Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1914 — AT THE BOOKING OFFICE OFF-STAGE COMEDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AT THE BOOKING OFFICE OFF-STAGE COMEDIES

By Will Bradshaw

THE TURNING POINT IN TED’S LIFE Bess Osten (character singer)— Morning all! Say, friends, I’d-like to give you the pleasure of meeting my Uttle friend, Teddy Cannon. Step right ap, Teddy. Meet Dad Wadell, Algy, Ella Gaylord, Tom Frazee an’ Bess Osten.

Ted Cannon (a song writer) —How d’, how d’! . Bess Osten—Just a few words about Mr. Cannon, people. Ted Cannon Is the song writer from Chi that made the big strike last month with his number everybody’s usin’, “There’s a Pump in the Place of the Old Oaken Bucket.” And some number! If any of you ain’t using the song in your act get a copy from Ted. You’ll get a dozen bows with it where you used to get a chill. Notice the harmony arrangement and the heart sthff running right through the verses. Ella Gaylord (a single)—l wouldn’t be looking for a booking now if that tin pan composition hadn’t come across my path an’ knocked me over. 'Pom Frazee (a producer)—What do you mean, Ella; did the number get you in bad?

EHa Gaylord—Didn’t you ever hear it, Tom? Awful! Lyric and music trying to see which can be the worst. 20 years ago. Dad Wadell (who knew Booth —by sight)—l remember 20 years ago. Tom Frazee—So the boy’s Bong is a punkqrino,- eh? Ella Gaylord—Cost me the savin’s of a season. When I started out in my new act making six changes in ten minutes I was hooked Into using his number by a man from his publishers. When I sang the song on my opening night at the Fourteenth street house the crowd gave me the death signal. I tried to live It down and get my other across, but I was doomed. Even the orchestra gave me the laugh, and

*Td *ate to See *!m Try' It Geqrge, the leader, is a personal friend of mine, too. Algy—l’m mighty glad It ’appened to you before I might 'ave tried It. Dad Wadell —When in doubt about a vocal selection always use "The Last Rose of Summer," and pick a rose apart as you sing it. Tom Frazee—That’s good, Dad. Only been used seven million times, but it always brings the hands. Ted Cannon —So y' lost out on account of my number, eh? What’s your regular line —comedy or dramatic? Bess Osten—Not much of either, Ted. The girl should never have been allowed to kill your song. That booster must have been mad to allow it Tom Frazee—Don’t say that girlie. EUa has done some fine work in some of my companies. In our last show she handled the feature number and got eight and ten recalls on it Cleff ft Staff, the publishers, put her face on the cover of the second million. Dad Wadell—l remember another old song— Bess Osten—Tell them how I put your song across back in Chi, Ted. After the first night I sang it 4,000 cabaret workers and every vaudeville act in town fought for the right to use It Two hundred bands and orchestras featured it Why? I started it in the right way. Believe me, there’s a great chance for a real singer in that song, ft’s foil up with sentiment Dad Wadell- 'Sentimental ditties are my favorites. 1 remember — Bess Osten—This one would get you all right, Dad It's got the pathetic idea that makes y’ breathe heavy at first, then start to swaller hard, then blink and fleck s tear off each cheek. Dad Wadell —l’m glad to meet the composer of rush a work, Mr. Cannon. A gentleman who uses his talent in such an elevating way is to be admired. -I remember — , Algy—l*4 ’ate to see Tm try it across the puddle, ol’ chap. . Ella Gaylord—and to think that the night I used it there were if managera in the house to give my act the once over. I think they all realized it was the song, though. y Tons Frasoo—Poor little EUa. It

they think it wasn’t the song 11l pat them hep the first time we meet. Bess Osten—You know, Dad, it tells about a girl that was born and raised on a farm and had to do all the work on the place, especially hoist ap thou* sands of gallons of water every day in the old oaken bucket for the cows and pigs and everything like that. She decides to skip to the big town and be a real lady for a change. She meets a s millionaire in town and he marries * her. Twenty years later she gets to thinkin’ about the old folks and the old oaken bucket and she and the husband and their children decide to hunt up the place again. They drive ont in their tourin’ car one day, but everything looks changed. She eaa’t find the old oaken bucket, and where the house stood is now a big cheese factory. Over the old well is a steam pump, run by a stranger. Then she gathers her husband and children around her and tells them the story. Ain’t that clever? Algy—W’y didn’t she go back sooner,.! awsk? Dad Wadell—lt's a lesson for foolish girls who leave the old domicile. Bess Osten —Do yon know, Ted need to be the best comedy writer in the business until two years ago? Ho wrote the hit, "Daddy’s On the Wagon Once> Again.” Then he lost Louisa and turned to sad staff. Algy—’E lost a Louise, did y* s’y? ' Bess Osten—Yep. Ted was engaged to a charmin’ little actress named Louise. She played in all the Mg shows two years ago. She got acquainted with Ted when he was called In to write her restricted numbers. It was love at first sight for both of them, and even the invitations were out, when— Algy—She up an' died, Fll go y’? Bess Osten—As far as Ted was concerned, yes. She met an old sweetheart of hers she thought was dead, and married him. Now she’s running a delicatessen store on Forty-seventh

Across the Puddle, OF Chap.” street while he works at his trade. And the worst it is the girls who meet her say shell happy. Can you beat It? Passing np a man who could walk her past the tleket taker of any show shop in town for a gink that can’t afford the parquet in a nickel show. Algy—So that’s ’ow he lost ’is ’earl for writin' comedy, eh? Dad Wadell—Oftentimes such a shock kills entirely the inspiration in a man. I remember a ease — Tom Frazee—Tough luck, - tough lack, Ted, m’ boy! Bess Osten—But it all turned out for the best Ted’s going to marry mo the last half of next week. Watch your mall for the invites. HeU soon be in the mood once more to turn out the comedy numbers. In the meantime I knock ’em off the seats with the season’s sensational hit “There’s a Pump in the Place of the Old Oaken Bucket” Booking Agent (entering) Say, there’s an act put here wants a copy of Ted Cannon’s “pump” song. (Copyright. ISI4, by W. Q. Chapman.)