The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-03
WROTE oPARADISE ALLEY',
Author of the Popular Song WasWith
the chinatown" Company.

Author of the Popular Song WaSE 1th
the chinatown" Company.
If the statement of Mr.. John ".
Bratton is to be taken as authentic,
song writing is even a greater lottery
than marriage.
Mr.. Bratton is the short young man
in neat attire who presided at the piano
at the performance of "A Trip to Chi
natown' Saturday night, and who has
a standing acquaintance with fame as
the author of THE Sunshine of Para
disc Alley"
Why, marriage isn't in it with song
writing as a lottery said Mr.. Bratton
between acts Saturday night. There
IS absolutely no telling anything in the
former, while, as regards the latter,
you know that, in a great many ways.
all women are pretty much alike. A
man may sc on writing songs for years
and never have one even favorably no.
ticed, and then again, he may only
write one and have it prove a success
and make him a fortune. Now, for
several years have turned out on an
average one song every two weeks, and,
until wrote Paradise Alley made
practically nothing out of it.
Very often songs are suggested by
incidents, but I had no suggestions at
all for Paradise Alley I was pianist
with the Rob Roy Opera company
when wrote it, and simply sat down in
my room one day with the feeling that
out my pencil and commenced to scrib-
BILE on piece of wrapping paper that
was lying on the table. and pretty soon
the words came to me. After I finished
the song 1 didn't think much of it, and
turned over the paper and thought out
another one. The second song was
Henrietta and, strange to say, it
proved a success as well as Paradise
Alley
I set the two songs to music and had
them published, and almost as soon as
they came out, both caught on in great
shape, Paradise Alley of course, run
ming far ahead of Henrietta I don't
know why Paradise Alley caught on
and became popular song, and neith-
er does the author of any other popular
song know why his piece became a fav-
orite. If you have a unique title, It
sometimes helps your song along, but
you can never tell anything about it.
It's all a matter of chance, and consid-
er1ng the number OF songs that are
written yearly, the author of a popular
song is a fortunate Individual
Il believe I have the funniest cOllec-
ton of songs in existence" continued
Mr.. BrattOn. smiling. They are songs
that have been sent me to set to music,
and some of them would make a horse
laugh. One song, entitled 'Kneeling at
My Poor Old Mothers Grave, was ac-
cOmpanied by a sketch for the frOntlS
piece in which a girl in a short yacht
ing costume was kneeling at a grave
large enough to be the lest resting
SlanI6SS. "A
me as a pathetic piece, reciting how
mother died. and the old lady'S decease
was described in the line But She Sick
ened and Departed From Our Midst
Many of them are beautiful specimens
of grammatical blunders, and some it is
almost impossible to read"
Mr. Bratton says that he realized
handsomely from paradise Alley dur
ing its run in the United States, and
that he is now receiving royalties
from it's publication in Germany,
France, Austria, England and Au-
stralia.
"a Trip to Chinatown" in the hands
of an able company, was seen by good
audiences at a matinee ard evening
performance at the Grand Opera House
Saturday. Chinatown" depends less
on witty dialogue and more on musical
features than many Of Mr.. HOYt's 9th
er pieces, but the musical features
this year, arranged by Mr. John w.
Bratton, the author of Paradise Al
ley" We're particularly enjoyable. M.
Bratton is with the company as must
cal director.
As .sWelland Strong" the man with
one foot in the grave and an insat1a bic
desire for drink Mr.. Frank Lane diFid
ed hOnOrs as a nirth prOvOker with the
expression on the cOuntenance of Her
man A Sheldon, the wealthy and gay
old bachelor of the piece. Jane Stet-
son made a captivating widow, and
with her pretty face and high kicking
proclivities, Matte Lockette at once
gained mental diplomas as a perfect
French maid. The vocal selections by
Lillian Heckler, Gus Thomas and Tom
Whitbred were especially pleasing.
Daniel Frohnan sends the announce
ment from the Lyceum theater, New
York, that the company which is to ap-
pear here in about a fortnight to play
THE Prisoner of Zenda," is one which
he has selected and rehearsed with
great care, and that he desires to as
sure theater-gOers that they may eX-
pect an admirable performance of
Anthony Hopes famous romantic
drama. which Mr.. FrOhman regards as
possessing the greatest love story of
the 18th century. Like the Two Or
phans,'' it will doubtless go on for
MANY years The company is a very
large one. and carries all the scenery
for the five important acts.