News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011 The Friars, the Players, The Lambs

this category. All were once private male bastions of Famous Entertainment Industry great business and networking value. It was those Clubs of New York City particular values that eventually caused all club membership rolls to come under much closer scrutiny in the middle of the last century. Ladies suddenly ost everyone in America has heard of The wanted to be a part of such financial potential. Friars Club, famous for their annual Roasts, Musually of a famous comedian or celebrity. The United States Supreme Court began considering Some of you may also have heard of The Players Club the right of all male private organizations to exclude and a few may also know The Lambs Club. All three most everyone except male (and also often of these famous clubs pre-date 1910 and have figured predominantly white) members as the issues of civil prominently in the growth of the New York rights began exerting their strengths after the 1960s. entertainment world. They still exist today and it is The first case to come before the Court was one therefore worth taking a closer look at who they are and involving a Miss Roberts who sued the United States where they have come from. Jaycees for excluding women as members in 1984 –

To start everyone on the same page, a private club is composed of a group of individuals of similar interests and business affiliations who each contribute to the club's funds through their dues, which are then used to pay the expenses of maintaining the club and conducting its activities. An incorporated club is generally governed by state and often city statutes. These clubs are primarily social in nature, allowing members to spend time with individuals of similar interests and backgrounds. Such “networking” has always led to business enhancements of all types, making membership in the organization highly advantageous and valuable. New York City and most large cities are filled with such clubs: school related (Princeton Club); athletics related (Downtown Athletic Club - home of the Heisman Trophy) and society Famed Players Club related (The Knickerbocker Club). A glance at the on Gramercy Park NYC yellow pages (that prehistoric listing of addresses and phone numbers) produces 60+ private clubs with a the Jaycees lost. The Rotary Club, was next large percentage of them located in mid-town in the involved in a lawsuit over admission of women in the 30s, 40s, and 50s on both the east side and the west state of California in 1987 – The Rotary Club lost. side. The three entertainment industry clubs all fall into The New York State Club Association next sued 2 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011 the City of New York in 1988 over the issue of the City theatrical event known as the Friars’ Frolic. This and the State controlling their membership with new event is written by, acted in, directed by and statutes prohibiting discrimination – The New York produced by members and was responsible for the State Club Association lost. Thus, private clubs of building of the very first Monastery in 1916 on W. New York were suddenly told in 1988 to cease and 48th Street. Abbot George M. Cohen broke a bottle of desist from all discriminatory practices or lose their sparkling American wine on the cornerstone and State Charters. All three of our subject clubs made the dedicated it to “art, literature and good fellowship.” appropriate adjustment, still exist today with their In the 1930s, the Friars lost this first edifice because famous members and club houses, and while not quite they could not pay a bill for butter, eggs and cheese as prominent as they were in the hundred years from that had run to $1,130.00. The group remained 1890 to 1990, they still remain a part of the fabric of nomadic until better times returned, and they landed the arts in New York City. on E. 55th .

The Friars Club Membership rolls read like a Who’s Who in American entertainment: Victor Herbert was a We’ll begin with the youngest member of The Friars and wrote their theme song, of these NYC entertainment “Here’s To The Friars” rather than make a speech at his testimonial dinner; Irving Berlin wrote clubs – The Friars. The Friars “Alexander’s was born out of the necessity of Ragtime Band” stopping bogus press agents for a Frolic; from garnering free tickets to among other Broadway productions in 1904. famous members A group of 11 legitimate press we find: Al agents gathered at Browne’s Jolson, Oscar Chop House in New York City to resolve the problem. Hammerstein I, It took several more meetings to decide to prepare a George Jessel, “black list” of the dastardly fellows and distribute it to Mayor Jimmy theatre box offices. Once that problem was solved, the Walker, Jack group found they enjoyed each other’s company so Benny, George much that they decided to continue to “hang out Burns, Sammy together” for the pleasure of the experience. Davis, Jr., Richard Pryor, Originally called The Press Agent Association, the and seemingly, group soon began attracting actors and musicians and every other decided to expand their group into a more diversified famous comedian membership. They incorporated as The Friars Club in America as Friar Irving Berlin (from the Latin Frater meaning brother) and adopted well as Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin the motto Prae Omnia Fraternitas (“Brotherhood Coolidge. forever”). In a way this name choice and motto were a likely bow to The Lambs Club and its Latin motto and Almost from the beginning this club loved to throw to a certain extent this group might also have black tie formal celebrations of members’ exploits. considered themselves a “working man’s” version of These rather bawdy dinners began attracting more both The Lambs and The Players. and more headlines and notices until in 1949, The Friars formalized their first “Roast” with French In keeping with the title of the club, the group’s club actor Maurice Chevalier as the first “Roastee”. house is known as the Monastery (currently at 57 E. 55th Street, NYC), their top official is called the Abbot, Most of America has long been far more aware of their President is the Dean and their Vice President is these extravagantly funny and ribald celebrations of the Prior. Funds to maintain the Monastery are raised an individual’s career (i.e., Bob Hope, Billy Crystal, not only from members dues, but also from an annual 3 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011

Lucille Ball, Alan King, etc.) than of the membership three to reside in its original clubhouse through thick and purposes of the club itself. If imitation is the and thin. Actor Edwin Booth, considered by many to highest form of flattery, then organizations all over the be the finest Hamlet in the 19th century, was the sole world have used The Friar’s Roast as a model both for founder of The Players. He always felt that actors celebrating an individual and for having lots of fun. lived a rather isolated life and needed to “interact more with outsiders”. Booth wrote in a letter two The Friars from years prior to the founding that “We do not mingle the beginning enough with minds that influence the world ...” In allowed women to May of 1888, he paid $75,000.00 for an 1847 attend many townhouse on the famous Gramercy Park, owned by events and even Elihu Townsend (a banker). Booth’s close friend, occasionally Architect Stanford White, was immediately hired to honored them – transform the townhouse into the private club that Sophie Tucker, Booth had dreamed of for many years. The official Phyllis Diller, opening night was December 31, 1888. Members Elizabeth Taylor, were delighted to find a clubhouse already filled with a n d B a r b r a Booth’s massive personal collection of art, theatrical One of first female Roastees Sophie Tucker Streisand, among memorabilia, and extensive library. They also found others. However, their leader ensconced on the third floor in his the Roasts remained a stag event even when the personal apartment. As the actor paid $75,000.00 for honoree was female as in 1962 when Lucille Ball was the building and whatever Mr. White’s design fee the honoree. This did not thrill some high profile ladies. entailed, one may safely assume he was entitled to Lauren Bacall is said to have sent her own choice living quarters. language audiotape to the Roast of her husband Humphrey Bogart. Before she herself was honored, Unlike The Friars and The Lambs, The Players do Phyllis Diller dressed as a man in order to crash the not appear to have a Latin motto. However, they do 1983 Roast of Sid Caesar just to see what “really went have a major mission statement: “The promotion of on” at these affairs. In 1988, The Friars joined the rest social intercourse between members of the dramatic of the male clubs in admitting female members, making profession and the kindred professions of literature, Liza Minnelli their first card carrying member, and painting, architecture, sculpture and music, law and therefore opening up the famous Roasts to female medicine, and the patrons of the arts." A Latin attendees. translation of that would be a bit difficult to be very practical. In addition to the club’s general social, networking and roasting activities, The Friars Foundation was The name of the established in 1977 to foster the performing arts and to Club was suggested date has raised over $5 million. Their mission is to help by Thomas Bailey small performing arts groups create excellent, Aldrich from a line innovative and affordable programs for the enrichment, in Shakespeare’s As education, and enjoyment of diverse audiences and You Like It. It’s participants. There is also the Sunshine Committee, o r i g i n a l which provides entertainment and companionship to incorporators senior citizens and children’s centers in the New York included: Edwin area. B o o t h ( 1 s t President), Mark Twain, John Drew, The Players Club Edwin Booth, Founder Jr. (actor), Joseph Jefferson (actor), William Tecumseh Sherman The next oldest NYC entertainment club is The (soldier, business man, educator and author), Players Club located at 16 Gramercy Park (E. 20th Augustin Daly (theatrical manager, playwright and Street). This organization is the only one of the big 4 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011 critic), Henry Edwards (actor, writer and butterfly Bacon and Charles Platt (Bacon was ultimately the scientist) and nine others. Famous members include: designer). Maxwell Anderson, John Barrymore, Harry Belafonte, Humphrey Bogart, Carol Burnett, James Cagney, The Lambs Club Walter Cronkite, Alfred Drake, Al Hirschfield, Mary Tyler Moore, Sidney Poitier, Norman Rockwell, Louis Finally, the oldest Comfort Tiffany and President Grover Cleveland – to of these groups is name just a few. Mr. Booth certainly had his desire for The Lambs Club, a diversified membership fulfilled. While solely a male born of frequent club for the majority of its history, on Shakespeare’s gatherings in the birthday, April 23, 1989, women were officially London home of permitted to become Players, with the first membership the essayist card issued to Helen Hayes. In 1993, Lynn Redgrave Charles Lamb became President of The Players, the only female to (1775 – 1834) and ever hold that exalted position. his sister, Mary (1764–1847). Charles Lamb was best known for his While The Friars were busy “Roasting,” the Players Essays of Elia and for the children's book Tales from had their “Pipe Nights” to honor artists for their Shakespeare, which he produced with his sister, contributions to the American Stage. These nights Mary. This famous London family played host to were named for the smoking of churchwarden pipes British actors and literati at weekly “salons” during (long thin, delicate clay pipes) during evening the early 1800s. A “salon” is simply a gathering of gatherings in the basement bar. Being all male invited guests in the drawing room or reception room certainly did not stop The Players from saluting the of a large home and was a common event during the French actress Sarah Bernhardt during a 1911 Pipe 17th and 18th centuries. Such gatherings usually Night, but only after a petition demanding such a consisted of the leaders in society, art, politics, etc. venture was signed by several dozen members. Others Gertrude Stein was famous for her salons in Paris in receiving Pipe Nights were the three Nobel Prize the 1920s, and regular readers are acquainted with winners amongst their membership: Eugene O’Neill, the term “salon orchestra,” so named because they Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. were small enough to fit in the wealthy drawing rooms and reception rooms. To a certain extent such Beginning in the 20s, The Players began what might be salons were the forerunners of the artistic clubs. considered one of their greatest contributions to the New York theatrical scene. Taking their substantial Those in London who had attended these literary resources, they began producing plays in their private salons continued to meet after the death of both theater space with a 1922 revival of Sheridan’s The siblings to keep the tradition alive and called Rivals. They continued doing such revivals until 1940, themselves “Lambs”. In 1874 one of those London utilizing members in all aspects of each production. Lambs, Henry Montague, found his way to New Today, they continue the tradition of supporting the York City and, missing his club, established a New York theatrical scene by regularly hosting companion club during Christmas week in rd readings of new work and allowing 3 party renters Delmonico’s Blue Room on 14th Street. The actual such as the Light Opera of New York to produce a incorporation did not take place until 1877, making season of Victor Herbert during 2010. The Lambs the oldest private club for men in the performing arts: performers, directors, writers, artists Two last tidbits with regard to major creation taking and technicians of the entertainment industry. place in The Players Club by members are 1) the hosting of the rather clandestine early meetings The group’s motto is the Latin Floreant Agri – “May regarding the 1914 formation of Actors Equity the Lambs flourish.” Prior to the establishment of Association (the unionization of professional actors); their original club house in 1885 (known as the and 2) the conceptualization of the design of the Fold), located on 130 W. 44th Street and also Lincoln Memorial (pre-1914) by members Henry designed by Architect Stanford White, The Lambs 5 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011 met in Keene’s Steakhouse on 72 West 36th Street. Now about those “nudes.” While The Players enjoy This famous restaurant is today the only surviving Pipe Nights and The Friars’ Frolic, the Lambs establishment of the Herald Square Theatre District – Gambol every Spring. This theatrical endeavor in it should be a stop on your next visit to NYC. held annually in the club’s private theatre. Members However, unless you have a huge line of credit on your participate in every phase of creation, as actors, credit cards, eat in the Pub. directors, writers and composers of these extravaganzas. These Gambols have always served as The Lambs remained all male until after 1988. major fund raisers for both charity and occasionally Members are considered the Flock while their the maintenance of the Fold itself. Occasionally, president is known as The Shepherd. There have been there have even been Ladies’ Gambols. It was also more than 6,000 members since that first gathering. not unusual for the Gambol to go on a fund raising Flock members over the years include among others: tour of cities on the East Coast. Victor Herbert Victor Herbert, Red Barber, George M. Cohen, Fred composed many such Gambols during his tenure as Astaire, Eddie Foy (Sr. & Jr.) Will Rodgers, David a Lamb, which we will examine at a later date. The Belasco, Otis Skinner, Edgar Bergman, Irving Berlin, hard copy programs given out to audience members Maurice Barrymore and his sons, John and Lionel, John have always been specifically designed for each Philip Sousa, Ed Begley, Gene Autry,Cecil B. DeMille, Gambol and always contained a drawing of a nude. and Hon. Robert Wagner (Mayor of New York City). It is the originals of these “program” nudes which The 1931-32 Academy Award for writing went to currently reside in the Lambs’ Archives and Lamb Edwin J. Burke. Lambs were also deeply occasionally adorn the walls. involved in the founding of the Actors Fund of America (1882), Actors Equity Association (1913) and the O n e c a n n o t American Society of Composers, Authors and mention the Lambs Publishers (1914). Club without immediately Economic hardships in the 1970s forced sale of not thinking of the only the original Fold, but also much of the amassed “ Whiffenpoof memorabilia from the building including dinnerware, Song.” While the letters, plaques, books, recordings, etc. The Lambs club did not write Cub reports that such items are beginning to surface on the song, they did E-Bay and in garage sales and have let it be known that adopt it as The if anyone finds such items, they would appreciate the McCay’s Little Nemo Lambs’ theme song items being returned to the Fold as a donation. The almost from its donor then receives a tax deductible amount for such inception. The song took its name from a fantasy gift. creature in the Victor Herbert 1908 operetta, Little Nemo (based on Winsor McCay’s comic strip, Little Despite the various hard times which The Lambs have Nemo In Slumberland [1905 – 1914]). Librettist suffered over the many decades, they have been able to Harry B. Smith and actor William Cawthorn were maintain their member files, a major collection of working on a scene in which two hunters try to outdo scripts as well as major art work created by such each other in tales of expertise. While in rehearsals, members as James Montgomery Flagg, Howard Cawthorn suddenly ad-libed an extravagant tale of Chandler Christy, Hubert Vos, Robert Reid and Everett catching a Whiffenpoof. Everyone within earshot Raymond Kinstler. There are two main types of such thought this particular tale to be very funny and it art work: The Shepherds’ portraits and nudes! The managed to remain in the script, thus giving birth to first refers to portraits of all the Shepherds with the the “Whiffenpoof.” One 1908 reviewer thought it exception of William Courtleigh’s portrait, which was was the funniest sequence he had ever heard on stage given to his family at a time when the paintings were and compared it favorably with Lewis Carroll's “The simply “in storage,” and DeWolf Hopper ,who chose to Hunting of the Snark.” have his likeness done in bronze instead of oil. 6 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011

The next year Meade Minnigerode (Yale ’10) wrote a To digress for a moment, a cappella singing appears set of lyrics which Todd B. Galloway (Amherst ’95) set to have been born in Morey’s with the gathering of 5 to music. The lyrics incorporated the Whiffenpoof gentlemen, four of whom were a formal quartet character name in a parody of Kipling’s “Gentlemen within the Yale Mens’ Glee Club. This group Rankers.” All of the references to Morey’s Temple Bar eventually became The Yale Whiffenpoofs in 1909. (a Yale campus fixture since 1840) and Louis Linder The Whiffs have existed ever since, and most (the proprietor of Morey’s in the early 1900s) refer to recently were seen participating in the NBC real situations. acappella group competition The Sing-Off – Season 2. The group consists of 14 seniors who are chosen Here is Kipling’s poem - the “Gentlemen Rankers:” by the previous year’s Whiffenpoofs. While all are full time students when chosen, many take a year off To the legion of the lost ones, to the cohort of the damned, to participate in the rigorous group schedule. There To my brethren in their sorrow overseas, is a full schedule of performances (seven tours by the Sings a gentleman of England cleanly bred, end of May 2011) including both a weekly date every machinely crammed, Monday in Morey’s and a 3 month 5 region And a trooper of the Empress, if you please. international tour each year. The most famous Yea, a trooper of the forces who has run his own six horses, And faith he went the pace and went it blind, Whiffenpoof would be Cole Porter, who sang in the And the world was more than kin while he held the ready tin, 1913 group. Just as The Lambs Club ends each event But to-day the Sergeant's something less than kind. with the song so also do The Whiffenpoofs end each We're poor little lambs who've lost our way, concert appearance with “The Whiffenpoof Song.” Baa! Baa! Baa! A fine tradition spawned primarily from that little fantasy creature discussed in a Herbert extravaganza. And now the Whiffenpoof Song for your sing along pleasure: Each year members of The Lambs visit the Lillian Booth Actors' Home of the Actors' Fund of America, To the tables down at Mory's in Englewood, NJ., providing food, entertainment To the place where Louie dwells and great fun for residents, members and guests. To the dear old Temple bar we love so well Such an excursion is called a “Wash” based upon the Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses habit of a shepherd to take his flock of sheep out of raised on high the fold to the river (a “washing”). The Lambs never And the magic of their singing casts its spell miss a chance to utilize the language of the Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well baaaaaasics of sheep. "Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last That, in a nutshell, is an overview of the three most Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest famous entertainment private clubs in America. Each began as an all male group, each has a famous club We're poor little lambs who have lost our way house filled with fine art and theatrical memorabilia, Baa, baa, baa each has a restaurant/bar often renowned for its food, We're little black sheep who have gone astray each has rooms available to members for various Baa, baa, baa activities, each has hotel rooms available for Gentleman songsters off on a spree members’ visiting guests or members themselves and Doomed from here to eternity each has member rolls which read like a Who’s Who Lord have mercy on such as we in the American Entertainment Industry. Baa, baa, baa Membership is either by invitation or by obtaining a membership kit and seeking out two members who One can easily see how The Lambs would take this personally know you and asking to be nominated for song for their own, especially since one of their own membership. Obviously, you need to have a career in (Herbert) had helped create the Whiffenpoof to begin the arts, business or perhaps politics to be considered. with. They have ended each and every event since 1909 Unfortunately, each also involves a significant in their Fold with the Flock singing this song initiation fee as well as annual dues, and bills for 7 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011 services used in the Club. After all, we can’t let just 1906, thus pushing the actual first performance of anyone into a private club! The Tattooed Man to February 11, 1907 in Baltimore’s Academy of Music. The official While having lunch recently with a current member of Broadway opening was in the Criterion Theatre one of the Clubs, I heard an interesting comparison (located on the northeast corner of Broadway at 44th which feels very true: The Players Club consisted of Street) on February 18, 1907. artists looking to become gentlemen; The Lambs Club consisted of gentlemen looking to be artists; and The Dillingham hired Frank Daniels as the perfect star Friars were simply out for as much fun as possible! for the vehicle, turned once again to the talents of Julian Mitchell to stage the production, and hired Should you live in New York or have a visit planned, Arthur Weld to serve as music director. To his check each of the following web sites to see if public great credit, he allowed Albert N.C. Fowler to events are scheduled. These Club houses are truly continue to work on the libretto with liberal amazing places and worth a look see if you can find a assistance from Harry B. Smith, who also penned public event to attend– especially The Players which is the lyrics. open for readings quite often. Critics termed the Visit www.friarsclub.com, www.theplayersnyc.org plot “barely and/or www.the-lambs.org. Thanks also to all three of discoverable” as it these wonderful web sites for their helpful histories and told the troubles of insights. “Omar Khayam, Jr., an astrologer, poet and sworn foe to Spotlight On . . . temperance.” This The Tattooed Man (1907) Omar has been placed in charge of Persia while the e begin the new year with another of Shah is away. He Herbert’s contributions to burlesque, The has a daughter WTattooed Man which began life as a comedy whom he has entitled Omar written by Albert N.C. Fowler and promised to the purchased by producer Charles Dillingham in 1905. Shah even though While Dillingham May Vokes who she loves another. portrayed Fatima was hoping to The girl he has open the play chosen for his own loves a sheik, and, more early in 1906, he unfortunately for him, a certain wallflower named definitely wanted Fatima fancies Omar. Add to this mix an issue of Herbert to write “birth marks.” Omar has one and if he ever meets the music, and another person with the same birthmark – they both that contract had must die at the same time. When Omar solves all to wait until well romantic difficulties by condemning the two into 1906. boyfriends to death, Fatima the wall flower promises Herbert needed to the other two ladies that she will save their respective finish Dream City lovers from Omar’s decree of death. How? By and The Magic tattooing each with a copy of Omar’s tattoo. Once Knight, which Omar sees the tattoos, the remainder of the plot is was scheduled to spent trying to keep everyone alive. Audiences o p e n o n expected broad physical comedy from Frank Daniels, B r o a d w a y Criterion Theatre (originally the Lyric and that’s what this show delivers. Little wit or built in 1895) December 25, subtlety in this script. 8 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011

In a cast of 30, it is fascinating that Omar’s four young Herbert operettas within the space of 2 months during nephews are portrayed as trouser roles (females playing the Fall of 1907. A local Boston stock company had males). On top of that, out of the entire cast, only 9 performed The Serenade (1897) about a month were males and all of them were principals. There before the touring company of The Tattooed Man were also 8 snake charmers (ladies all) and 10 dancing arrived to begin their Fall tour. During that Boston slaves of the female persuasion. One always has a run, the same company decided to open a production tendency to wonder “why?” Were male actors really in of The Wizard of the Nile (1895), quite possibly in such shortage even in the early 1900s? Was there some honor of Frank Daniels, who was still headlining in sort of weird tonality desired musically which placed The Tattooed Man. the female voice in a better range for certain characters. It’s a question we’ll be exploring later this year when Mr. Parker proceeded to make the following we take a closer look at the craft of Harry B. Smith. observations:

To help heighten the burlesqueness, in this land of Herbert was a “composer in a hurry.” Persia, there is an interesting bevy of “Imported American Bridesmaids” with the broad humored names “…the pile of commissions on his table must be almost of “Miss Vandergilt of New York, Miss Penn of as high as the pile of manuscript that is to discharge them.” Philadelphia, Miss Lakeside of Chicago, Miss Bridge of Brooklyn……” We could go on, but you get the He was sorry to “see the squandering of such talent in situations where it could not be deployed wisely and well.” picture. Other characters of interest include the constant trio – “Hashish, janitor of the Shah’s Harem, Here’s a critic insinuating that Mr. Herbert was Muley, inspector of the mint, and Ali, court nuisance writing too much too fast which was the cause of a – almost forerunners to The Three Stooges of a later perceived lack of quality when the latest work was decade. compared to the earlier works. But was that really the case? With regards to the score for this work, there is a bit more Herbert experimentation going on with the Having had several seasons in which Herbert opened inclusion of a short 40 measure Prologue rather than 3-4 shows within 4 months, the composer was not the traditional overture. This is the third time such a particularly busy during the 1906-07 season with technique has been used by Herbert. The first was with only two shows on Broadway. So, while others had Babes In Toyland and the second with the ill-fated used this sometimes valid criticism, this wasn’t really Alice and the Eight Princesses. Unlike either of the the case this time. first two, this time it actually appears in the piano vocal score. The piece is a very simple, sparsely orchestrated, Also, when one looks at the three shows observed by atmospheric number mimicking the Muezzin calling the Mr. Parker, The Wizard of the Nile, The Serenade Persian faithful to prayer. It’s followed by a normal and The Tattooed Man, it becomes very clear that Opening Number and therein the experimentation ends. the first and third shows were written for the burlesque of Frank Daniels, while The Serenade was The production ran for 59 performances, stopping 4 written for the finest light opera company in America days short of a planned closing on April 20th when the at the time – The Bostonians of 1897. The other New York Theatre, a next door neighbor to the interesting item of note, is that Frank Daniels was 12 Criterion, burned on April 16th causing major water years older for The Tattooed Man and had probably damage to the Criterion. The company immediately left lost a good portion of his singing range by 1907. on tour, took a summer vacation, and then reopened in Boston to continue touring during the 1907-08 season. Therefore were Mr. Parker’s conclusions really accurate? We of course have significant hindsight, The whole issue of Herbert writing too much and too and are also aware after having looked closely at 19 fast once again comes into the foreground with this Herbert operettas, that Herbert wrote to fit available particular work. Critic H.T. Parker, residing in Boston, talent. It is a safe conclusion to say that Herbert had the rare opportunity of seeing and hearing three scores for talented singers were spectacular, while 9 News From VHSource, LLC Vol 1 January 2011

Herbert scores for the less vocally talented were simply tuneful and entertaining. New York critics had voiced Alyce's Musings . . . . similar observations regarding the quality of Herbert’s appy New Year to all as we work on The Tattooed Man in their initial reviews: begin this brand new Hdecade! For the first time The music was “poor only for Herbert,” and when compared in a long time, we have not been with efforts of other composers of the season, it bore the notified of any Herbert events stamp of excellence. scheduled for 2011, but I have no – General comments doubt that the concerts/productions will come rolling in fairly soon. “Mr. Herbert’s music is so much better than that of most unmusical comedies – especially orchestrally – that, from one Completed new computerizations are coming during point of view, it is thankless to quarrel.” – NY Tribune 2011 of the Herbert tone poem Hero and Leander as well as the “Prologue” from Babes In Toyland, and “…that which he has furnished for the new operetta is far in advance of most of the combinations of notes of different quite possibly the complete Madeline. 2011 should value which pass as music in the average operetta of the also see the publication of a wonderful finders present day. At times last night the music was in Mr. volume referencing orchestral performance materials Herbert’s happiest vein; it had a swing and character to it, for standard classical arias which will include a was helped along by charming orchestration, and was significant number of Herbert favorites. You’ll be thoroughly enjoyable. At others it was evidently composed the first to know as each project is completed. for the masses and accomplished its purpose.” – The Evening Post The Herbert recording project featured last Fall is coming to completion this month, with both William Needless to say, The Tattooed Man is probably not one Hicks and Larry Moore tired but excited by the work that conjures fond memories for most of you. We do accomplished so far – well over 100 brand new have both the libretto and the piano vocal available in recordings of Herbert songs never before recorded. Shop VHSource if you interested in exploring them Kudos to both men and John Vogel for keeping this further. project on schedule. Next steps involve creating CDs from the raw material, and hopefully, the release of Next month the Spotlight … On series will explore the first CD sometime during 2011. We’ll keep you No. 20 Algeria, (1908) – another fascinating story that posted. won’t be totally completed until 1909. Once again there were at least a dozen or more Babes 2010 VHS Newsletter Year Book In Toyland productions across the country during this past December and numerous renderings of ick up your copy of a searchable e-book filled “March of the Toys” in concerts around the world.

with last year’s newsletters in Shop VHSource th Punder the E-Books Category. Cost is $10.00 and The Herbert 100 anniversaries coming up this year the e-book is immediately downloadable. You’ll also are: 1) the full length opera Natoma (February 25); find the 2009 VHS Newsletter Year Book available for 2) the operetta When Sweet Sixteen (September 14) $8.00, or purchase both for $15.00. These two e-books and 3) the operetta The Dutchess aka Miss Rosita will take you from Prince Ananias (1894) all the way (October 16). to Dream City and The Magic Knight (1906). These e-books are proving to be a great resource even as VHS If you received this newsletter from a friend or creates new newsletters. All links continue to work colleague, you may subscribe at no cost by simply within these books. If you prefer to download single registering at www.vhsource.com for a username and newsletters, the 2010 volumes will remain in the password. Choose a username that will identify you Archived Newsletter section of the web site until as a real person. Gibberish ends in the trash bin. January 31 at which time they will disappear. See you all next month!