Edgar McPhail Smith (December 9, 1857 – March 8, 1938) was an American writer and lyricist for musicals in the early decades of the 20th century. He contributed to some 150 Broadway musicals. Weber and Fields starred in many of his works.[1]
Edgar Smith (standing, second from left) and other members of The Lambs put the finishing touches on The Lambs All-Star Gambol for the benefit of the Actors' Fund (May 1915)
His first play was a comedy-drama, Love and Duty (1879), written for Dickson's Sketch Club, a touring company that he had joined. His first musical piece was a burlesque, Little Lohengrin (1886), adapted for Alice Harrison and the Chicago Casino from the original English version. Smith wrote the song "Once in a Thousand Years" to be interpolated into The Pyramid (1887) in Boston. He became the dramaturg at New York's Casino Theatre, from 1887 to 1893, helping to adapt European operettas, and sometimes playing supporting roles, such as Dimoklos in Apollo; Grog in La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein; Clampas in The Drum Major; Notary in The Marquis; and Nowalksy in Der arme Jonathan (1890).[2] In the American premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard, he played the 1st Citizen.[4]
After leaving the Casino, Smith appeared as Dusty Rhodes in a touring burlesque, Tabasco, composed by George Whitefield Chadwick, which had a run on Broadway in 1894.[5] The same year, Smith wrote a sequel, The Grand Vizier; a parody revue, The Merry World; and an extravaganza, Miss Philadelphia, which was a hit in the title city.[2]
Weber and Fields and later yearsedit
By the mid-1890s, Smith became a writer for Weber and Fields; often collaborating with fellow writer Louis De Lange. For more than six years, he wrote sketches and scenes for their revues, burlesques (usually of current Broadway musicals) and vaudeville entertainments, often collaborating with composer John Stromberg.[6] One of their best known songs was "Ma Blushin' Rosie". At the same time, for E. E. Rice, he adapted for American audiences Edwardian musical comedies such as The Gay Parisienne (as The Girl from Paris (1896), including lyrics to new songs by Nat. D. Mann), The French Maid and Harry Greenbank's Monte Carlo. He also adapted Maurice Ordonneau's vaudeville-opérette L'Auberge du Tohu-bohu. His other musicals and farces during the late 1890s were less successful.[2]
Weber and Fields dissolved in 1904, and Smith continued to write, for a few years, for Weber's Music Hall. Two pieces there with composer Victor Herbert were Dream City and another Lohengrin burlesque, The Magic Knight (both in 1906).[2] Separately, for Fields, he played Henry Pecksniff in, and adapted, The Girl Behind the Counter (1907).[7][8] In 1910 he wrote the lyrics to "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl", from Fields's production of Tillie's Nightmare, which became his most enduring song.[2]
Weber and Fields reunited in 1912, and Smith wrote new shows for them: Hokey-Pokey, Hanky-Panky and Roly Poly. Beginning in 1915, many of his shows were for the Shubert family, adapting European musicals for American audiences. His last work was an American version of Das Land des Lächelns in 1930.[2]
edgar, smith, librettist, edgar, mcphail, smith, december, 1857, march, 1938, american, writer, lyricist, musicals, early, decades, 20th, century, contributed, some, broadway, musicals, weber, fields, starred, many, works, edgar, smith, standing, second, from,. Edgar McPhail Smith December 9 1857 March 8 1938 was an American writer and lyricist for musicals in the early decades of the 20th century He contributed to some 150 Broadway musicals Weber and Fields starred in many of his works 1 Edgar Smith standing second from left and other members of The Lambs put the finishing touches on The Lambs All Star Gambol for the benefit of the Actors Fund May 1915 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Weber and Fields and later years 3 Notable books and libretti 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksEarly life and career editSmith was born in Brooklyn New York After attending Pennsylvania Military Academy 2 Smith began his career as an actor 3 His first play was a comedy drama Love and Duty 1879 written for Dickson s Sketch Club a touring company that he had joined His first musical piece was a burlesque Little Lohengrin 1886 adapted for Alice Harrison and the Chicago Casino from the original English version Smith wrote the song Once in a Thousand Years to be interpolated into The Pyramid 1887 in Boston He became the dramaturg at New York s Casino Theatre from 1887 to 1893 helping to adapt European operettas and sometimes playing supporting roles such as Dimoklos in Apollo Grog in La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein Clampas in The Drum Major Notary in The Marquis and Nowalksy in Der arme Jonathan 1890 2 In the American premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan s The Yeomen of the Guard he played the 1st Citizen 4 After leaving the Casino Smith appeared as Dusty Rhodes in a touring burlesque Tabasco composed by George Whitefield Chadwick which had a run on Broadway in 1894 5 The same year Smith wrote a sequel The Grand Vizier a parody revue The Merry World and an extravaganza Miss Philadelphia which was a hit in the title city 2 Weber and Fields and later years editBy the mid 1890s Smith became a writer for Weber and Fields often collaborating with fellow writer Louis De Lange For more than six years he wrote sketches and scenes for their revues burlesques usually of current Broadway musicals and vaudeville entertainments often collaborating with composer John Stromberg 6 One of their best known songs was Ma Blushin Rosie At the same time for E E Rice he adapted for American audiences Edwardian musical comedies such as The Gay Parisienne as The Girl from Paris 1896 including lyrics to new songs by Nat D Mann The French Maid and Harry Greenbank s Monte Carlo He also adapted Maurice Ordonneau s vaudeville operette L Auberge du Tohu bohu His other musicals and farces during the late 1890s were less successful 2 Weber and Fields dissolved in 1904 and Smith continued to write for a few years for Weber s Music Hall Two pieces there with composer Victor Herbert were Dream City and another Lohengrin burlesque The Magic Knight both in 1906 2 Separately for Fields he played Henry Pecksniff in and adapted The Girl Behind the Counter 1907 7 8 In 1910 he wrote the lyrics to Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl from Fields s production of Tillie s Nightmare which became his most enduring song 2 Weber and Fields reunited in 1912 and Smith wrote new shows for them Hokey Pokey Hanky Panky and Roly Poly Beginning in 1915 many of his shows were for the Shubert family adapting European musicals for American audiences His last work was an American version of Das Land des Lachelns in 1930 2 Smith died at age 80 at his home in Brooklyn 1 Notable books and libretti editWhoop Dee Doo 1903 also lyrics Higgledy Piggledy 1904 Dream City 1906 also lyrics The Magic Knight 1906 libretto The Girl Behind the Counter 1907 freely adapted and reconstructed by Smith Hip Hip Hooray 1907 La Belle Paree 1911 The Blue Paradise 1915 Robinson Crusoe Jr 1916 The Whirl of New York 1921 also lyrics References edit a b Edgar Smith 80 Librettist Dead The New York Times March 9 1938 accessed August 23 2021 a b c d e f g Ganzl 1994 Edgar Smith entry Smith Edgar The Oxford Companion to the American Musical 3rd Edition 2012 Ganzl 1986 p 350 Tabasco IBDb accessed August 23 2021 Edgar Smith IBDb accessed August 23 2021 The Girl Behind the Counter IBDB com Internet Broadway Database Two more novelties and a revival The New York Times September 29 1907 accessed August 28 2021Sources editGanzl Kurt 1986 The British Musical Theatre Vol 1 Macmillan Press ISBN 0 19 520509 X Ganzl Kurt 1994 The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre 2 vols Blackwell Schirmer ISBN 0 02 864970 2External links editEdgar Smith at IMDb nbsp Edgar Smith at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edgar Smith librettist amp oldid 1171199788, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
