The Washington times., 1936-05-29


Is the true story behind q true
story -. In 1925 two songs emerged
from Tin-pan Alley-both bearing
the identical title: "Ting-a-Ling."
One was published by the Irving
Berlin Music Company-the other
by Waterson, Berlin, Snyder and
Co., the firm from which Berlin
had resigned Both songs got OF
to a good start. Photograph COM
panies were supplied with protes-
sional copies and orchestrations
but were puzzled-how could they
record two songs bearing the same
tag The author of one, Addy
Britt, called the Berlin Company
and asked the professional man
ager to scrap or change the name
of their song -. The answer was
"no"-With a sheer, no doubt -.
Britt had an ace in the hole.
The BerlinS we're expecting a
baSSinet arrival E. 1t was gener-
ally known that Clarence Mackay
and the songwriter had reached
q reconciliation, now that the baby
was coming, and that Berlin had
promised faithfully he would not
write a song that would have the
remoteSt reference to the forth
coming heir -. Britt'S ace was that
some time previously Berlin had
written a song called, Somebody's
Coming to My House" for the
Waterson firm ). He threatened
that unless the Berlin "Ting-a-
Ling" were taken off, a new edi-
ton o. Somebody's, ETC." would
be issued 70 herald the arrival Of
the Berlin offSpring-with the Ber-
lin name and picture dominating
the title page The Berlin firm
capitulated, after a consultation
with Irving and the Britt song
sailed ahead to its success -. Now
a new Berlin baby is due any
week-but this time, as we in
formed you some time ago, the
song-Writing pappy is writing a
song specially for the |event-but
probably not for distribution =.
There is one star who has
consistently refused to appear
for Arnold Reuben on the Oc-
casiOn of his annual benefits
for crippled children. what"
he demanded cOldly, "haS Ar
mold Reuben ever done for me?
He never even had the courtesy
to name q sandwich after me"
:. Arnold wired him the fol
lowing day: "Sorry for my
oversight stop have named
sandwich after you stop thick
ham stuffed between a cabbage
head"
Meyer Davis comes forward
with another story concerning
the well-known Feasibility of ToS-
canini. One of his musicians,
slightly hangoverish, was produc-
ing notes Earring the melodious
soul Of the conductor. &. Toscinini
tore his hair, wrung his hands,
shouted maledictions. ..'' On e
more mistake like that-and you
better get out before I go crazy"
he stormed. The musicians next
note tore the plaster from the
ceiling and more plaster fell
when Toscinini simultaneously
hit the ceiling . Pack up" he
screamed, get out-get out!"..
The musician cased his inStru-
ment and started for the door
He turned and snarled: Mr.. Tos-
canini, nuts to you!". ToScanini
replied stiffly: Its too late for
your apology"
"A former pugiliSt Is now an
ARTISTS agent. The first thing
he did was to have two sets of
cards printed. To people on
Broadway, pals and the ObScurer
artists, he hands the card which
reads: "IZzy Grove" To digni-
taries and stars, he hands the
other card which reads: ed
, ward I. Grove. Icy explains
."My pals would call me high
hat if 1 called myself Edward
and the other people would
think I'm just a mugg and
wouldn't do business with me If
/ called myself IZZy."
Out of an envelope falls a letter
and tiny packet: Says the letter,
at do not know the origin of the
"magic stones" legend-but it
seems to have worked in our
case. A year ago my husband and
I visited Calender, the home of
the quintuplets and DR.. Defoe told
us that if we took home with us
some pebbles from the surrounding
country, our childlessnesS would
be at an end and we would have
babies. Two weeks ago I gave
birth to an eight-pound baby boy,
and my husband and are very
happy. I am inclosing few of
the magic stones" for you and
the rest am lending to a friend
of mine, who has been without
children for nine years, since don't
need them any more. Suggested
title: Pebble Babies-or Return
to the Stone Age.
The sillieSt of the absent-mind
ed stories arrives from Harry
Salter. The abSent-minded pro-
lessor on his day off decided to
take his family for an auto ride.
They prepared sandwiches and
sports equipment and packed
them all into the rumble seat of
4Lo;. oor Aftar little f1ISSinJ