The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-08-17
COMIC SINGERS,
How They secure Songs 10 Catch
POpuIarity--A Veteran Managers
ENnlannfiOn.

POpuInrity-A veteran Managers
Explanation.
"Do you know how the majority of these
comic singers get hold of their songs : "
asked a former theatrical manager of THE
CRITIC at Drivers garden last night, just
after Harry Mullen, the young Irish char
acter vocalist, had retired from the stage
from fourth encore.
"No, replied the scribe; "How do they
do itP''
"Wcll, in rather peculiar way. Some
of them buy up songs prepared for the pro-
fesson by stock writers, but the success
full ones are those who write their own
songs like young Mullen, and make %
speciality of adapting them to local subjects
in whatever city they arc singing and of
current events of interest. Such songs
always take. and as proof of it there are
no more popular vocalists of this class than
Tony Pastor, Will Morton, Frank LOWS,
the famous Brown and others. Mullen,
though has the happy faculty of not only
localizing his songs, but he takes
up some local character, some
old eccentric person with whom
all are familiar in the town where he pro-
poses to sing and initiates him perfectly
in manner and dress. Take, for instance,
the song, Baggs McGrew with the Cigar
cite Hat 1t is not exactly u local song
here, but its Righteousness won for it i'm
mediate favor Mullen composed that song
in New York city while laying Off last
season, and when he first sang it created n
lively sensation, and he has realized money
from II by selling the privilege to sing it to
other singers. The circumstances under
which it was composed were to this
effect: In the vicinity of Mullcn's
home in New York, lived a misery Irish
man named McGrew, the owner of num-
hnr nf tap hnucae Ha o,I
landlord, and the object of much ridicule
and denunciaticn on account of his penuri-
business. Though wealthy his dress was
generally that of a SLOUGH, and his panta-
looms baggcd about the knees to such an ex-
| tent that it was amusing to see him shuttle
along the streets, and Baggs McGrew was
the title by which he was commonly known
Old McGrew was a devOut Catholic, though,
and always attended church ON Sunday. One
morning he surprised everybody by sallying
forth in makeup" that created the most
intense amusement. He wore new suit the
breeches bagging down as usual, and one of
those soft, dandyish hats known as cigar
cite hat. This was pushed on ono side of
his head, aud he feigncd q rakish air that
was so funny that Mullen proceeded at once
to compose song and set it to music, which
he brought out q week later with success
The chorus took favor with the boys and
| young mon, and the melody was so catching
that it is still the favorite among whistlers
on the streets. The chorus, you remember,
runs like this:
I'm Baggs McGrew,
Oh ira ia-ln-loo.
Watch me- now do;
I'll show toyou
A German man,
So Dimocrat.
I'm Baggs McGrew,
Wild me cigarette hat.
"Of course there is nothing in the song
beyond its righteousness, but 1t was just the
thing to take favor, like Harrigan & Harris
Mulligan Guards and ! have only re-
lated these facts to show you how the thing
is done"
Harry Mullen, the singer referred to, is
quite a young man, but is a quick -witted,
pleasant fellow who catches on0 to bit
of fun instantly. He is young yet in the
profession, and has very pleasant wife and
bright baby boy to whom he is devoted
He has been singing here for several weeks
but will retire from the variety profession
next season, and with his wife travel with
a 1.-TWO Orphans" combination, Mullen
playing Pierre.