New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-04
POOR BUTTERFLY"
UDoOR BUTTERFLY" probably il

l IL II tCOh ~ 1 I'M II PiNbNh'' -
i destined to go down among song
folk as the phenomenon OF the age.
! The modern song hit is made so de-
/ liberately and more or less laboriously;
/ it is plugged and pounded vociferously
demanded by the ushers, extensively
/ advertised and otherwise press ACCENTED
/ TO death. Poor Butterfly" had none
{ Of these advantages-an the most re-
cent word from the publisher was that
! its sales would go over the million
mark.
, Raymond Hubbell had had the mel
ody for the piece hanging around for
year or more, and John l.. Golden,
/ who works with Mr. Hubbell, had con-
sistently refused to write lyric for
/ it. His reason was simple; he did not
/ like the song. When THE Big Show
was planned japanese girl named
Haru Onuk was engaged, and it be
came necessary to find a song for her.
Golden was in Dllingham's office at
the time, and the office boy solved the
problem.
Don't you know who she is?" he
asked. "Shes the girl that made that
big hit singing Butterfly with the
English grand opera company"
That's easy" replied Golden. "I1l
just take the Butterfly story and put
il into a couple of verses. Darn it,
Hubbell. where's that melody you've
been offering me? | don't like it, but
it has sort of plantive sound, and
that's what this needs"
At the dress rehearsal Golden met
Miss Onuki, and observed with surprise
that she was not butterfly sort Of
person at all
Didn't you sing the part with the
English grand opera company" he
asked.
81 should say not" was the reply.
1t was then too late to change the
number, however, and it was decided
to take chance, despite the fact that
Miss Onuki was hopelessly out of place
endeavoring to sing a sentimental song.
At the opening performance it received
not ripple Of applause. No one who
heard it remembered it. II was not
dience was not asked to march out to
it. In the words of the profession, it
/ died.
Golden got in touch with Dillingham;
the next day.
"That Butterfly number is all
wrong he told him. "In the first
place, it's a bum song. And, in the
second place, that girl can't sing it.
Il doesn't fit her. she needs something
snappy."
lets leave it in a while and see
what happens" answered Dillingham;.
In the course of the next few months
Golden made dozen requests for the
amputation y the song. Mr.. Dilling-
nam was busying himself with the
Century, however. and consequently he
always had an excuse. The song
stayed. Finally Dillingham; and Golden
+ lunched together one day. and the lat
I ter put the case so strongly that the
manager simply had to sccede.
"All right" he said. "Out IT comes.
. I'll give the girl her notice"
Wherefore Haru Onuki left the Hip
/ podrome. and Sophye Barnard replaced
+ her. Hubbell and Golden were writing
new number for Miss Barnard one
day when Golden's publisher, one Louis
Dreyfus, called up.
Are you crazy" was his greeting.
Bruce Edwards say you asked Dill
4 lngham 20 take Butterfly out Of the
show. Do you know that we've sold
10000 copies Of that song and that it's
going big?'
SO out went Golden 10 repersuade
Mr.. Dillingham;. Dillingham; refused 20
be persuaded and consented 70 a two
weeks extension only after Dreyfus
I had appeared before him and corrobo-
rated Golden's word. SO the song has
remained. with Miss Barnard singing il.
and the sales are continuing 20 mount.
( The publisher ordered 100000 copies
printed last week. and declares that
he will make 100000 on the song.
Golden and Hubbell will each make a
quarter Of that amount
And inasmuch ms the song first failed
miserably and was never plugged, who
informed the rest Of the country that
! e was hit