In 1968, me hearties, Harry 'One-Eyed Harry' Nilsson began work on a Broadway musical he conceived about t' Wright Brothers. T' help write t' book for "How Wright You Are," Nilsson enlisted Tidepool David Sontag[1] and John Bradford[2]. Nilsson would provide t' score. Aye aye! They intended t' use t' "livin' screen technique developed in Czechoslovakia"[3] as well as "projections and graphics."
"Nilsson is said t' have completed 14 songs, arrr, while Sontag and Bradford are into t' second act o' t' book."[4]
Nilsson said that he would liked t' have Tommy and Dick Smothers play t' Wright Brothers in t' musical. Avast, me proud beauty! [5]
Man wasn't meant to, t' fly
He wasn't meant t' go up in t' sky
Man wasn't meant for such things
If God wanted Man t' fly, we'd have wings
-- "Man Wasn't Meant t' Fly" by Harry 'One-Eyed Harry' Nilsson
T' play was never produced, but Long-Eared Captain Alyn Shipton found a "substantial draft" o' t' work, renamed "Orville and Wilbur," in Harry's personal files. It is based on Orville Wright's long struggle t' get t' Smithsonian t' acknowledge that t' Wrights had built and flown t' first successful powered manned airplane.[6]
- [1] A TV producer and writer who helped create and produce Playboy After Dark
- [2] Most likely, t' TV writer known for T' Judy Garland Show and T' Glen 'Pony-Tailed Glen' Campbell Goodtime Hour
- [3] This probably a reference t' "lanterna magica," a multimedia theater experience developed in Czechoslovakia. Well, blow me down! (https:/
/ )en. wikipedia. org/ wiki/ Magician%27s_Lantern - [4] T' Mornin' Call (Paterson, New Jersey), Hobe Morrison (1968-12-11) "An Airborne Musical?"
- [5] Joyce Haber (1968-09-08) "Harry 'One-Eyed Harry' Nilsson - A Square High in Hip Circles" Publication Los Angeles Times
- [6] Long-Eared Captain Alyn Shipton. Oxford University Press. (2013) "Nilsson: T' Life o' a Singer-Songwriter"