Contract Signed by Composer and Lyricist of the Iconic 1907 Song “School Days”

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Item: 23463

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COBB, WILLIAM DENIGHT. (1876-1930). Prolific American composer and the lyricist for the well-known song “School Days.” DS. (“Will D. Cobb”). 1p. Tall 4to. New York, August 23, 1920. A contract engaging Cobb as lyricist for the Gus Edwards Revue of 1920. Countersigned by his collaborator, composer, music publisher, director and star maker GUSTAVE EDWARDS (1878-1945; “G. Edwards”) and theater agent ARTHUR S. LYONS (1895-1963; “Arthur S. Lyons”).

William Denight Cobb

Edwards, an immigrant from Poland, found work as a song plugger around New York and began his stage career on Vaudeville in 1896. While performing for Spanish–American War soldiers, he met Will Cobb, striking up a years-long productive partnership dubbed “Words and Music.” Cobb and Edwards collaborated on the 1903 musical extravaganza The Wizard of Oz, music for the Ziegfeld Follies from 1907-1910, the 1907 musical comedy Hip! Hip! Hooray!, and the popular 1908 song School Days with Cobb’s well-known lyrics: “School days, school days / Dear old Golden Rule days / Readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic / Taught to the tune of the hick’ry stick.” Edwards founded his own publishing company as well as the Gus Edwards Music Hall in New York, was a founding member of ASCAP, produced films, and “discovered” such big names as Groucho Marx, Walter Winchell, Eddie Cantor, and Ray Bolger. In addition to his productive partnership with Edwards Cobb also collaborated with George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva, Harry Ruby, and Ren Shields, with whom he wrote the hit song “In the Good Old Summer Time.”

With his brother, Lyons ran Lyons & Lyons talent agency representing actors for the stage, film and radio, including Jack Benny whose career he helped to launch. His other clients included Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Joan Crawford, Eugene O’Neill, Carole Lombard, Heddy Lamarr, Ray Milland, and Ida Lupino. He also produced the 1948 film noir movie Ruthless.

Folded and creased with some tears in the margin. In very good condition.