The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-24
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
HARRY Won TILZER. song WRITER,
AT THE DENISON.
4 Half Million Copies of One of His
Songs Printed-Other Visitors
mt the Hotels.

I've been trying 10 write popular song
this afternoon" said Harry Won Tilzer.
but a dfscordant note in the piano knocked
me out" Mr. Won Tilzer. who was at the
Denison yesterday, was here visiting his
parents. who live on West Washington
street. Gumbinsky is the parental name.
Won Tilzer, who is of the most sue
cessful OF the popular sOng-writers of the
country, was brought up in Indianapolis.
and years ago used 10 do little turns" al
the old Metropolitan Theater. He is now
the proprietor of a music publishing estab-
lishment at AZ West Twenty-eighth street,
New York He is the author of "A Bird in
a Gilded Cage" when the Harvest Days
Are over. Jessie Dear" I'D Leave Ny
Happy Home for You" and other popular
songs.
Won Tilzer became a writer of popular
songs largely through the encouragement
and efforts of LOttie Gibson. popular
soubrette, who in 1891 was with Our Irish
Visitors" Won Tilzer was also with the
company doing some light comedy work.
He had written a song entitled ''YOu Have
No Right TO Think" which his first
effort, and one day he showed it TO Miss
ellison. She said II ought TO take and be-
gan singing il TO her audiences. 1t went
fairly well and Won Tilzer was encOurag ed
10 proceed One of his latest songs is called
promises to have a run of popularity. Won
Tizer says the song, when the Harvest
Days Are Over. Jessie Dear" has made
him more money than any of his other eff
forts. He says that in the neighborhOOd of
half a million copies have been sold. 1t
was peculiar incident that suggested the
title OF this song to Won Tilzer. When IL
was written he was staying at West Baden
Springs. He was at work on a song en-
titled Where the Morning Glories Irvine
Around the Door. but ii was never fin
daV xyh a in
he saw n load of hay in the distance. and
IL occurred TO him that song dealing with
the harvest time would be a fine thing to
write. n few days later, while riding along
a country road. he saw something that i'm
pressed him particularly. IL was a simple
pastoral scene. but il gave him an idea for
blowing In the field, and as Won Tilzer
passed the young man was sitting on the
beam of the pillow resting. Beside him sat
young woman who had evidently carried
his dinner TO him. She might have been
his wife-Von Tilzer did not know. He got
his idea for a song, however, and instead of
finishing Where the Morning Glories
Irvine Around the Door" he wrote when
the Harvest Days Are over. Jessie Dear"
few years ago this song was very popu-
lar with vaudeville performers. Won TilZer
says his hit for next season will be called
when Katie and Were Coming Through
the Rye"
Won Tilzer usually tries his songs on
the public before they are published. When
he writes a new song he turns IL over to
Miss Emma Carus who is member OF
New York stock company. and she tries
IL on her audiences. If IL is seen the public
will want 1t the song Is published If the
people do not take TO II after a while Ii is
withdrawn and perhaps Is never published
Won Tilzer says IL takes about nine months
to make most songs popular-that is. if the
public takes to them at all He says ne
and Arthur Lamb have written an opera
which will be produced In Boston TINS tall
Won Tizer left the city last night for Chi
cagO.