Aug. 20, 1964 - “Hello, Lyndon!,” a version of the title song of the Broadway musical “Hello, Dolly!,” will be introduced as a campaign song at the Democratic National Convention next week in Atlantic City.
The song will be sung before a group of women Democrats by Carol Channing, the star of the show. She will be accompanied at the piano by the song’s composer, Jerry Herman.
Ten thousand freshly pressed recordings of the campaign song are scheduled to leave the St. James Theater tonight in a truck bound for the convention city. The records will be sold at the convention with proceeds going to Young Citizens for Johnson.
“Hello, Lyndon!” opens with these lyrics:
“Hello Lyndon. Well, hello, Lyndon. It’s just great to have you there where you belong. You’re looking swell, Lyndon. We can tell, Lyndon. You’re still glowing, you’re still growing, you’re still growing strong.”
David Merrick, producer of “Hello, Dolly!” and a Democrat, underwrote the cost of the recordings. Ed Ames and the waiters’ chorus from the show are the singers.
When the Republicans held their convention in San Francisco in July, they too wanted to adopt a version of “Hello, Dolly!” called “Hello, Barry!” But Mr. Merrick threatened suit, and the Republicans abandoned the plan.
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