JACK NORWORTH - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/29/1942 - HFSID 287888

JACK NORWORTH
On the day of his arrival at Warner Bros. Studio, he signed this chatty TLS to vaudeville pal Joe Laurie, Jr., discussing war-related car problems and mentioning lots of names.
Typed Letter signed: "Jack", 1 page, 8½x11. Burbank, California, 1942 June 29. On letterhead of Warner Bros. West Coast Studios to "Dear Joe" [Laurie, Jr.]. In full: "Had a swell trip. Hit a guy in an auto at Monrovia Calif and did not do him a bit of good. We have a swell place to live, and reasonable. Bill Fields the dirty louse has laid up all his cars except the one I expected to borrow. Curse him. Had a lot of laughs with him yesterday, and he reminded me of plenty of things that I had forgotten. I have my own office thank you and the reason I am writing to you is because I do not have to do a damn thing until tomorrow when my trunk gets in. I felt a bit strange when I walked in but when I found my office was right across the hall from Kalmer and Ruby it was like old home week. I have put in an application for a cuspidor which I suppose will take days. In the meantime I am spitting out the window. Tell Hilly not to be sore because I did not write to him on my first day. Explain that I favor you because I owe you money. I have been singing his song all the way from coast to coast. I do wish he could place it. My big problem is going to be to promote a car. They are mighty scarce on account of the tire thing. You can get plenty of gas but no one wants to use up their tires. Woe is me. Oh well I'll still have a good time. So long and love and kisses to you all and that goes for Henry Obstfield and tell him I am wearing my hat at all times. [signature] In case you feel like writing the address is as follows. Garden Court Apartments 7021 Hollywood Boulevard. Yesterday Em looked down on the porch of the flat across from us and said, 'Who is that friend of yours that plays policeman?' I took a look and lo and behold it was Harry Shannon in the flesh. Saw Harold Debecker. Both send the best to all." Accompanied by original transmittal envelope. Jack Norworth (1879-1959) was a vaudeville performer, singer and lyricist. His best remembered song is "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (music by Albert von Tilzer), written by Norworth as he rode a New York subway car and saw a sign for a Giants game at the Polo Grounds. He sang the song on stage with his first wife, Nora Bayard, in 1908. The tradition of singing it during the "seventh inning stretch" is only traceable back to 1934.) (Neither Norworth nor von Tilzer actually saw a Major League game until many years later). Norworth also wrote "Shine on Harvest Moon," an even bigger hit when first released, and many Tin Pan Alley favorites. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970). Joe Laurie, Jr. (1892-1954) was a popular vaudeville monologue comedian and a regular on the long-running radio comedy show Can You Top This?, beginning in 1940. The Bill Fields of this letter is better known as W. C. Fields (1892-1954), a friend of Norwich from their days as stars of the Ziegfeld Follies early in the century. The tire shortage, was, of course, related to World War II rationing. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "Shine On Harvest Moon" have each been heard in dozens of films and television shows. Multiple mailing folds. Corners lightly creased and worn. Fine condition.