The New York Clipper (February 1917)

16 T H E ? NEW YORK CLIPPER February 7, 1917 STEPHEN C FOSTER ALMOST FORGOTTEN Famous American, Writer of America's ' Greatest Folk Songs, Lie* in a Neg- ' Ieetad Grave in Pittsburgh • •"it > In these days of huge royalties, when a successful popular song writer can with- in a few years accumulate a fortune, it seems a pity. that the name of Stephen Foster, one of America's greatest writers, who during his life was denied even the necessities of life, should he weHJ nigh forgotten. Almost the first to write American folk song, he lies buried in a Pittsburgh ceme- tery, bis grave scarcely receiving the necessary- care to keep- it from being over- run, with grass and weeds. His songs, however, will live forever. "Suwannee River," "Old Folks At Home," "Massa's in the Cold, Cold Ground," and "Carry Me Along, Boys," are sung the world over. "Suwannee River," had it not been typically American and its subject matter confined to a comparatively unknown lo- cality, would, it is believed by many, have rivaled "Home, Sweet Home." Christy, the old-time minstrel man, saw such pos- sibilities in the song that he paid Foster $500 for the right to put his name to the manuscript as its composer. . The manuscript of the song "Carry Me Along, Boys," is now in the hands of an autograph dealer in New York who val- ues it at $600. The script of "Maggie By My Side" is in the possession of Houdini, who has a wonderful library of dramatic and musical works as well as the largest and most complete collection of magical literature. A public subscription to erect a suit- able monument over Foster's last resting place would be a worthy tribute to this great song writer by the American people. LYONS SINGS NEW BALL SONG One of the latest of the big acts to add Ernest R. Ball's wonderful new ballad "Would Ton Take Back the Love You Gave Me?" to their repertoire is George Lyons, formerly of the team of Lyons and Yosco. Mr. Lyons tried it out for the-first time last week at Keith's Theatre; Philadel- phia, and was so enthusiastic over the reception it received that he immediately called tip the publishers on long distance phone to tell them that he considered it the greatest song he had ever sung up to that time; that he was not alone in this opinion, and that it must have been shared by the audience is proved by the fact that he took three encores on it. tt surely seems as though the prediction hat this new song will complete a trio A the greatest songs of their kind ever published (which includes "Goodbye, Good Luck, God Bless You" and "Turn Back the Universe and Give Me Yesterday") is to become a realization, and the most won- derful part of it all is that the three songs were written by Mr. Ball within a year. M. Witmark & Sons are jubilant over the prospects of this, Mr. BaJTs latest ballad and fully expect it to fulfill the high hopes that entertain for it. THE OLD HOMESTEAD QUARTET Four of the brightest and newest of the popular hits in the catalog of M Wit- mark & Sons,, are featured. with tremen- dous success by. the Old Homestead Double Quartette. "I've Got the Sweetest Girl in Maryland," by Walter ' Donaldson, writer of Southern hits is the first; "'TV a s Only an Irishman's-Dream,"- the most novel ballad of its kind ever writ- ten, is the next; "I'm Going Back to California," Brennan & Ball's -march mas- terpiece, the third; and last,--that alto- gether breezy novelty by the Leightons, "Far Away in Honolulu -They've Got the Tango' Craze." If there are -four better winners than these on the market today; it's a mighty lucky market, that's all. POPULAR BERNSTEIN SONG-: ... . Grace Fisher is adding fresh laurels.to her already great success at the Winter Garden by her rendition of Shapiro-Bern- stein's novelty song, "Naughty, Naughty, Naughty," and though it is a restricted number it is also one of the most popular ones at the important cabaret shows in town. Other novelty songs published by the same house are "The Nights Are Six Months Long," "All on Account of the War" and "Higher in Hawaii," all sung by Florence Moore at the Palace a couple weeks ago. HARRIS & ROBINSON WRITING Will J. Harris and Harry I. Robinson are once more writing'songs together. Jos. W. Stern & Co. announce'the forthcoming publication of three excellent numbers by these talented young writers: "Somewhere Iu Delaware," a most tuneful novelty; "Good Morning Glory," a truly beautiful song, and "When Abraham Lincoln Freed the Slaves, He Forgot About the Married Men." The last-named is a comic novelty that cannot fail to please. • WOHLMAN WITH FORSTER Dave Wohlman, formerly with ■ James Brockman, hi now connected with Forater Music Publishing, Inc. ROBBINS WITH KARCZAG "Jack" Robbins is . now professional manager for the Karczag Publishing Co., and is exploiting the new ballad "A Tear, A Kiss, A Smile." A NEW LEW BERK SONG Lew Berk, the Rochester, N. T., com- poser and publisher has a new number out entitled, "I've Got the Blues." It is a cleverly written song well adapted for ca- baret use. THE "JAZZ" BAND POPULAR "Everybody Loves A Jazz Band," the new song introduced to New Yorkers by the famous Chicago "Jazz" band, now play- ing at Reisenweber's, promises to become quite as popular in the East as it is in the western cities. Its melody is infectious and its popularity is spreading fast. Leo Feist is the publisher and predicts that it will be as popular here as in Chicago. LEWIS' SONG RELEASED 'Henry Lewis* Song in the Anna Held show, "Love Is. a Wonderful Thing," has been released for general professional use, it has. been, announced by the publishers, Jos'. W. Stern & Co. pa r * .. .'^. \- i . - .'.L. Wolfe Gilbert, its author, is..pre- senting it in his personable way at the Marcus Loew .theatres in New York, where he is scoring .a, wonderful success. Mr. Gilbert also' sings "''Shades of Night," "Out pjf. thei jCradlej" ."My^.Hawajian. Sunshine" and "Army Blues," all. recent .composi- tions of Mb own. ■ :■-: REMICK'S MANY INTERESTS -. Jerome H. . Remick, music publisher, president and manager of the lug Detroit Creamery Co., isvalso - a director: of the -Paige-Detroit Motor Co.,. manufacturers of the' well-known -Paige-Detroit automo- bile. -■■ : ■ -■:•* ;-•-: - 'In- spite of Mr. Remick's many business interests he intends to devote more- time to the music business this year than he has in the past. '■■■■ WESTERN ACT SCORES ' Making their first appearance' in the East, Sullivan and Mason appeared at the Greenpoint Theatre last week, and scored the hit of their career. They proved them- selves hundred per cent, entertainers be- yond a doubt. They sang five numbers and could easily have done a.sixth. Among the songs they feature are "Somebody Loves You, Dear,',' "'Twas Only an Irish- man's Dream" and "I'm Going Back to .California," all published by M. Witmark & Sons. CHANGE IN FEIST STAFF Quite a change in the personnel of the Leo Feist composing stall took place last week. when .Jos. McCarthy, Fred Fischer and Grant Clarke retired. McCarthy and Fischer have formed a publishing firm and Clarke, will probably connect with another house. , At the Feist offices, it was said that their places are to be filled by young blood from which some new ideas in the song line can be expected. COLLINS HOME FROM TRIP . Harry Collins, professional manager of the Maurice Richmond Music Co., has just returned from a' business trip through New England, during which he found con- ditions very encouraging. His firm is now exploiting their ballad "The City of Ach- ing Hearts." THEY TURN TO THE RIGHT" Sinclair and Dixon, two boys who have recently jumped,to the front, are using William Jerome and Milton Ager's new ballad "Turn to the Right," and report great success with the number. NEW DUNStMURE SONGS John Dunsmure, the operatic basso, has just finished two new songs, "I Just live in the Memory of You" and "Columbia, the Mother of Us AIL" "My San Fran- cisco Girl," which he is using in his vaudeville act, was also written by him. Sharps and Flats By TEDDY MORSE "Charles B. Lawler and Daughters," the stage card read. Two clever girls that sang well, one with a real humoristic man- ner that pleased, and a cadaverous looking man. with a deep sounding, rather sad voice. They were quite a success, every- one seemingly delighted with their act. For an encore they sang Lawler's own 'composition, "The Sidewalks' of - New York." - And what a hit' it was, the audience de- manding encore after encore. Lawler was forced to make a speech, and closed with another chorus with everybody joining in. And this was the song that-started, nearly twenty years ago, the publishing house of Howley, Haviland & Co. on its meteoric career. That firm grew into one of the largest of its kind, blossomed', and finally faded completely from view. But the song lives, and the author is now reaping some of the fortune that be always claimed was denied him. . The weekly market letter from H. A. Willis .& Co. tells, all about stocks and bonds in Wall Street. In case yon are undecided as to how to get a million or two by stock manipulation here's what they tell you to do, and it's so good ifs passed on for all it's worth. Hark!— ."The time to sell is before the top is in sight The time to bny is after bottom has been reached." Now that yon know, go to it. The National Cloak & Suit Co. is an enormous - institution on West Twenty- fourth Street, New York City. They have rest rooms for their employees, and some one conceived the idea of plugging a song to the tired ones there. Which wasn't so bad. But one brilliant chap brought along professional copies of his song and distrib- uted a hundred or so, murmuring as he did, "Gee, I'll tell the boss and he'll raise me sure." • • The letter that never came: "My Dear Mr. Publisher—Your royalty statement re- ceived. Haven't yon overpaid me? It is far more than I ever expected. I can't see how you can make any money in 'this business. Please, I beg of yon, do not pay me so much next time, will you?' Gloom, disgust, rancor, heat, frowns, discord, accusation, dissatisfaction, asides, discontent, slurs, and other things. Roy- alty statements were paid last week. Just like the old fashioned hone car, so will the inside sheet of popular songs be remembered by how-muoh-better-we-get- along-without-them. What has become of those beautifully colored slides that meant so much to the publisher and so little to the singer? "Shredded Wheat" is sampling the conn- try. Did yon get your professional copy of it?