''Wise Guy'', which had at different points the working titles (in approximate order) ''The Last Resorts'', ''Palm Beach'', ''The Mizner Story'', and ''Sentimental Guy'', is a musical whose music and lyrics were written by

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russ ...

between 1952 and 1956. It has never been produced. The subject of the musical is Berlin's deceased friend, the famous Florida architect

Addison Mizner Addison Cairns Mizner (December 12, 1872 – February 5, 1933) was an American architect whose Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style interpretations left an indelible stamp on South Florida, where it continues to inspire archi ...

, to a lesser extent Addison's younger brother and sometimes partner Wilson, and their friends and clients. Berlin had been an investor in Mizner's visionary but ultimately ruinous Boca Raton project, and there had been talk (but no serious plans) of Berlin setting up a

nightclub A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music. Nightclubs gener ...

in Boca Raton.

''The Last Resorts'' (1952)

Berlin's first, 1952 attempt to write a musical about the Mizners was called ''The Last Resorts'', with an alternate title ''Palm Beach''. It was "apparently based on

Cleveland Amory Cleveland Amory (September 2, 1917 – October 14, 1998) was an American author, reporter, television critic, commentator and animal rights activist. He originally was known for writing a series of popular books poking fun at the pretensions an ...

's 1952 book, ''Last Resorts''", and was written "with Amory". The Irving Berlin archives at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

contains a synopsis of Act I, and lyrics for the following songs: * Sittin' in the sun (counting my money) - also intended for '' White Christmas'' (1954), but not used * The snobs on the wrong side of the track * The top 400 people. This project was set side.

Wise Guy (1956)

The project was reactivated after the 1953 publication of

Alva Johnston Alva Johnston (August 1, 1888 – November 23, 1950) was an American journalist and biographer who won a Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1923. Biography Johnston was born in Sacramento, California. He started out at the ''Sacramento Bee'' in 1 ...

's ''The Legendary Mizners'' (in England, ''The Incredible Mizners''). Berlin worked with playwright S. N. Behrman on the project, also called Sentimental Guy and The Mizner Story; it was to have starred

José Ferrer José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón (January 8, 1912 – January 26, 1992) was a Puerto Rican actor and director of stage, film and television. He was one of the most celebrated and esteemed Hispanic American actors during his lifetime, w ...

Recorded songs from the musical

These songs are all featured on the album ''Unsung Irving Berlin'' and were unearthed from Berlin's files by the producer of the album,

Bruce Kimmel The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce (1274−1329), it has been ...

. "Sentimental Guy" was sung by

Laurie Beechman Laurie Hope Beechman (April 4, 1953 – March 8, 1998) was an American actress and singer, known for her work in Broadway musicals. She also had a career as a cabaret performer and recording artist. After her death, the West Bank Cafe Downstairs T ...

and "You're a Sucker for a Dame" was sung by Guy Haines. "You're a Sentimental Guy" was written in December 1956. "Since ''Wise Guys original title had been ''Sentimental Guy'', this may be an example of the title song that gets cut when the name of a musical is changed." It was published in sheet music form in 1996. The lyrics compare life on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

with

Westchester County Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

Yonkers Yonkers () is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. Developed along the Hudson River, it is the third most populous city in the state of New York (state), New York, after New York City and Buffalo, New York, Buffalo. The popul ...

"). "Go Home and Tell It to your Wife" is a 1957 comedy duet which was originally meant to be sung by Perry Como and

Mary Martin Mary Virginia Martin (December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American actress and singer. A muse of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she originated many leading roles on stage over her career, including Nellie Forbush in '' South Pacific'' (194 ...

"in a television spectacular modeled after the Irving Berlin Music Box Reviews." That project fell through. It was also intended at one point for ''Wise Guy''.

References

{{reflist Musicals by Irving Berlin Addison Mizner Palm Beach, Florida 1952 musicals 1957 musicals