GEORGE GERSHWIN | George Gershwin, "terribly lonesome," writes while touring with Ladies First.

Property from the Collection of Elsie and Philip Sang

GEORGE GERSHWIN

THE COMPOSER, "TERRIBLY LONESOME," WRITES WHILE TOURING WITH LADIES FIRST.

Autograph letter signed ("George"), 3 pp. (9 1/2 x 6 in.; 242 x 153 mm) on Hotel Belvedere letterhead, Baltimore, "Fri evening," (20 September 1918), to Max Abramson, New York; horizontal folds. Autograph envelope.

Lonesome in Baltimore. In the fall of 1918, Gershwin went on tour as accompanist to vaudeville star Nora Bayes in the show Ladies First. In addition, the composer contributed two songs to the show: "The Real American Folk Song" (lyrics by Ira Gershwin, under the pseudonym "Arthur Francis") and "Some Wonderful Sort of Someone" (lyrics by Schuyler Greene). Gershwin appeared on stage as accompanist nattily dressed in a green tweed suit, purple shirt, and blue tie. 

In this letter from the tour's stop in Baltimore, Gershwin writes to his friend, journalist Max Abramson back in New York. He notes that writer James Montgomery has been called in to rewrite the first act. He also mentions one of his lyricists: "Schuyler Greene came here twice this week from Wash. He is the proud father of a boy born Tues. night." Before complaining of boredom in Baltimore and asking Abramson to meet him in Atlantic City the next week, he drops an interesting bit of news: "I have to rush over to Kernan's Hotel & have supper with Miss [Sybil ?] Morrison (The big suffragette) is waiting there. She is a fine woman & I enjoy her company."