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A Triumphant/Tragic Night On Broadway

Forty oneyears ago, on August 25, 1980, "42nd Street" opened in New York.  

After an epic, rapturous, premiere performance producer David Merrick took center stage to announce to the audience and company that the show’s director, Gower Champion, had died that afternoon. 
So as not to threaten that night's opening performance, his death was kept a secret from the cast, who reacted with horror and grief at the news. This sensational musical went on to win the Tony Award as Best Musical and ran 3,486 performances. It was later revived on Broadway to acclaim once again and is considered a classic.
Here is rare footage from the poignant scene on opening night after the curtain came down.

David Merrick says, "It's a tragic moment... I am sorry to have to report Gower Champion died," and the rest is made inaudible due to the audience reaction. Jerry Orbach then had the reflexes to call, in character, for the curtain to be closed on the shocked performers on stage.

Since The Lights Will Soon Be On Again

There's a broken heart for every light on Broadway

A million tears for every gleam, they say
Those lights above you think nothing of you
It's those that love you that have to pay
There's a sorrow lurking in each gloomy shadow
And sorrow comes to everyone someday
T'will come to our brothers, but think of the mothers
With broken hearts for each light on Broadway
There's broken-hearted husbands, there's broken-hearted wives
There's broken-hearted sweethearts who must now lead double-lives
And there's the boy and girl who thought twas' right to take a chance
And they all must pay the fiddler if they dance, dance, dance...

There's a broken heart for every light on Broadway
A million tears for every gleam, they say
But if you have the fire, that bottomless desire
That always yearning, fiercely churning, stomach turning need,
I't's guaranteed, you'll succeed
So will you come to battle?
With critics and their prattle?
Will you join in Apollo's rendezvous?
Then you will join the greats on old Broadway
Then we will join the greats on old Broadway!

Songwriters: Fred Fisher / Howard Johnson