Harry B. Smith

Harry Bache Smith
Born	December 28, 1860(1860-12-28) Buffalo, New York
Died	January 1, 1936(1936-01-01) (aged 75) Atlantic City, New Jersey
Occupation	Writer, lyricist, composer
Nationality	American
Genres	Musical theatre

The Fortune Teller drum corps

Harry Bache Smith ( December 28, 1860 – January 1, 1936 ) was a writer, lyricist and composer. The most prolific of all American stage writers, he is said to have written over 300 librettos and more than 6000 lyrics. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composer Victor Herbert. He also wrote the book or lyrics for several versions of the Ziegfeld Follies.

Harry was born in Buffalo, New York to Josiah Bailey Smith ( born 1837 ) and Elizabeth Bach ( born 1838 ). According to his autobiography First Nights and First Editions ( Boston: Little, Brown, 1931 ), Harry's actual name at birth was Henry Bach Smith. Harry married twice. His first wife was Lena Reed ( born August 21, 1868 ), whom he married on October 12, 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. Harry and Lena had a son named Sydney Reed Smith ( born July 15, 1892 ). Harry's second wife was the actress Irene M. Bentley ( 1870 - June 3, 1940 ). Harry married Irene on November 23, 1906 in Boston, Massachusetts, after she had been divorced on June 12, 1906 by her first husband James Thomas Sothoron, Jr. ( 1867–1913 ). Irene retired from the stage in 1910, and died at Allenhurst, New Jersey. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery ( Webster Avenue & East 233rd Street, Bronx, NY ). While on a brief New Year's holiday in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Harry died of a heart attack ( on Jan. 1, 1936 ) in his room at the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel. Later that day his body was shipped to a New York undertaker.

Harry's younger brother Robert Bache Smith ( June 4, 1875 - Nov. 6, 1951 ) was also a successful lyricist. Harry worked on many of the famous musical theatre productions of his time.

Selected productions by Harry B. Smith

• Robin Hood - operetta libretto written in winter of 1888-1889 (and 1944 revival)
• Rob Roy - opera, libretto written in 1894
• The Serenade - musical, lyrics written in 1897
• The Fortune Teller - operetta libretto written in 1898
• Foxy Quiller - operetta written in 1900
• The Belle of Bohemia - operetta written in 1900
• The Liberty Belles - musical; ran on Broadway in 1901-2
• The Wild Rose - operetta written in 1902
• Miss Dolly Dollars - musical, book and lyrics written in 1905
• The Spring Maid - musical, book and lyrics written in 1910
• Sweethearts - operetta libretto written in 1913 (and 1947 revival)
• The Girl from Montmartre - musical, lyrics written in 1913
• Very Good Eddie - musical, additional lyrics written 1915 (and 1975-76 revival)
• The Century Girl - musical, additional lyrics written in 1916
• Love o' Mike - musical, lyrics written in 1917
• Ladies First - musical, book and lyrics written in 1918
• The Canary - musical, book written in 1918
• Florodora - 1920 revival (revised book)
• Caroline - operetta; lyrics written in 1923
• The Love Song - operetta; English lyrics written in 1925
• Princess Flavia - operetta; English lyrics written in 1925
• Countess Maritza - operetta; English lyrics written in 1926
• The Circus Princess - musical, lyrics written in 1927
• Rogues and Vagabonds - musical written in 1930
• Three Little Girls - play, lyrics written in 1930

External links

• Harry B. Smith at the Internet Broadway Database