New Britain herald., 1923-07-20
.LAWLOR COMPOSED !
FAMOUS Song HIT
Actor at Palace Theater Wrote
Sidewalks Of New York"

Charles B. Lawlor, composer of the
internationally famous song side
walks of New York" which for 80
years occupied warm spot in the
hearts of music lovers, now 70 years
of age and stone blind, is in this city
playing an engagement at the Palace
theater.
This is Lawlor's second visit to
New Britain. Several years ago,
while he had his sight, he was tour
ing this circuit and played at the
~ame house when it was under the
management of the late Patrick s.
Mcmahon. Lawlor and Mr.. Mcmahon
. were warm personal friends.
He Is accompanied on his present
tour by his daughter, Miss Alice Law
Tor, who also takes part in the act
and adds much grace to the show.
She has been in the show business
for a number of years, playing with
her father and sister in a vaude-
Vile skit prior to the time that he
was afflicted with the loss of his
eyesight
Sidewalks and "Al" Smith.
The return of Lawlor to the yau-
deville stage after many years of re-
tirement and with Sidewalks of New
York" as the feature of his act, Is
closely linked with the political life
of Governor "Al'' Smith of New York.
The song was written some 20 years
ago and was still an internationally
popular air when al" Smith was
newsboy and assistant to a fish dealer,
mingling with the urchins who trod !
the sidewalks in New York's east side.
When Governor Smith entered the
political field his supporters began to
talk of him as man who had risen
from the sidewalks of New York and
it was thought that the inserting of
q few lines from that song would
carry across a good idea. Smith al
ways had liking for the song and
he went it was played and
sung. Partly as a sequence of the
election and partly because it is one
of the old time airs that are coming
back into favor, Sidewalks of New
York" has again caught the public
fancy and as a result Lawlor Is back
In vaudeville.
Song Written in. go Minutes
The song was written in Third
avenue hat store. March 4, 1894.
.awlor had dropped in to converse
With a friend of his and began strum-
ming a few notes. FINALLY he an
that he had an idea for a .
jong and in less than 20 minutes,
While his friend was taking care of
Lawlor had written the
ong and its words on a piece of store !
,aper He sang it to a group of ac- Z
ors and they approved of 1t, He
hen took it to a publisher and in :
hort time thousands of copies were 8
olling off the presses. Although he I
ED the royalty rights and collected
n the song up to about two years !
go, he realized less than $1,000 on !
he internationally acclaimed song hit. :
y Lawlor Is the composer of many
ongs of score Of years ago but none
cached the height of Sidewalks of .
lew York" which was his first at :
smpt at song writing "
The veteran actor has been on the :
age As years. He came to Ameri- =,
4 from Ireland in 1869. His first -
ID was running an elevator; next he ~
as singing in combination club
pom and safe and finally he decided .
go on the stage, He took the part -,
? a guide in THE Panorama of Ire :;
nd" then was soloist in dramatic =,
Later he Joined Jim ~
hornton and together they toured ~,
lie country as the famous team of r
lwlor and Thornton. After the COM
nation ceased to exist JaUlor and