The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-02
GOSSIP FOR HOME PEOPLE


OF Hoyt's productions Mr.. Lane says
'tnat Hoyt's success lies in carefully pre-
pairing a play and in choosing a good
title. All Of Hoyt's plays begin with
"A" as a Hole in the Ground "A
Black Sheep "A Tin Soldier" etc. Then
when me mas new play ready ne first
trys il in small town and makes num-
erous changes. "A Trip to Chinatown
which enjoyed steady run in New
York City for two years in one theatre,
was first produced In Decatur, H., and
| underwent many changes before the
public accepted it.
| Nr. Bratton's name has become IA
nliliar by mis- popular songs. His Sun
| shine of Paradise Alley" Henrietta,
Have You met Her" Only Me" Love
in the Same Old Way" and Two Sweet
Hearts," are all we'll known.
| 'Fads prevail in popular music" said
Mr.. Bratton to a reporter for the Eagle.
"and it composer has en- eye 70 ih'.
business end Of the profession ne will
| heed tire popular clamor of the hour.
For instance three years ago everything g
ran TO the sentimental This was pre-
| ceded by Irish songs Of every descrip-
| lion at which time ''McGinty" fouriS,'
ed. Tho sentimental Sings that follow
| ed included such as TEL then! tlat
You Saw Me-" and hundreds Of that or
| Ger. For the past two years the people
nave shown an inordinate desire for
coon songs. During this period wise
| publishers have been Withholding from
the press many mertorious songs %
await the passing Of the coon song craze
| unich is now on the wane probably"
Mr.. Bratson believes that the next
fad will again be Irish songs.
How did I write Sunshine OF Para
| disc AHey?' Well sir. it occurred TO me
one evening while taking stroll after
supper in Boston. A friend of mine who
has since written the words for many
or my songs, gave me lirtle poetical
effusion Of his, being the words to
Sunshine In Paradise Alley OF course
this was not the title TO his words, burt
the idea wouldn't come for weeks. As
/ was trolling along one evening enjoy
ing a cigar and a beautiful evening. the
air suddenly came to me- I stepped in
to the nearest hotel, jotted down
rough sketch OF the music and then
hurried nome. Before the night was
over I had written the entire song and
chorus Of this song which has had
phenomenal run. Henrietta, Have You
met Her. came to me while riding on
a street car in New York. / heard the
entire piece played by the wheels of the
car as they rhumped the rails. A rail-
road train, by the way. is one OF the
best places to get ideas for new music.
The noise of the wheels passing over
the rails suggests many airs"
Did you experience difficulty in find
ing publishers at first?" Mr.. Bratton was
asked.
Indeed sir, 1 did, as has nearly every
other composer. had written thirty Or
forty songs before l succeeded. I sold
many song for SO until 1 succeeded
with gaining the public's favor. And
another point is that a composer never
mas any idea how song win take. One
that 1 thought the prettiest song 1 ever
wrote was rejected by the public in a
most decided manner. Then, again, the
public would seize upon some song that
to my mind would look most unpromis-
ing. OF the greatest importance 10
secure success and demand for a new
song is TO have it properly presented
for the first time. Lottie ellison, one of
the most popular singing sobrettes in
New York, introduced my most Sue
cessful numbers only Me- has had the
largest run Of all my COMPOSITIONS
Mr.. Brstton's latest is IT Love Her
in rhe Same Old Way" and al the
music o, "A Trip TO Chinatown" was
Mr.. Bratton's