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Anselm Goetzl ( b.1878 - d. 1923) was well known as a producer, arranger, composer and conductor. He wrote three Broadway productions; Aphrodite (1919), The Gold Diggers (1919) and The Royal Vagabond also in 1919 and wrote incidental music for The Wanderer in 1917. He also appeared as conductor or producer for several other Broadway shows. One of Goetzl's works, Aphrodite Waltz was the theme song for the radio version of The Guiding Light from 1937 to 1947 Among his songs that were recorded or became individual hits were; Aphrodite (1919), Dear Little Rose Girl (1920), There Comes Some Day (1920) and When Our Sundays are Blue (1920).
Listen to this great old Broadway song ( Printable using the Scorch plug-in)
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Lyrics
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The Love Nest
1920
Music by: Louis A. Hirsch
Words by: Julian Mitchell
Cover artist: Unknown
As a producer and writer of Broadway plays, few can rival the output of George M. Cohan during the first four decades of the 20th century. Cohan produced shows almost every year from 1901 to 1940 and in some years produced as many as six. Among his many productions was Mary which opened at the Knickerbocker Theater on October 18, 1920 and closed the following April after 220 performances. A musical comedy in two acts the play is set in the reception hall and garden of the Long Island home of Mrs. Keene played by Georgia Kane (1876 - 1964.) The cast also included several other notable performers; Jack McGowan (1884 -1977) as Jack Keene, James Marlowe (1865 - 1926) as Mr. Goddard and Charles Judels (1882 - 1969) as Gaston Marceau.
The song is a duet between Mary (Sybilla Bowen) and Jack (McGowan). The verse is a rather simple and somewhat minimal melody that serves as an introduction to the main thought of the song. Sounding very much like a show tune, the verse fails to prepare us for the chorus that follows. The chorus begins with the marking "in a lilting manner" and there is no way you could play or sing the fabulous melody in any other way. The music becomes more lush and full and through the use of triplets, staccato notes and contrasts in phrases, the composer has given us a real musical treat. Though sometimes I want to make very song we feature a "discovery of the month," I can't. Regardless, this one ranks right up there among the best. You can't help but smile on hearing this wonderful duet. If it sounds familiar, this song was once the themesong for George Burns and Gracie Allen's radio show.
Louis A. Hirsch (b. 1887, New York City., d. 1924, New York City) In his senior year at City College of New York, Louis, a native New Yorker, went to Europe for a few months. His ambition was to be a concert pianist, and so he wanted to study at Berlin's Stern Conservatory, with pianist Rafael Joseffy. He returned to the U.S. in 1906, but turned his efforts to more practical ends. Hirsch started working in the Tin Pan Alley publishing houses of Gus Edwards, and Shapiro-Bernstein. He also began to write some of his own music.
His first assignment was writing music for the Lew Dockstader's Minstrels. From 1907 to 1909, some of his tunes were included in various Broadway shows, including The Gay White Way, Miss Innocence and The Girl and the Wizard. In 1911, Hirsh wrote the score for the Revue of Revues, which introduced French star Gaby Deslys to Americans. The 1911 production Vera Violetta was his first major success. Starring relative unknown, Al Jolson, this production helped propel Jolson to stardom. Gaby Deslys was
In 1912 Hirsch was hired by the Schuberts and as a result he was involved in a number of successful productions with them including, The Whirl of Society, 1912, also starring Al Jolson; The Passing Show of 1912; Always Together, and The Wedding Guide.
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