New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07
SINGS HIS POLLS"
TO SWINISH EARS
Sammy Yupp Names Ballad
When Automatic Piano
browns 1t Out.
DANCE HALL SCENE
OF SOUL TRAGEDY
East Side Tenor, Whom Cashier
Didn't Like, CaruSoS Gibe as
He Quits in Huff.


He Quits in Huff.
Essex street will not be comfOrted, nor
yet will Grand. for Sammy Yupp, like
Slower. has started on his travels.
Moe Bimberg's International casino and
restaurant now makes dancing duty
rather than delight. Bmbergs is tucked
away in the back room Of an Essex street
building three doors from Grand, but in
spite of it's obscure location the other
halls of the East Side look TO the Inter
national for the latest STYLES in steps.
In Bimberg's the turkey trot is still the
turkey trot and not a euphemistic one
step. Its hesitation waltz is punctuated
with coons rather than commas The
dancers of Bimberg's know no neutral
zone. Indeed. it has been said that it
was on that floor the remark was first
made The woman of to-day is more
danced against than dancing" Perhaps
when the relation between sculpture and
dancing is better understood somebody
will write a monograph to show the in
fluence of the LAGOON group upon the
fancy steppers Of the International.
Until few days ago the couples svayed
and whired at the behest of Sammy's
fingers. 4 versatile man he was. for while
the dancers rested he sang OF moons and
mothers love and hooking birds in a high
tenor voice. He was bit Of composer,
too, and year ago one could hardly walk
the length OF Grand street without hear
ing somebody whistle The Plea OF the
Pushcart Man"
Automatic Piano His Rival.
In the very heyday Of SammyS success
the automatic piano hove over the hOri-
zon. 1t was as big as a tuGboat. Part
of the wall had 10 be taken out to get il
into Bimberg's. The movers moored it
finally at the lower end of the room. Oppo-
site Sammy and his piano.
At various points I'm the room slot de-
vices were placed. The dancer had only
TO drop nickel in any one of these and
with a preliminary clang and whr the
automatic would buckle down TO it's
labors. II had not the fnesse of Sammy
Yupp. everybody admitted that, but it
was tireless and II played loudly enough
10 he heard not only in every corner of
the room but six or seven blocks in each
direction. No one knows exactly who in
duced Moe Bimberg TO buy the auto
matte, but every one said that Yetta Gold
berg. the cashier. who was no friend to
Sammy. had made the suggestion.
Sammy stuck TO his guns. and until his
downfall the fight between man and ma
chine was an even one He soon found
that simply from the standpoint Of en-
durance ne had little chance to compete
in dance music, so he fell back on ballads
Night after night they went at IT, The
automatic would lead with a tango
Sammy would come right back with
hgh-pitched longing to be down in Chat
tanooga. No sooner had the last crash of
turkey trot been heard than Sammy
would rise to ascertain IF you don't want
me. why do you hang around?"
Not satisfied with holding his own,
Sammy planned TO triumph. He told
many Of his friends that he was prepar-
ing a new song of his own composition,
and that when they heard 1t THE Plea of
the Pushcart Man" would be forgotten.
The time set arrived After some pre-
lininary sparring Sammy rose.
Ladies and gentlemen" he said. 81
have got for you tonight a new song. It's
got no name. I'm going to sing 1t for you
anu let you choose a TUE.
"Poils" Before Swine.
He sat down and fiddled around a bit
with his right hand. Then he started.
Up and up went his voice to the top of its
range. Sammy had just hit his favorite
note and was worrying it bit when,
from the other end of the room. came an
ominous clang.
hfrf urbi ho
of the machine, and then Sammy's voice
and every other sound was drowned by
the strident strains Of Here Comes My
Daddy Now"
No one knows who put in the nickel
which interrupted Sammys song, but
Yetta Goldberg admits that she was
standing right beside one of the slots.
One or two Of Sammy's friends called
shame when the machine started. but it
went on with its "Oh, pop! oh, pop! oh.
pop" merrily enough. 1t was in for run
and no recall device had been provided.
Within a minute there was no one in the
room except Sammy who was not up and
swaying TO the tune on the machine.
When they stopped Sammy rose again.
II got a name for that song of mine
without bothering you" he said
I'm going to call II Pearls Ut must
be admitted that Sammy actually called
1t "Poils'O With that he pulled on his
hat and walked out.
Moe Brimberg said at the time that he
owed Sammy pay for TWO days. and that,
as far as he was concerned, he would like
10 have the singer stay away forever.
Later, though. somebody told him that
SAMMY in choosing Pearls" for the title
Of his song, had as much as said that the
people of Bimberg's were lot Of swine.
The proprietor swore that he would find
Sammy and punish him for the insult, but
in all Essex street. and even to the far
flung limits of Grand. no one has seen
Sammy Yupp again or heard his song.