Alice Blue Gown

{{Short description|Popular song written by Joseph McCarthy and Harry Tierney}}

File:Alice Blue.jpg

"Alice Blue Gown" is a popular song written by Joseph McCarthy and Harry Tierney. The song, which was inspired by Alice Roosevelt Longworth's signature gown, was first performed by Edith Day in the 1919 Broadway musical Irene.{{Citation

| last1 = Furia

| first1 = Philip

| last2 = Lasser

| first2 = Michael L.

| name-list-style = amp

| title = America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and the Tin Pan Handle

| publisher = Routledge

| place = New York

| year = 2006

}} In 1920 the song was recorded and released.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Edith-Day-Irene-Alice-Blue-Gown/release/9211812|title=Edith Day - Irene / Alice Blue Gown|website=Discogs|accessdate=17 August 2018}}

Artists who have recorded the song include Duke Ellington, Kate & Anna McGarrigle with Lily Lanken & Rufus Wainwright, Glenn Miller, Wayne King, Frank Sinatra, Chet Atkins, and Lenny Breau. Carol Burnett sang the song as a spoof while wearing a fatsuit for the opening number of the March 29, 1975 episode of her eponymous variety show.[https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/ft2870035g/entire_text/ Carol Burnett Collection of Television Music and Printed Sheet Music, 1967-1978.][https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0536668/ The Carol Burnett Show. March 29, 1975. Guest stars: Jean Stapleton, Phil Silvers.][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKYCEIut8o0 The Carol Burnett Show: Video. March 29, 1975.] Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland, sang it on her mother's Christmas show in December 1963.{{YouTube|id=hDsxZWvxZ6E|title=The Judy Garland Christmas Special}}, time mark 23:45

The song is about Irene's favourite dress which she wore until it was worn out, and begins:[https://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/hasm_a5569/ Duke University Libraries] Sheet Music Archive

I once had a gown it was almost new

Oh, the daintiest thing, it was sweet Alice Blue