In 1732 an English playwright John Gay wrote ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ which introduced a notorious highwayman simply named Macheath. Gay’s ballad opera was then adopted with music by famed dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill into The Three Penny Opera which debuted in Berlin in 1928.
I know what you are thinking…this is all very fine and good but what does this have to do with the year 1959?
Well, the main character of MacHeath was transformed by Brecht and Weil into the more sinister anti-hero Mackie Messer.
And……
A song from this musical detailing Mackie Messer’s crimes and cruelties was a huge hit in 1959.
Can you name the song and the singer who would eventually become most associated with this song? If you can send me a message.
Last week I wanted to know the one place Nikita Khrushchev and his family were not permitted to visit on their North American tour in 1959. This site has nothing to do with national security or James Bond levels of spy activity, in fact it is the happiest place on earth. That’s right, due to insufficient security against Mickey and Donald, Nikita Khrushchev was not allowed to visit Disneyland.
The campus Mouseketeers who knew this are Carolyn DeLuca and Marianne Hageman
Thanks to everyone who played!