Deep Dive: Bathtubs Over Broadway (2018)
Film Lens
Bathtubs Over Broadway is a documentary directed by Dava Whisenant that follows comedy writer Steve Young as he reveals the world of industrial musicals. Young's journey begins in 1993 when he is tasked with finding comedy vinyl records for the Late Show with David Letterman. His discovery of a General Electric industrial musical leads to a two-decade obsession, during which he collects rare recordings and meets other collectors across the United States.
The film maps the history of industrial musicals from their rise in the 1950s to their decline in the late 1980s. Young tracks down surviving composers and performers, providing a comprehensive look at this unique segment of American entertainment. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018 and features live performances, including a duet about motion-activated faucets from a cult favorite industrial show.
Why Watch
- •Meet Steve Young, a vinyl collector turned documentary subject.
- •See live performances from cult favorite industrial musicals.
- •Find out about the rise and fall of industrial musicals.
Did You Know
•Steve Young began collecting industrial musicals in 1993.
•The film premiered on April 21, 2018, at the Tribeca Film Festival.
•Dava Whisenant won the Albert Maysles Award for Best New Documentary Director.
•The soundtrack includes original cast recordings that have never been commercially available.
Perfect For
Musical theater fansVinyl record collectorsDocumentary enthusiasts