At the Music Hall: Easter Parade, 1933

In your Easter bonnet
with all the frills upon it,
you'll be the grandest lady
in the Easter Parade!

I'll be all in clover,
and when they look you over
I'll be the proudest fella
in the Easter Parade!

On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue,
the photographers will snap us
and you'll find that you're
in the rotogravure.

Oh, I could write a sonnet
about your Easter bonnet
and of the girl I'm taking
to the Easter Parade!

Oh, I could write a sonnet
about your Easter bonnet
and of the girl I'm taking
to the Easter Parade!




"Easter Parade" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1933.  The song was introduced by Marilyn Miller and Clifton Webb in the Broadway musical revue “As Thousands Cheer.”

More notably, the song was performed by Bing Crosby in the film “Holiday Inn” (1942), which featured an Irving Berlin song focused on each major holiday.  However, most famously, in 1948, the song was performed by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in a musical film which borrowed the name of its song as the film’s title.  The film—a long-time Easter tradition—also stars the crazy-eyed, disturbing Ann Miller and her machine-gun taps as well as the icky Peter Lawford and…his overall ickiness.  The film is described as “the happiest musical ever made” and that characterization has nothing to do with the fact that Judy was high throughout the entire picture.

The song was also featured in the Rankin/Bass special “The First Easter Rabbit,” in 1976. 

Interestingly enough, Irving Berlin originally wrote the melody in 1917.  At the time he called it "Smile and Show Your Dimple."   It was a tremendous flop.  But, the melody was good and Berlin trotted it out again in ’33. 

Enjoy this version by Al Jolson as well as the "Easter Parade" trailer from 1948.