Music Trade Review
Issue: 1928 Vol. 86 N. 26 - Page 25
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 30, 1928
Songs Provide Themes
for Feature Films
'Sunrise and You" and "Mother Machree" Basis
of New Films Produced by the Fox Organ-
ization
The practice of motion picture producers
selecting the story of an old, familiar song for
the dramatic as well as the musical theme for
scenarios has opened up a new condition as
well as a new relationship between music pub-
lishers and picture makers. Instead of songs
being written around the.pictures, feature films
are being built around songs. Perhaps the most
notable of these was the Norma Talmadge pic-
turization of Jane Cowl's play, "Smilin'
Through," which in a very real sense made pic-
ture history.
Among the latest pictures to use song themes
for their motives are two Fox films. One is
"Sunrise," with Janet Gaynor and George
O'Brien, and the other "Mother Machree," fea-
turing Belle Bennett and 1'hilipe Delacy. The
former film had a great vogue at the Times
Square theatre, New York, and has just been
released for the country generally. Its music
theme is, naturally and appropriately, the mel-
ody of "Sunrise and You," a standard ballad
that has taken a permanent place among
America's favorite songs written, by the way,
by the composer of "Smilin' Through," Arthur
A. Penn. The atmosphere that permeates "Sun-
rise" is adequately reflected in the "Sunrise and
You" theme.
"Mother Machree" has just finished its metro-
politan run. Its story is based on the words of
the famous song written by Rida Johnson
Young, and its music theme is the melody of
"Mother Machree," composed by the late Ernest
R. Ball. The publishers of both "Mother Ma-
chree" and "Sunrise and You" happen to be M.
Witmark & Sons, New York. The publishers
and the William Fox organization have per-
fected a tie-up of both these feature films and
their corresponding songs, so that the demand
for both numbers is receiving a boost from
trade and public alike. To add to the features
of these two pictures, both are released with
Movietone accompaniment.
The Music Trade Review
25
some time, and a newcomer to the office is
Miss J. Ninde, who was formerly with the com-
pany in Chicago and who is well known to the
trade in the Middle West.
New Waltz by Rich
in Robbins Catalog
"That Wonderful Night and You" Scores Hit
in British and Continental Appearances of Its
Composer
Freddie Rich, who returned recently from
Europe with his Hotel Astor Orchestra, has
brought back a new waltz, "That Wonderful
Night and You," which he completed abroad
and which will be a feature of the catalog of
the Robbins Music Corp., New York, in the
Fall. Mr. Rich's success touring the British
and German variety circuits created a unique
situation in giving an American waltz hit, its
first exploitation in England and the Continent,
prior to its popularization in the United States.
M.\ Rich's foreign tour was acclaimed and it
was only his prior American contract with the
Hotel Astor in New York which demanded his
early return. "That Wonderful Night and You"
is now receiving an intensive radio plug on tin-
National Broadcasting Co.'s chain by Freddie
Rich and his augmented orchestra, which re-
cently opened its Summer season atop the Hotel
Astor Roof Garden. Along with "That Won-
derful Night and You," the Robbins Music
Corp. has added two feature numbers to its
catalog, "Just a Little Bit O' Driftwood," the
melody fox-trot by Abe Lyman and Benny
Davis, and "Sweet Ella May," by J. Russell
Robinson, writer of "Mary Lou. 1 '
"He's Our Al" Fine
Campaign Song Smash
Song Used by Eastern Democratic Delegates
on Way to Houston—Sung in Vaudeville
With the Democratic National Convention at
Houston held this week, Will Von Tilzer, head
of the Broadway Music Corp., New York, an-
nounced that the firm's number, "He's Our Al,"
is looming up bigger and better as a campaign
song possibility. Freeman & Lynn have been
using the song during the past week at Loew's
State Theatre, New York, Young's Restaurant
Proof that the new Century edition of novelty has been featuring it as part of the regular
fox-trots is meeting with popular favor has been after-theatre show, the Luna Park Band, Coney
received daily by the Century Music Publish- Island, has been playing it in its concerts twice
ing Co., New York, since the first release of a day, to mention only a few of the places it
the dance numbers a few weeks ago. Dealers is being heard in and around New York.
Jules Von Tilzer, of the firm, successfully re-
have found a ready market for the Century fox-
hearsed
the ship orchestra and song leader on
trots and are reordering regularly. In addi-
tion, many large Eastern dance orchestras have board the steamship "Shawnec," so that the
commenced to use the Century dance arrange- Democratic gathering sailing to Houston were
ments in. their broadcast programs. Bern able to learn the "He's Our Al" en route. In
Jacobs and his Pennsylvania Yellow Jackets, of addition, Will Von Tilzer has been receiving
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for one, have become admir- letters from orchestra leaders in all parts of
ers of the Century numbers, and are featuring the country, notably the South, who are pleased
"Lisztonia" and "With You My Own" on all with the song and are using it regularly.
their programs.
A Real Hit?/
YOU RE
A R.EAL,
SWEETHEART
ki Irving Ceasar aCliff Friend
Uewi Novell and Nifty/
.
i y GUS KAHN
S-TED F1OFUTO
A Ballad That's Different!
*UST NIGHT
I DREAMED,
YOU KISSED ME
%y
GusKahn & Carmen Lombardo
1
Cute/ Cleder/ CaccJtyf
New Century Fox-trots
Being Widely Played
Forster Numbers Moving
Well, Is Report
NED WtttEFLe CHESTER COHN
• That Great Harmony Ballad/
I TORE U P
YOUR PICTURE
WHEN YOU SAID
GOOD BYE*
l y DOILY MORSE & AN DREW DONNEU.Y
"You're a Real Sweetheart"
The Summer hit, that seems destined to fol-
low "Ramona" as leader in the Feist catalog, is
"You're a Real Sweetheart," which has com-
Lon Mooney, manager of the Eastern pro- menced to show up both professionally and
fessional offices-of the Forster Music Publisher, commercially in a big way. The song was writ-
Inc., Chicago, which were opened a few months ten by Irving Ceasar and Cliff Friend. Cliff
ago in Room 403A, 745 Seventh avenue, New Friend's melody is of the type that one remem-
York, reports splendid activity of the firm's bers and likes. Leo Feist, Inc., New York, in
catalog since its entrance into the Eastern field. realizing that "You're a Real Sweetheart" is
"Tomorrow" and "Just Across the Street From of the best seller variety, is starting a campaign
Heaven" continue as the firm's leaders and behind the number, the first step of which is a
three new numbers are showing up well. "Don't folder describing the song and sent out to the
Wait Till Lights Are Low" and "Loving You trade this week.
Like I Do" are adapted to Summer demands
and a new comedy number, called "The Prune
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
Song" is also taking hold. Eddie Woods has The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
been acting as assistant to Mr. Mooney for free of charge for men who desire positions.
MA5EL
WAYNB
LEO. FEIST INC
23lw.4O th ST.
N.YC.
JUNE 30, 1928
Songs Provide Themes
for Feature Films
'Sunrise and You" and "Mother Machree" Basis
of New Films Produced by the Fox Organ-
ization
The practice of motion picture producers
selecting the story of an old, familiar song for
the dramatic as well as the musical theme for
scenarios has opened up a new condition as
well as a new relationship between music pub-
lishers and picture makers. Instead of songs
being written around the.pictures, feature films
are being built around songs. Perhaps the most
notable of these was the Norma Talmadge pic-
turization of Jane Cowl's play, "Smilin'
Through," which in a very real sense made pic-
ture history.
Among the latest pictures to use song themes
for their motives are two Fox films. One is
"Sunrise," with Janet Gaynor and George
O'Brien, and the other "Mother Machree," fea-
turing Belle Bennett and 1'hilipe Delacy. The
former film had a great vogue at the Times
Square theatre, New York, and has just been
released for the country generally. Its music
theme is, naturally and appropriately, the mel-
ody of "Sunrise and You," a standard ballad
that has taken a permanent place among
America's favorite songs written, by the way,
by the composer of "Smilin' Through," Arthur
A. Penn. The atmosphere that permeates "Sun-
rise" is adequately reflected in the "Sunrise and
You" theme.
"Mother Machree" has just finished its metro-
politan run. Its story is based on the words of
the famous song written by Rida Johnson
Young, and its music theme is the melody of
"Mother Machree," composed by the late Ernest
R. Ball. The publishers of both "Mother Ma-
chree" and "Sunrise and You" happen to be M.
Witmark & Sons, New York. The publishers
and the William Fox organization have per-
fected a tie-up of both these feature films and
their corresponding songs, so that the demand
for both numbers is receiving a boost from
trade and public alike. To add to the features
of these two pictures, both are released with
Movietone accompaniment.
The Music Trade Review
25
some time, and a newcomer to the office is
Miss J. Ninde, who was formerly with the com-
pany in Chicago and who is well known to the
trade in the Middle West.
New Waltz by Rich
in Robbins Catalog
"That Wonderful Night and You" Scores Hit
in British and Continental Appearances of Its
Composer
Freddie Rich, who returned recently from
Europe with his Hotel Astor Orchestra, has
brought back a new waltz, "That Wonderful
Night and You," which he completed abroad
and which will be a feature of the catalog of
the Robbins Music Corp., New York, in the
Fall. Mr. Rich's success touring the British
and German variety circuits created a unique
situation in giving an American waltz hit, its
first exploitation in England and the Continent,
prior to its popularization in the United States.
M.\ Rich's foreign tour was acclaimed and it
was only his prior American contract with the
Hotel Astor in New York which demanded his
early return. "That Wonderful Night and You"
is now receiving an intensive radio plug on tin-
National Broadcasting Co.'s chain by Freddie
Rich and his augmented orchestra, which re-
cently opened its Summer season atop the Hotel
Astor Roof Garden. Along with "That Won-
derful Night and You," the Robbins Music
Corp. has added two feature numbers to its
catalog, "Just a Little Bit O' Driftwood," the
melody fox-trot by Abe Lyman and Benny
Davis, and "Sweet Ella May," by J. Russell
Robinson, writer of "Mary Lou. 1 '
"He's Our Al" Fine
Campaign Song Smash
Song Used by Eastern Democratic Delegates
on Way to Houston—Sung in Vaudeville
With the Democratic National Convention at
Houston held this week, Will Von Tilzer, head
of the Broadway Music Corp., New York, an-
nounced that the firm's number, "He's Our Al,"
is looming up bigger and better as a campaign
song possibility. Freeman & Lynn have been
using the song during the past week at Loew's
State Theatre, New York, Young's Restaurant
Proof that the new Century edition of novelty has been featuring it as part of the regular
fox-trots is meeting with popular favor has been after-theatre show, the Luna Park Band, Coney
received daily by the Century Music Publish- Island, has been playing it in its concerts twice
ing Co., New York, since the first release of a day, to mention only a few of the places it
the dance numbers a few weeks ago. Dealers is being heard in and around New York.
Jules Von Tilzer, of the firm, successfully re-
have found a ready market for the Century fox-
hearsed
the ship orchestra and song leader on
trots and are reordering regularly. In addi-
tion, many large Eastern dance orchestras have board the steamship "Shawnec," so that the
commenced to use the Century dance arrange- Democratic gathering sailing to Houston were
ments in. their broadcast programs. Bern able to learn the "He's Our Al" en route. In
Jacobs and his Pennsylvania Yellow Jackets, of addition, Will Von Tilzer has been receiving
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for one, have become admir- letters from orchestra leaders in all parts of
ers of the Century numbers, and are featuring the country, notably the South, who are pleased
"Lisztonia" and "With You My Own" on all with the song and are using it regularly.
their programs.
A Real Hit?/
YOU RE
A R.EAL,
SWEETHEART
ki Irving Ceasar aCliff Friend
Uewi Novell and Nifty/
.
i y GUS KAHN
S-TED F1OFUTO
A Ballad That's Different!
*UST NIGHT
I DREAMED,
YOU KISSED ME
%y
GusKahn & Carmen Lombardo
1
Cute/ Cleder/ CaccJtyf
New Century Fox-trots
Being Widely Played
Forster Numbers Moving
Well, Is Report
NED WtttEFLe CHESTER COHN
• That Great Harmony Ballad/
I TORE U P
YOUR PICTURE
WHEN YOU SAID
GOOD BYE*
l y DOILY MORSE & AN DREW DONNEU.Y
"You're a Real Sweetheart"
The Summer hit, that seems destined to fol-
low "Ramona" as leader in the Feist catalog, is
"You're a Real Sweetheart," which has com-
Lon Mooney, manager of the Eastern pro- menced to show up both professionally and
fessional offices-of the Forster Music Publisher, commercially in a big way. The song was writ-
Inc., Chicago, which were opened a few months ten by Irving Ceasar and Cliff Friend. Cliff
ago in Room 403A, 745 Seventh avenue, New Friend's melody is of the type that one remem-
York, reports splendid activity of the firm's bers and likes. Leo Feist, Inc., New York, in
catalog since its entrance into the Eastern field. realizing that "You're a Real Sweetheart" is
"Tomorrow" and "Just Across the Street From of the best seller variety, is starting a campaign
Heaven" continue as the firm's leaders and behind the number, the first step of which is a
three new numbers are showing up well. "Don't folder describing the song and sent out to the
Wait Till Lights Are Low" and "Loving You trade this week.
Like I Do" are adapted to Summer demands
and a new comedy number, called "The Prune
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
Song" is also taking hold. Eddie Woods has The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
been acting as assistant to Mr. Mooney for free of charge for men who desire positions.
MA5EL
WAYNB
LEO. FEIST INC
23lw.4O th ST.
N.YC.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).