Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are two of the greatest entertainers in New York City history. They have delighted millions of people with their unique and influential take on the Broadway musical — serious, sincere, graceful and poignant. In the process they have helped in elevating New York’s Theater District into a critical destination for American culture.

In this episode, we tell the story of this remarkable duo — from their early years with other creators (Hammerstein with Jerome Kern, Rodgers with Lorenz Hart) to a run-down of all their shows. And almost all of it — from the plains of Oklahoma to the exotic climates of South Pacific — takes place on just two city blocks in Midtown Manhattan!

PLUS: What classic music venue still bears the name of Oscar Hammerstein’s grandfather?

How did the ritzy Plaza Hotel celebrate the fifth anniversary of Oklahoma’s debut?

How is Richard Rodgers associated with Hamilton the Musical?

And what was the final song written by Rodgers and Hammerstein?

In honor of the new Richard Linklater film Blue Moon about Richard Rodgers' first songwriting partner Lorenz Hart AND in honor of a new set of Broadway musicals opening in November, we're reissuing this 2017 show in a newly re-edited, remastered edition.

Visit the website for more images of the shows discussed on this show

All music by Rodgers and Hammerstein can be found on releases from Sony Masterworks

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For this year's annual Bowery Boys Ghost Stories podcast, Greg and Tom take a road trip to Long Island to explore the region's most famous haunted tales from legend and folklore, 'real' reported stories of otherworldly encounters that have shaped this historic area of New York state.

When you think of Long Island and scary stories, your mind might immediately go to the Amityville Horror houseor perhaps even the Montauk Monster. But let us introduce you to a series of far older stories which incorporate Long Island's extraordinary history:

-- The Sag Harbor Goblin: A restless soldier from the Revolutionary War period harasses the residents of this charming Hamptons retreat.

-- The Wraiths of Raynham Hall: In Oyster Bay, a beloved landmark is sometimes called 'the Grand Central Station for ghosts' thanks to its population of historic spirits -- including that of a famed Revolutionary War traitor!

-- The Bolt From Beyond: Winfield Hall is better known as the Woolworths Estate, best known for its eccentric owner Frank Winfield Woolworth. But the house is also known for a series of unfortunate events -- and the secrets which its marble hallways may still hold.

-- Dancing In The Ghost Light: The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport celebrates 75 years of regional theater this year -- and a few ghosts have returned to join the party.

-- The Hermitage of the Red Owl: A spooky tale of folklore in Brentwood, featuring a utopian community, a talking bird and the ancient, unburied bones of a warrior.

This episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon

Get tickets to our LIVE Halloween show at Joe's Pub here (Oct 29-31, 2025)

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On October 26, 1825, the fate of New York City – and the entire United States – changed with the opening of the Erie Canal, a manmade waterway that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie.

It was the most significant engineering project of its time, linking the ocean to the nation’s interior -- a 363-mile route from Albany to Lake Erie. Without even knowing where the Erie Canal is on a map of New York state, you could probably guess its course because of a row of cities which developed and prospered, almost in a westward line – including Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.

In some cases, these were modest-sized places like Schenectady or Rome that benefited financially from canal construction; in others, such as Syracuse (which was founded in the year 1820), the canal was chiefly responsible for its existence.

However, it was also one of the most critical events in New York City's history, even though the entrance to the canal is approximately 150 miles north of New York Harbor. It essentially became the canal’s gateway for freight traveling to any place inside the country or out to the world. As a result, New Yorkers quickly took advantage of the opportunities the canal offered.

Today, we're celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal by going straight to the source – in a conversation with Derrick Pratt, the Director of Education and Public Programs at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, New York.

Visit our website for more images and other tales from New York City history.

This episode was produced and edited by Kieran Gannon.

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