My mother always laughed about the phrase "I Can Get it for You Wholesale."

There was a Broadway musical of that name based upon the 1937 book by Jerome Weidman.



Here is a list of the songs from the musical. They sound like a lot of fun, and when I have more time I'm going to see if I can track down some of the lyrics.

• I'm Not a Well Man - Miss Marmelstein and Mr. Pulvermacher


• The Way Things Are - Harry Bogen


• When Gemini Meets Capricorn - Ruthie Rivkin and Harry Bogen


• Momma, Momma, Momma - Harry Bogen and Mrs. Bogen


• The Sound of Money - Harry Bogen, Martha Mills, Mitzi, Mario and Eddie


• The Family Way


• Too Soon - Mrs. Bogen


• Who Knows? - Ruthie Rivkin


• Have I Told You Lately? - Blanche Bushkin and Meyer Bushkin


• Ballad of the Garment Trade


• A Gift Today


• Miss Marmelstein - Miss Marmelstein


• The Sound of Money (Reprise) - Harry Bogen


• A Funny Thing Happened - Ruthie Rivkin and Harry Bogen


• What's in It for Me? - Teddy Asch and Martha Mills


• What Are They Doing to Us Now? - Miss Marmelstein, Buggo, Tootsie Maltz, Manette, Gail, Miss Springer and Creditors


• Eat a Little Something - Mrs. Bogen and Harry Bogen

There was also a 1951 movie by that name starring Susan Hayward, Dan Dailey, and George Sanders, but it's described as a drama, and those song titles above have me hoping the musical was more light-hearted: "A ruthless fashion designer steps on everyone in her way in order to reach the top of her profession. Eventually she is forced to choose between her ambition and the man she loves." To me, this little synopsis does not sound there is room for nostalgic wistfulness, and those song titles are just oozing wistfulness, if you ask me.

But then I found a synopsis of the musical as performed at the Schubert Theater in 1962:

"I Can Get It for You Wholesale takes a hard-boiled look at the cut-throat world of New York's garment district projecting itself as a contemporary piece with a dateless story.

Harry Bogen is cold, pushy, and determined — determined to rise to the top by whatever means are required. He starts as a small-time strike breaker, moves into the garment business with a few partners, and then shoves them out of his way. He ignores the pleas of his good-hearted mother and his adoring girlfriend and neighbour, Ruthie Rivkin, to act ethically. He would even ditch Ruthie for a cheap, flamboyant nightclub performer, Martha Mills. When, after all his machinations, he ends up a bankrupt, only his mother and Ruthie are there to console him. The ending does not necessarily imply that simplicity and goodness are the best rewards but only that Harry is neither ruthless nor cunning enough to attain his goals."

Well, it can't be all gloom and doom - musicals are supposed to be delightful entertainment, so until I find out different, I'm putting my own words and music to those song titles and enjoying the show in my head.