The Liberty Belles, A Musical Comedy in Three Acts (Ca. 1930 typescript)
New York: The Author, 1930. Wraps. In pale blue paper covers, bound with two brass fasteners, seal on cover of Z. & L. Rosenfield, Stenography, NY. Approximately 150 pp. Light wear. Initialed in pencil on title page by Smith. This was first written and staged in 1901, and was very successful. Smith apparently had this typed up with a view toward a possible revival of it. It was never officially published and we could only locate a Library of Congress copy of it. The most prolific of all American stage writers, Smith (1860-1936) was the author of 300 libretti (123 of which actually opened on Broadway), including some 6,000 songs composed with some of the most notable composers of the day—John Philip Sousa, Victor Herbert, Ludwig Englander, Jerome Kern, Sigmund Romberg, and Walter Donaldson. Smith remains the most prolific librettist in the American musical theatre. Between 1890 and 1930, his presence pervaded American operetta, musical comedy, and revue. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composers Victor Herbert and Reginald De Koven. He also wrote the book or lyrics for several versions of the Ziegfeld Follies. This is from the collection of John Franceschina, author of "Harry B. Smith, Dean of American Librettists" (Routledge, 2003). Good. Item #H39911
Price: $150.00