Variety (February 1908)

I VARIETY idMabi i| ■ i> 4t '« ). ■ I 'VOU ME IIGNT, PUDV" ARTHUR WHITELAW originated that saying, witii the answer "You Can Bet Your Life I'm Right," OVER 20 YBARS AGO IN ST. LOUIS in a POUTICAL SPEECH called "PADDY BRENNAN'S ADDRESS TO THE EIGHTH WARD DEMOCRATIC CLUB," and said speech has been delivered by me during the past 20 years OVER A THOUSAND TIMES^:"-'^'--'^^ ■■■.■:.'. '■ --'-v. .: ■; ^. . ■ ■ . .::?y'<;,::;^^/^ ' "Ain't I Right, Boys?" Is merely a subterfuge of Prank Fogerty's to purloin my or^nality .and call it his own. •"■"'-■■^' ■ ■ - ■ ■.■ ^-^-^ ■ -.^.^^ •■ ■■ :.■:,-,.■;.■■•■■■:■.= .>,-^ ■;;.;.; v,----m--:>':>.^> :::.•:■■■■■';■ ^; R THE FOLLOWING LETTERS; JUDGE FOR YOURSELF: ..■ \f~ .^y^- y^m*>> yty- ' BOSTON, JAN. 24TH. MB. ABTHUR WHITBLAW. Dmt 8tr: B«p]jliic to joax \»iX»t will Mj that I diatlnctljr remember you dellrerlng poUtical Mk, wk««iii tb« aadleiiM dMwt, "Yoa are right. Piitfdy," and your reply. "You bet your life I'm rttfhtt" «t tha old Howard Moie t«i year* ago. Too hare to my knowledge played the old Howard afwnt At* ttme a for tha past six year* and the speech was slwaya part of your act. Too may aaa this letter to right yourself in any argument you may hare. Beapectfully your*. OBO. BOWXAV. •taca Manager, Old Howard, Boetoo. r T^lT—r ,,_■ ■■ i':^--...:■ ■ NEW YORK, JAN. 23D. MT DBAB ABTHUB! I ^^ . While I doo't b^ere In mixing up In other people's aftalra. the truth won't hurt anybody. I hava always cooddared yon the originator of that political speech, "You are right, Paddy," which I flfat hoard yon daUver at the old Loodoo Theatre, St. Loula, some 18 years ago, while we were la atoek together. Yoor old friend, < OEOBOE GLATTON rBTE. BOSTON, JAM. 218T. • FRIBND AETHUB: In reply to your letter of the 19th, I cannot meotloo the definite data that I first beard yoa dellter p<^tlcal speech, "You're right, Paddy," but it must be fully fourteen yeara ago as I hava uot been In St. Louis since 18iM, that la. In employment thera. Prerlous to that I waa employed m the different variety bousea there and have heard yoa deliver apeech several tlmea. In fact, you used It so much that "You're right. Faddy," and "You bet your life I'm right," were used In common by the newsboys. I give yon full permission to poMlsb this letter. StBOValy jroors, JOSH McCAREOV. A j^' Gaoatal Stage Manager, Kslth'a Theatre, Bostoo. ■ PBOVIDENCB, JAN. 28TH. ABTHUB: I Imv* haavd yo« deliver Paddy Brennan*s speach, with "You're right, Paddy,'* at different timaa for tha past ten years. The first time at Rich's Theatre, Fall River, I being on the same bUl with yon. I am surprised at Fogerty, who la a personal friend of mine, claiming eame AEXVOZ WILBVR. NBW YORK, JAN. 29TH. FRIBND ARTHUR: Put me on record as aaylng that I have heard and helped you out In that tpeach, "Yoa're right, Paddy,'* In Cleveland some five or six years ago. Reno and I were oo the same bUl with you. FBAVX RI0KARD6. NEW YORK, JAN. 27TH. ' MY DEAR WHITIBLAW: Paddy Brenaan's speech with "Toa'ra right, Paddy," and Its reply, "I know damn well I*m right," Is rightfully yours. I have heard you and helped you deliver It many times at Wcoger's Garden, New Orleans, In 1898. Surprised to think that anyone should try to claim It. You'll win. ROBERT KEVRT HODOE, RBADINQ, JAN. 21ST. FRIEND ARTHUR: I saw that cheap ad. of Fogerty's. He's In wrong when he tries to claim that speech. I heard yoo do It 17 years ago and several times since, and I'll tell him so when I see him. Beet wlshea. ^ OOUS LORBLLA. READING, JAN. 2SD. ^ SAY, PARD: Don't worry, everyone who knows you knows that the "Yon*re right, Paddy," q)eech Is yonra. I have known you to do It and shouted the reply 20 years ago and cannot count how many tlmea alace. Your former partner, HARRY M. STEWART. The following well-known managers will also testify that I delivered said speech: MR. LINDSAY MORRISON (Manager Boston Theatre, Boston) (Former Manager Keith's Onion Square), MR. CARL LOTHROP (General Booking Manager for B. P. Keith in Bdston), MR. JOHN J. SPLAIN (General Man- ager of the Poll Circuit), MR. MONTGOMERY MOSES (Manager Trent Theatre, Trenton). And I still have several letters that I have not published. N. B.—I wish to thank my friends for their^ kind letters, and rest assured I shall answer each one personally In a few days. Owing to lack of space many of J the letters [I received am unable to publish, but I value each and every one highly, and may have occasion to make public use of them in the future. "THE HAPPY TRAWIP" VAUDEVILLE FOR 30 WEEKS Direction Messrs. P. G. WILLIAMS and E. F. ALBEE Feb. 3, Orpheum, Brooklyi MATERIAL BY VINCENT BRYAN