"Easter Parade" is a
popular song, written by
Irving Berlin and published in
1933. Berlin originally wrote the melody in 1917, under the title "Smile and Show Your Dimple", as a "cheer up" song for a girl whose man has gone off to fight in World War I. A recording of "Smile and Show Your Dimple" by
Sam Ash enjoyed modest success in 1918.[1]
Berlin resurrected the tune, with modifications, and gave it the now-familiar Easter lyrics for the 1933
Broadway musical revue As Thousands Cheer, in which musical numbers were strung together on the thematic thread of newspaper headlines; it was first sung by
Marilyn Miller and
Clifton Webb.[2][3] Like many of Berlin's songs, it later appeared in films. It was performed by
Don Ameche in the 1938 film Alexander's Ragtime Band,[4] which was loosely based on Irving Berlin's life. In 1942, it was featured in the musical film Holiday Inn, in which it was performed by
Bing Crosby. In 1948, it was performed by
Judy Garland and
Fred Astaire in the musical film Easter Parade, which was constructed around the song. The song was also featured in the
Rankin/Bass special The First Easter Rabbit in 1976.
Artists who had a hit record with the song include
Leo Reisman & Clifton Webb (1933),[5] Bing Crosby (recorded June 1, 1942),[6]Harry James (1942),
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1947), and
Liberace (1954).[4]