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were written for Peter Baker, "Creep, Baby, Creep," and "Can Hearts) So Soon Forget," were placed with A. A. Fischer, a publisher in Milwaukee. One thousand copies of each were sold, and at that time (fifteen years ago) this was counted a large sale. My next, "Hello Central, Hello," was sung by Charles Horwitz, and about three thousand copies were sold, which in (hose days was considered very good for a popular ballad. Two more, "Humming Baby to Sleep," and "I Wonder," were placed with S. Brainerd & Sons, Chicago. About one thousand five hundred copies were sold of each, and 1 was supposed to be doing very well. ,
But what really started the popular song on its meteoric career were "After the I tall" and "Kiss and Let's Make Up." These made the popular song business what it is to-day and presented a new idea to the music-loving public—a complete storv, combined with good and catchy music. „ The idea sprang at once into popularity and has been steadily growing. At thai lime the songs then in vogue were founded on stories of the sea and so-called high-class ballads of the"Thee" and "Thou" species. These are scarcely heard nowadays.
"After the Ball" lay upon the shelf for over a year, no singer caring to take it up on account of its extreme length it contains three long verses, tells a complete story, and is in reality, a condensed drama. After a great deal of hustling, hard work and persistent effort, a copy of it reached Miss May Irwin, and, being introduced by her on Broadway, created a sensation. It was then introduced in Milwaukee by James Aldrich Lihbey, in Hoyt's "A Trip to Chinatown" Company, and on the Coast by Dick Jose, while Helen Mora sang it in the leading vaudeville houses throughout the country. That proved the first popular song educator. This was followed by "Kiss and Let's Make Up," another story song, which also |
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