Harold Richard Atteridge (July 9, 1886 – January 15, 1938) was an American composer,

librettist A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major ...

and lyricist primarily for musicals and

revues A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during ...

. He wrote the book and lyrics for over 20 musicals and revues for the

Shubert family The Shubert family was responsible for the establishment of Broadway theatre, Broadway theaters in New York City's Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District, as the hub of the theatre industry in the United States. Through the The Shubert Org ...

, including several iterations of ''

The Passing Show ''The Passing Show'' was a musical revue in three acts, billed as a "topical extravaganza", with a book and lyrics by Sydney Rosenfeld and music by Ludwig Engländer and various other composers. It featured spoofs of theatrical productions ...

''.

Biography

Atteridge was born in

Lake Forest, Illinois Lake Forest is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 19,367. The city is along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and t ...

, the only child of Richard H. Atteridge and Ann T. O'Neill."Harold Atteridge, Broadway Author," ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', January 17, 1938, p. 19. He attended North Division High School,"Harold Atteridge a Rapid-Fire Librettist," ''New York Times'', June 14, 1914, p. X8. followed by college at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

, where he was a member of the

Phi Kappa Psi Phi Kappa Psi (), commonly known as Phi Psi, is an American collegiate social fraternity that was founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania in 1852. The fraternity has over ninety chapters at accredited four-year colleges and uni ...

fraternity. In 1907 he wrote the Varsity show for the Black Friar's Club, and graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. His obituary quoted him on experience: "If my success at this work illustrates anything it marks the importance of making an early start at one's profession. ... All during college I was developing a revue and musical show technique in my work for a college organization called the Black Friars. By the time I received my Bachelor of Philosophy degree I was a fairly proficient librettist." His professional career began in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

as a lyricist for a music publishing firm. He first gained attention by writing the lyrics for two songs in the Chicago production of ''Madame Sherry''. Producer George Lederer showed enthusiasm and advised Atteridge to move to New York. He did so in September 1910. He met with Jesse Louis Lasky who engaged him for a show at the New York

Folies Bergère 150px, Stanisław Julian Ignacy Ostroróg">Walery, 1927 The Folies Bergère () is a cabaret music hall in Paris, France. Located at 32 Rue Richer in the 9th Arrondissement, the Folies Bergère was built as an opera house by the arc ...

. When that venue closed, and with a letter of introduction to J. J. Shubert, Atteridge auditioned some of his songs and was engaged to write for the Shuberts' productions. Over the next two decades, he wrote dozens of shows, often writing both book and lyrics, for Broadway, including many starring

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson, ; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. Self-billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer," Jolson was one of the United States' most famous and ...

, and several reviews in the successful series called ''

''. Atteridge married his first wife, Laura, in 1912. He married his second wife, Mary Teresa Corless, on May 1, 1923. By 1930 he was working in Hollywood, writing film continuities.The 1930 United States Federal Census, available on Ancestry.com, shows he was living at 257 South Canon Drive,

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...

. Later he wrote radio continuities for

and

Ed Wynn Isaiah Edwin Leopold (November 9, 1886 – June 19, 1966), better known as Ed Wynn, was an American actor and comedian. He began his career in vaudeville in 1903 and was known for his ''Perfect Fool'' comedy character, his pioneering radio show ...

. Atteridge died on January 15, 1938, of cirrhosis of the liver in

Lynbrook, New York Lynbrook is a village in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 20,438 at the time of the 2020 census. History The area currently known as Lynbrook has had o ...

. He was survived by his wife.

Working methods

In published interviews, Atteridge spoke of the process of writing a revue. Recalling the composition of one of the songs for which he is best known, he said, "Coming downtown on the subway the other evening I scribbled on the back of an envelope the lyrics of a one-step, ' By the Beautiful Sea,' and handed them that night to Harry Carroll. ... Carroll immediately wrote a melody for the words and now the tune is proving a favorite at local dance palaces, cabarets, and restaurants. Which goes to show that one can accomplish things of real value during otherwise idle moments."

List of works

Stage works for Broadway

* '' The Orchid'' (1907) additional lyrics contributed for Broadway production * ''Madame Sherry'' (1910) lyrics * ''The Happiest Night of His Life'' (1911) lyrics * ''Vera Violetta'' (1911) book and lyrics * ''A Night with the Pierrots / Sesostra / The Whirl of Society'' (1912) lyrics * '' Two Little Brides'' (1912) lyrics * ''(From) Broadway to Paris'' (1912) book and lyrics * ''The Man with Three Wives'' (1913) book and lyrics * '' The Honeymoon Express'' (1913) lyrics * ''

of 1913'' (1913) book and lyrics * '' The Whirl of the World'' (1914) book and lyrics * ''

of 1914'' (1914) book and lyrics * '' Dancing Around'' (1914) book and lyrics * ''Maid in America'' (1915) book and lyrics * ''The Peasant Girl'' (1915) lyrics * ''

of 1915'' (1915) book and lyrics * ''Hands Up'' (1915) additional lyrics * '' The Blue Paradise'' (1915) additional lyrics * ''A World of Pleasure'' (1915) book and lyrics * ''Ruggles of Red Gap'' (1915) lyrics * ''

Robinson Crusoe, Jr. ''Robinson Crusoe, Jr.'' is a musical with a book by Edgar Smith, lyrics by Harold Atteridge, and music by Sigmund Romberg and James Hanley. Production ''Robinson Crusoe, Jr.'' was an extravaganza that opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on 1 ...

'' (1916) lyrics * '' The Passing Show of 1916'' (1916) book and lyrics * ''The Show of Wonders'' (1916) book and lyrics * ''

of 1917'' (1917) book and lyrics * ''Doing Our Bit'' (1917) book and lyrics * ''Over the Top'' (1917) book * ''

Sinbad Sinbad the Sailor (; or Sindbad) is a fictional mariner and the hero of a story-cycle. He is described as hailing from Baghdad during the early Abbasid Caliphate (8th and 9th centuries A.D.). In the course of seven voyages throughout the sea ...

'' (1918) book and lyrics * ''Follow the Girl'' (1918) additional lyrics * '' The Passing Show of 1918'' (1918) book and lyrics * '' Monte Cristo, Jr.'' (1919) book and lyrics * ''Shubert Gaieties of 1919'' (1919) book * ''

of 1919'' (1919) book and lyrics * ''The Little Blue Devil'' (1919) book and lyrics * ''Cinderella on Broadway'' (1920) book and lyrics * ''

of 1921'' (1920) book and lyrics * ''The Midnight Rounders of 1921'' (1921) book * ''

The Last Waltz ''The Last Waltz'' was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group the Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ''The Last Waltz'' was advertised as the Band's "farewell concert a ...

'' (1921) book and lyrics'' (English version) * '' The Mimic World'' (1921) book and lyrics * '' Bombo'' (1921) book and lyrics * ''The Rose of Stamboul'' (1922) book and lyrics * '' Make It Snappy'' (1922) book and lyrics * ''

of 1922'' (1922) book and lyrics * ''The Dancing Girl'' (1923) book and lyrics * ''

of 1923'' (1923) book and lyrics * ''Topics of 1923'' (1923) book and lyrics * '' Innocent Eyes'' (1924) book and lyrics * ''Marjorie'' (1924) book and lyrics * '' The Dream Girl'' (1924) book and additional lyrics * ''

of 1924'' (1924) book and lyrics * ''Big Boy'' (1925) book * ''Sky High'' (1925) book and lyrics * ''Artists and Models'' (1925) book * ''Gay Paree'' (1925) book and additional lyrics * ''A Night in Paris'' (1926) book * ''The Great Temptations'' (1926) book * ''A Night in Spain'' (1927) book * ''

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Foll ...

of 1927'' (1927) book * ''The Greenwich Village Follies'' (1928) book, additional lyrics * ''Pleasure Bound'' (1929) book and lyrics * '' Thumbs Up!'' (1934) book

Film work

* ''The Ladies Man'' (1928) story * '' Her Golden Calf'' (1930) dialogue * ''Big Boy'' (1930) play * ''Poppin' the Cork'' (1933) dialogue

Notes

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Atteridge, Harold 1886 births 1938 deaths American musical theatre librettists American musical theatre lyricists People from Lake Forest, Illinois University of Chicago alumni People from Lynbrook, New York Deaths from cirrhosis 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights American male dramatists and playwrights Songwriters from Illinois 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American songwriters