The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-01
CT HAVE never promised more than I

could i've up 10. l nave never
 broken my word in my life.' This simple statement made by J. Fred Helf, of the Helf & Hager Co, sums up the secret of this versatile song writer's sue cess.
 This, together with the courteous treat ment accorded all performers, no matter how small they may be, accounts for the large following which Fred" as he is known to thousands of professional friends, is blessed with. Ills friendships he prizes as his chief asset and he has always possessed the enviable reputation of having never lost a friend
 Like most successful men of the middle west, MT. Helf is self made man and hard worker. Born in Maysville. Ky, thirty-two years ago, he began his pro- fessonal career as an opera-glass boy at Halvin's theatre in Cincinnati in 1888. ris- ing to the position of chief usher in the early sos. Shortly afterward he broke into vaudeville as partner of Harry Yost at the Buckingham theatre, Louis- vile, Ky.
 This was at the time of the famous IN. G. Flats" and nowhere in the coun- try were they worked moro industriously than at this very theatre These con sisted of two flats with the letters and c painted in bright red upon them, and they were showed in front of any per- former that was not up to tho standard, closing their act
 Working under such circumstances, Helf was naturally nervous, and speak ing of the experience in later years, he says that the fifteen minutes he was on were the most uncomfortable of his life. When the turn was half through the gallery began to applaud and laugh, which he construed into meaning disap- proval. In desperation he came back to where the flats would be run out to close the act, and worked there to the end of his turn, determined that they would have to close in oyer his maimed body If they did 1t at all. When he came off the stage manager asked him why he didn't work farther down the stage, and upon his explanation gave him hearty laugh, as the act was one of the hits of the bill and the applause was genuine.
 During the two seasons following their debut, IIelf and his partner quickly rose to the position of headliners, Including six weeks metropolitan engagement at Roster & Biaps Thirty-fourth Street the atre, after which the partnership was dis solved MT. Helf then worked alone in vaudeville, successfully playing one-act comedy entitled "A Day on Wall Street.
 One of the most interesting incidents in MT. Helf's career dates back to the time of the Mckinley Quartette of which he was member. The quartette was or ganized by MT. Helf a year prior to the martyred presidents election to office and campaigned with him several months pre- ceding his nomination, visiting cities all through the middle west and singing from the rear platform of an observatory car. The late Mrs. Mckinley always accom- panied her husband and MT Helf formed a friendship with her and her husband that Is one of the most valued things of his life.
 During these years of activity in other fields, MT. Belf was not neglecting song writing. and become prominently known as a composer. His first song, Dolly Brown; or an American Girl Is Good Enough for Me-" was written in 1890 and was accepted by Isadore Witmark In 1891 Miss Phyllis Allen, then playing at Phstor's, successfully Introduced the song, and thus J. Fred Helf made his initial bow as song writer before the public which was later to approve hundreds of his compositions.
 This first song was followed by My Little Blue Grass Belle and My Sweet heart Irene" written with Eddie Moran; and a little later. Two Sweethearts of Mine," which in less than two weeks was a big hit all over the United States, This was the first time "song plugging was made an art MT. Helf going from city to city with his song and inducing performers to use 1t. About 25O,0o0 copies of "Two sweethearts of Mine" were sold within a short period which was con- sidered an enormous sale at that time.
 MT. Helfs next hit was ''It Amt No Lie" and was comic coon song lie interested Lew Dockstader in 1t and that popular comedian introduced the song with success It became a part of the slang of the day.
 Then followed ''Oh, Mir. Bundy, Gimme My Gun" and Maggie Gray from Ave nue A." All these songs were written prior to MT. Helfs stage debut We All Grow Old in Time" and Drop in on Mother and Me" followed, then MT. Helf composed How'd You Like to Be the Ice Man?" which scored an instantaneous success, and was long strong feature of the repertory of Lew Dockstader and others.
 MT. Helfs growing reputation now at tracted the attention of a number of headliners. Johnnie Carroll commission ed him to write Irish songs for him, and for Lew Dockstader. Clifford &