“I Can’t Get Started” was introduced by Bob Hope, who sang it to Eve Arden in Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. Opening on January 30, 1936, at the Winter Garden Theatre, the Broadway revue ran for 115 performances.

Less than a month later, Hal Kemp and His Orchestra, with vocalist Skinnay Ennis, saw their hit recording of “I Can’t Get Started” rise to 14th place on the recording charts. In 1938, Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra’s 1937 rendition rose to tenth place (Bunny Berigan, vocal.)

Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 was remarkable in several ways: It was Fanny Brice’s last appearance in a Broadway show; it was George Balanchine’s Broadway debut as a choreographer; and, despite the name, Florenz Ziegfeld had been dead for over three years. Credit for production of the show was given to Billie Burke, but it was actually a Lee and J.J. Schubert production. The Schubert Brothers had purchased the rights to Ziegfeld’s name and had also used it to produce the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934.

It is quite surprising to find Bob Hope introducing a standard. In a New York Times article, theater and film critic Vincent Canby said, “It was, however, sung for laughs, with (Eve) Arden making caustic comments about Mr. Hope’s passion.” Bob Hope may not have been as gifted a singer as partner Bing Crosby, but he managed to see three of his songs make the recording charts:

• ”Two Sleepy People” (1939) Bob Hope and Shirley Ross (flip side was “Thanks for the Memories,” also a duet)
• ”The Road to Morocco” (1945) Bing Crosby and Bob Hope
• ”Blind Date” (1950) Margaret Whiting and Bob Hope

In addition to Bob Hope, Fanny Brice, and Eve Arden, the original cast included Gertrude Niesen, Josephine Baker, Hugh O’Connell, Harriet Hector, and Judy Canova.

Other songs in Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 were “Time Marches On,” “He Hasn’t a Thing Except Me,” “My Red-Letter Day,” “Island in the West Indies,” “Words Without Music,” “Economic Situation,” “Fancy, Fancy,” “Maharanee,” “Gazooka,” “That Moment of Moments,” “Sentimental Weather,” “5 A.M.,” and “Modernistic Moe.”

Gershwin’s lyrics are an example of a list song. (Other list songs include “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top” and “Let’s Do It.”) Describing frustration and defeat, the words itemize a series of grand accomplishments, which apparently have little effect on their object of affection.

Composer Vernon Duke originally had his sights set on a career in classical music. In the book The Song Is Ended: Songwriters and American Music, 1900-1950, William G. Hyland writes, “In order to make a living, Dukelsky was forced to adopt an alter ego, Vernon Duke (a name given to him by the Gershwins).”