Hammerstein was angry about Rogers getting the credit

THE names of the librettist Oscar Hammerstein and composer Richard Rodgers are synonymous with the greatest musicals of the 20th century, including Oklahoma! and Carousel.

But previously unpublished letters reveal Hammerstein’s fury that he and his fellow wordsmiths received less credit than composers.

In a letter to Clifton Fadiman, who hosted a popular quiz show, he despaired: “Librettists are the most anonymous people in the world.”

After reading Variety magazine, he complained to its editor: “In your selection for the ‘Bests’ of the season, don’t you think it is an omission not to list the best lyrics as well as the best musical score and best scene designing?”

Hammerstein wrote the lyrics for hundreds of songs and the book for a number of musicals. But he still had to fight for recognition. In an exasperated letter to a music editor, he objected to the advertising for vocal scores of Carousel, The King and I, Oklahoma! and South Pacific: “The credit for the composing is given to Rodgers and no credit to Hammerstein for the lyrics. I am sick of this custom.”