New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02
WODEHOUSE AND BOLTON

With George Middleton, for example,
he wrote Polly With Past" coming
to town this very week. Also with
Mr.. Bolton he wrote piece called
"Whatn You Have" which, under the
expert guidance of one George Cohan,
subsequently became "Hit-the-Trail
Holiday" Fifty per cent of the roy
allies, incidentally, accrued to Messrs.
Middleton and Bolton. Mr.. Bolton
will also profit by the vogue which
VERY Good Eddie" is still enjoying
all over the country, he having fash
toned the book Of that piece. As for
Mr.. Kern, he has participated in a
goodly percentage Of the foregoing,
and in approximately three score
others which not even he could list.
Along about the beginning of this
century Mr.. Wodehouse had never even
heard Of Messrs. Bolton or Kern, and
both Of the last named gentlemen were
living in blithe ignorance Of the eX-
istonce of the other two Wodehouse
was in his native England, turning out
daily column Of what-nots for "The
Globe" Bolton was trying hard 10
be an architect; Kern was already
dashng off a melody now and thea.
Even at that time Wodehouse had some
light reputation as lyric write,
and George Edwardes frequently en-
ployed him to write additional verses
for Gaiety songs.
He made his first visit TO America
in 1904. It was for three weeks only,
and he came to see the st. Louis ex-
position. He never saw it. He landed
in New York, and straightway he liked
the place so well that he stayed here
for three weeks. Then he returned TO
London and "The Globe" and continued
at the work of columning and occa-
sional lyric writing. In 1906 he met
Jerome Kern, who had gone to London
to write the music for an English
revue, and collaborated with him on a
single song. Thereupon they sepa-
rated, little dreaming that they would
one day Join hands in the writing Of a
goodly percentage of the songs of a
nation.
Wodehouse made another visit to
New York a few years later, and while
l. 10 IN oil
and received $500 for it. He gasped,
but at the same time made up his mind
TO live mainly in America from that
time. Any country that would pay $500
for short story Wa good enough for
him: in England he would have re-
ceived about twenty-five. Since tina,
time he has made a number Of tram
atlantic trips fifteen in all. So long
as the number remains an odd one this
country is reasonably sure Of its mus'-
cal comedy crop.
Guy Bolton, in the meantime. had
left architecture fat. He had married
Young, ana the presence of a couple or
children made 1T imperative that he
earn at a rate more rapid than that
commonly enjoyed by young and ex-
tremely struggling architect. lie de-
cidcd that the drama was his forte, and
he staked all on his ability as play
wright. 1t seems incredible that hi.
first play was produced less than -four
years ago, but such is the case. II was
q drama entitled THE Fallen lido"
q heavy affair about loeomotor ataXia,
which failed misersbly. 4 musical
show, entitled Ninety in the Shade
then suffered a similar fate, although
the reason for the collapse may have
lain with the management IN this case.
Then came "Thc Rule OF Three" which
remained in New York over four
months. every Good Eddie" and Have
a Heart" then led him into the present
orgy.
A couple Of years ago, when Kern
and Bolton were beginning work on
Have a Heart and needed lyricist
Kern bethought himself OF Wodehouse.