Industrial Musicals: The Golden Age of corporate showtunes
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Feb 21, 2024
Discover the world of industrial musicals, where companies entertained employees with elaborate Broadway-style productions. Hear about the history, significance, and one man's obsession with this forgotten corner of pop culture. Dive into the intriguing tales of bathroom remodeling, corporate art, and catchy songs about products.
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Lipton Tea Salesman
Imagine a struggling Lipton Tea salesman in 1972.
At the annual sales show, he's greeted with a motivational musical number.
insights INSIGHT
Purpose of Industrial Musicals
Industrial musicals were full-fledged theatrical productions about companies and products.
Their purpose was to motivate employees and teach sales techniques.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Big Budget, One Performance
Industrial musicals often had Broadway-level budgets.
They were typically one-time performances for employees.
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For more than three decades, it was common for American companies to put on “industrial musicals” for their employees. These elaborate productions could rival Broadway shows, and featured original songs about the company and its products. And while this music was never intended for the general public, once you hear it for yourself, you might just get hooked. This is a story about bathroom remodeling, corporate art, and one man’s obsession with a forgotten corner of pop culture. Featuring comedy writer and collector Steve Young.
Twenty Thousand Hertz