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American songwriter and screenwriter
Bert Kalmar
L to R: Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar
Born (1884-02-10 ) February 10, 1884Died September 18, 1947(1947-09-18) (aged 63) Occupations Spouse Jessie Brown Children 2
Bert Kalmar (February 10, 1884 – September 18, 1947)
[1] was an American songwriter, who was inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
[2] He was also a screenwriter.
Biography
Kalmar, a native of
New York City , left school at an early age and began working in
vaudeville .
[1] He appeared on stage as a magician, comedian and dancer before switching to songwriting, after a knee injury ended his performing career. By this time, he had earned enough to start a music publishing company, Kalmar and Puck, where he collaborated with a number of songwriters, including
Harry Puck (1891–1964) and
Harry Ruby .
[3] The publishing firm also operated under the name Kalmar, Puck, Abrahams, Consolidated, Inc., the other named partner being
Maurice Abrahams (1883–1931), husband of
Belle Baker .
By 1918,
Kalmar and Ruby had formed a permanent songwriting team. Together, they wrote the musical score for the
Marx Brothers ' stage production of
Animal Crackers (1928) and subsequent
film version .
[1] Their songs were also featured in the
Marx Brothers ' films
Horse Feathers (1932) and
Duck Soup (1933). Kalmar's partnership with
Ruby was portrayed in the 1950
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical
Three Little Words , starring
Fred Astaire and
Red Skelton . Kalmar did, however, occasionally work with
Oscar Hammerstein II ,
Ted Snyder and other songwriters.
[4]
Bert Kalmar was married to Jessie Brown, with whom he had two children. The couple were later divorced.[
citation needed ]
He died in
Los Angeles, California on September 18, 1947 (aged 63). He was interred at
Forest Lawn Cemetery in
Glendale, California .
[5]
Works
Broadway
[6]
Ziegfeld Follies of 1920 (1920) -
revue - featured co-songwriter for "I'm a Vamp from East Broadway"
Helen of Troy, New York (1923) - co-composer and co-lyricist with Harry Ruby
Ziegfeld Follies of 1923 (1923) - revue - featured lyricist for "Society Bud"
No Other Girl (1924) - co-composer and co-lyricist with Harry Ruby
Holka Polka (1925) - book-editor
The Ramblers (1926) - co-composer, co-lyricist, and co-bookwriter with Harry Ruby
Lucky (1927) - co-writer with
Otto Harbach , Harry Ruby and
Jerome Kern
The Five O'Clock Girl (1927) and (1981 revival) - lyricist with composer Harry Ruby
She's My Baby (1928) - co-bookwriter with Harry Ruby
Top Speed (1929) - co-writer and co-
producer with Harry Ruby and
Guy Bolton
High Kickers (1941) - co-composer, co-lyricist with Harry Ruby and co-bookwriter with Ruby and
George Jessel
The Corn is Green (1943) - actor in the role of "Will Hughes"
Fosse (1999) - revue - featured lyricist for "Who's Sorry Now?"
Notable songs
"
Who's Sorry Now? " (1923), Kalmar and Ruby's first big hit
"
I Wanna Be Loved by You " (1928), a hit for
Helen Kane , known as the "Boop-boop-a-doop girl", and sung by
Marilyn Monroe in the film
Some Like It Hot
"
Hooray for Captain Spaulding " from
Animal Crackers (1928): became Groucho Marx's signature tune.
"I Love You So Much" (1928)
"Three Little Words" (1930), their biggest hit.
"Nevertheless" (1931), a hit for both
Bing Crosby and
Rudy Vallée , later done by
The Mills Brothers and
Frank Sinatra
"I'm Against It", "I Always Get My Man" and "Everyone Says I Love You" from Horse Feathers (1932)
"Hail, Hail Freedonia" from Duck Soup (1933)
"What a Perfect Combination" (1932), lyrics by Kalmar and
Irving Caesar , music by Ruby and
Harry Akst , written for the
Broadway show The Kid , starring
Eddie Cantor
"
A Kiss to Build a Dream On " (1935), their last hit
"Show Me a Rose" (1952), Groucho Marx recording
"
The Real McCoys " (1957-1963), television theme
[1] (words & music by Harry Ruby)
See also
References
External links
International National Academics Artists People Other