Alfred Baldwin Sloane, often given as A. Baldwin Sloane, (28 August 1872, Baltimore – 21 February 1925, Red Bank, New Jersey) was the most prolific songwriter for Broadway musical comedies in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century.[1][2] Despite his output and success during his lifetime, none of his music has had enduring popularity.[1] Two of his most popular songs were "When You Ain't Got No Money You Needn't Come Around" and "Coming Through the Rye".[3] His most successful hit tune was “Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl" which was first performed by Marie Dressler in the 1910 show Tillie's Nightmare.[1]
Early Life in Baltimore
Alfred Baldwin Sloane was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 28, 1872.[4] He was the son of Francis James Sloane and Emma Sloane (née Baldwin);[5] both of whom came from families with musical heritage.[6] His first music lessons were from his mother,[7] and he also studied privately with music teachers in his native city.[8] Despite the strong music background of his parents, they strongly objected to him pursuing a career in music.[6]
Sloane was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System.[9] His parents wished him to pursue a career in business,[10] and in his youth he worked in his native city as an apprentice at a wholesale dry goods dealer. He lost his job there after spending most of his time at work surreptitiously composing music on boxes and other miscellaneous items.[6] He also worked nights as an usher at the Academy of Music,[7] and spent some time as the secretary for a company managing a Baltimore cemetery.[6][10]
Sloane's interest in lyric theatre led him to take a leading role in the founding of an amateur dramatic group in Baltimore, the Paint and Powder Club (PPC).[11][12] The club originally began in 1892 at the Maryland Banjo and Mandolin Club with Sloane, Harry Price, Rowland West, and Reece Cassard as its founding members. The club expanded its scope and was transformed into the PPC not long after.[7] Sloane's first songs were written for amateur productions in Baltimore with this group.[8] His first score was written the PPC's production Mustapha;[12] an opera for which Sloane wrote both the music and libretto.[7] It was given its premiere in February 1894 at Ford's Grand Opera House with Sloane himself portraying the title role of the Turkish sultan.[13][14]
One of Sloane's first songs, "While Strolling Through the Forrest", was published in 1894.[9] In 1895 he ended his connection with the PPC, and founded another amateur Baltimore performing group, the Rouge et Blanc Club.[7] He wrote his second stage work for this group, the burlesqueMidas, which was given its premiere at Albaugh's Lyceum Theatre on 5 February 1895 with Sloane once again portraying the title role.[15][12] His brother, Francis James Sloane Jr., was also in the cast in the role of Antinous.[15]
New York composer
A. Baldwin Sloane and Robert Barnet during rehearsals of Jack and the Beanstalk in 1896.
Sloane moved to New York City not long after the premiere of Midas in Baltimore in 1895.[7] The theatre impresarioEdward E. Rice caught a performance of the work while in Baltimore with a touring show he was producing, Robert Barnet's 1492.[12] Impressed by what he heard,[12] he met with Sloane and bought the rights to Midas from him.[16] A number of his songs form this work were interpolated into Rice's next musical Excelsior, Jr..[12] These included the songs "The Alpine Horn", "Grandpa's Hat", "Hush, Silence", "I Love You Evaline; I'm a Very Fly Conductor", and "My Little Sunday Girl" among others.[17]
The success of Excelsior, Jr., first in Boston and later on Broadway, launched Sloane's career in the New York theatre scene.[12] His first original score for the Broadway stage was in 1896 with the musical Jack and the Beanstalk;[8] a work which featured several well known fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters.[18] It too used lyrics by Barnet and was mounted at the Casino Theatre by producers Klaw and Erlanger.[12] The work was very successful financially between its run in New York and a subsequent national tour, and significantly raised the profile and popularity of actress Madge Lessing in the title role of Jack.[19]
In New York, Sloane quickly adapted his compositional style to what was then the current trend of the Tin Pan Alley publishing houses; a shift which enabled him to be gainfully employed by having his songs interpolated into shows both on the musical stage and in vaudeville.[11] These included several songs by Sloane incorporated into the musical Papa's Wife (1899) which starred Anna Held.[12] His first big hit was the 1898 song "When You Ain't Got No Money, (Well You Needn't Come Round)" which was popularized on the stage by May Irwin.[9] His biggest success as a songwriter was the tune "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl," which Marie Dressler introduced in Tillie's Nightmare (1910), but none of his songs found enduring popularity.[8]
In 1900 he married Mae Auwerda.[20] His most successful work as a composer in terms of quality was The Mocking Bird (1902).[8]
After 1912, Sloane's composition output declined as he embarked on a second successful career as an exhibition dancer.[12] He did provide much of the music for the The Greenwich Village Follies of 1919 and The Greenwich Village Follies of 1920. He wrote one of his musicals, Lady Teazle, for Lillian Russell when she was at the height of her national popularity. His last score, for the 1925 Broadway production China Rose, was in production at the time of his death. China Rose had been produced in Boston, by Christmas Eve, 1924.[21]
While in the home of his daughter, Mrs. June H. Brackett, Alfred Baldwin Sloane died of heart disease at the age of 52 in Red Bank, New Jersey on 21 February 1925.[22][23]
At the time of his death, Sloane was the president of Composers' Publishing Company and vice president of Authors and Composers Publishing Company.[7]
He was a member of The Lambs, the Green Room Club, and Old Strollers. He married Lucille Mae Auwerda in Manhattan on February 15, 1900. They had one daughter – June Augusta Sloane (1901–1984) – who married Isaac Hosford Brackett (1901–1976).
Musicals and operettas with scores by Sloane
Louis Benton as Queen of tbe Fairies in The Strange Adventures of Jack and the Beanstalk (1896).[24]Still from "The Gingerbread Man" 1909 production, Seattle, WA
The production starred a group of three performers known as the Dresden Trio and toured the United States in performances at theaters owned by Benjamin Franklin Keith.
Ended its Broadway run at the Olympia Theatre on April 7, 1900 after 88 performances. The production then toured to Philadelphia, Boston, and Brooklyn.
Sloane, Mae Anwerda Sloane, J. Rosamond Johnson, Robert Cole, Ben Jerome, William Penn, Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards
book by Sydney Rosenfeld; lyrics by Sydney Rosenfeld, A. Baldwin Sloane, Mae Anwerda Sloane, J. Rosamond Johnson, Robert Cole, Ben Jerome, William Penn, Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards
Broadway production closed on January 25, 1902 after 40 performances
Paul Tietjens and Sloane were the primary composers although others also contributed music
lyrics and book by L. Frank Baum; additional lyrics contributed by others
Original production toured including a lengthy run on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre where it opened on January 20, 1903. It closed there after 293 performances on October 3, 1903. The production later returned for a second Broadway run at the Majestic Theatre from March 21, 1904 – November 25, 1905 where ran for an additional 171 performances.
Story adapted from Charles H. Hoyt's A Contented Woman. Broadway run transferred to the Nora Bayes Theatre where it closed on March 15, 1919 after 164 performances.
Opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on January 19, 1925. Transferred to Wallack's Theatre on February 23, 1925. Ended its Broadway run at the Knickerbocker Theatre on May 9, 1925 with a collective New York run of 120 performances.
Stranger in New York (1897), musical; music by Richard Stahl; book and lyrics by Charles H. Hoyt. Used the two songs by Sloane: "Won't You Speak to Sister Mary?" and "Walker's Dancing School"[122]
A Chinese Honeymoon (1901), musical in two acts; libretto by George Dance; music by Howard Talbot. Sloane's song "Little Street in Heaven They Call Broadway" was interpolated into the 1902 Broadway production.[123]
The Liberty Belles (1901), musical; music by John W. Bratton; lyrics and book by Harry B. Smith.[124] Sloane contributed the songs "A Little Child Like Me", "My Filipino Pet", "Spring Hat" and "Shopping Chorus".[125]
The Little Duchess, additional music by Sloane, October 14, 1901 – April 1902[126]
George W. Lederer'sMid-Summer Night Fancies, additional music Sloane, June 22, 1903 – July 18, 1903[127]
The Girl from Dixie (1903), musical in two acts; libretto by Harry B. Smith;[130] music by various composer. Sloane composed the music for the song "The Dissipated Kitten".[131]
Girls Will Be Girls (1904), musical in three acts; music and lyrics by Joseph Hart; book by R. Melville Baker. Sloane contributed the song "Swinging" to the national touring production in 1906.[134]
About Town (1906), musical in two acts; music by Melville Ellis and Raymond Hubbell; book and lyrics by Joseph Herbert.[136] The opening chorus added to the production in Boston in 1907 after its Broadway run ended is attributed to Sloane.[137]
The Beauty Spot (1909), musical in two acts; music by Reginald De Koven; book and lyrics by Joseph W. Herbert. Sloane wrote the music for the "Entrance of the Flower Girls", and his song "Foolish Questions" with lyrics by William Lee was interpolated into the show.[140]
All Star Gambol (1913), revue starring Marie Dressler with Dressler serving as playwright and lyricist and Frederick Schwartz as her musical director. Dressler used pre-existing songs for this show by a variety of composers. Sloane's song "Great Big Girl Like Me" with lyrics by Edgar Smith was interpolated into the show.[72]
A Fantastic Fricassee (1922), musical revue in fifteen scenes; Prologue attributed to Sloane.[143]
Sing Out, Sweet Land (1944), A Salute to American Folk and Popular Music; music arranged by Elie Siegmaster. Used Sloane's "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl".[144]
Hischak, Thomas S. (2015). "Sloane, A(lfred) Baldwin (1872-1925)". In Zipes, Jack (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales, Second Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780199689828.
Unruh, Delbert (2018). Forgotten Designers Costume Designers of American Broadway Revues and Musicals From 1900-1930. Page Publishing. ISBN9781640827585.
.jpg)
