Creamer and Layton, et al.

Today is the birthday of Henry Creamer (1879-1930), who together with his partner John Turner Layton  (1894-1978) formed one of the great songwriting partnerships of the vaudeville era, and partnered in an act from 1918 to 1924. Creamer was an eccentric dancer and wrote lyrics; Layton was the musician. Their songs include “After You’ve Gone” (1918), which was popularized by Sophie Tucker; “Strut Miss Lizzie”, sung by Van and Schenck in  the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921; and “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” (1922). With James P. Johnson, Creamer co-wrote “If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)” in 1926. Layton partnered with Clarence “Tandy” Johnstone” from 1924 to 1935 and then performed solo for another 20 years, based in  England.

To find out about  the history of vaudeville, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold.

And check out my new book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube, just released by Bear Manor Media, also available from amazon.com etc etc etc