1913.

Gimme Gimme

·        “Cupid’s famous arrow”:  A famous symbol of Valentine’s Day and romance, Cupid is a mischievous, winged young child armed with a bow and arrow.  His arrows, when shot at people, are said to make them fall in love.