Alfred Baldwin Sloane facts for kids

Alfred Baldwin Sloane (born August 28, 1872, in Baltimore, died February 21, 1925, in Red Bank, New Jersey) was an American composer. He is known for writing many songs for Broadway musical comedies in the early 1900s. People often called him the most productive songwriter of his time for these shows.

Sloane's music was first heard in plays put on by amateur groups in Baltimore, where he grew up. When he moved to New York in 1890, he started adding his tunes to other composers' works. Soon, he was asked to create his own full musical scores. His most famous song was "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl." The famous actress Marie Dressler sang it in the show Tillie's Nightmare in 1910. However, most of his songs did not stay popular for a long time.

After 1912, Sloane composed less often. But he did write a lot of music for the Greenwich Village Follies shows in 1919 and 1920. He even wrote one of his musicals, Lady Teazle, for the very popular actress Lillian Russell. His last musical score was for a Broadway show called China Rose in 1925. This show was still being produced when he passed away. China Rose had first opened in Boston on Christmas Eve, 1924.

Early Life and First Success

Sloane moved from Baltimore to New York City in 1890 when he was 18 years old. He planned to stay for only a month, but he ended up living there for the rest of his life.

As a boy in Baltimore, Sloane worked as an apprentice at a store that sold dry goods. His father, who was a scientist and loved music, was worried about Sloane trying to make a living as a composer. But Sloane spent most of his time at the store writing songs. He would use the backs of pearl button cards, shirt boxes, and price tags for his notes. Sloane was actually fired from the store because he spent too much time writing rhymes.

While his father looked for another job for him, Sloane put together an amateur group in Baltimore. They performed one of his musical comedies. This show earned $25,000 in just five nights! Sloane showed his father the box office reports, and his father stopped opposing his music career. Soon after, Sloane left Baltimore and went to New York. He wasn't sure if his shows would be good enough for Oscar Hammerstein I, a famous producer. But Hammerstein produced Sloane's show, and Sloane never left New York after that.

Selected Broadway Musicals

Alfred Baldwin Sloane wrote music for many shows that played in New York. Here are some of them:

• Peggy-Ann (December 27, 1926 – October 29, 1927) at the Vanderbilt Theatre
• China Rose (January 19, 1925 – May 9, 1925)
• The Greenwich Village Follies of 1920 (August 30, 1920 – March 5, 1921)
• The Greenwich Village Follies (1919) (July 15, 1919 – January 31, 1920)
• Ladies First (October 24, 1918 – March 15, 1919)
• Marie Dressler's All Star Gambol (March 10, 1913 – March 15, 1913)
• Hanky Panky (August 5, 1912 – November 2, 1912)
• The Never Homes (October 5, 1911 – December 23, 1911)
• The Hen-Pecks (February 4, 1911 – September 23, 1911)
• The Summer Widowers (June 4, 1910 – October 1, 1910)
• Tillie's Nightmare (May 5, 1910 – December 1911)
• The Prince of Bohemia (January 14, 1910 – February 1910)
• Lo (1909)
• The Gingerbread Man (December 25, 1905 – May 26, 1906)

Still from "The Gingerbread Man" 1909 production, Seattle, WA

• Lady Teazle (December 24, 1904 – February 11, 1905)
• The Wizard of Oz (March 21, 1904 – November 25, 1905)
• Sergeant Kitty (January 18, 1904 – March 12, 1904)
• The Wizard of Oz (January 20, 1903 – October 3, 1903)
• The Mocking Bird (November 10, 1902 – June 8, 1903)
• The King's Carnival (September 9, 1901 – October 12, 1901)
• The Giddy Throng (December 24, 1900 – May 11, 1901)
• A Million Dollars (September 27, 1900 – October 20, 1900)
• Broadway to Tokio (January 23, 1900 – April 7, 1900)
• Excelsior, Jr. (November 25, 1895)

Music in Films

Some of Sloane's music was used in movies, even after he passed away.

Soundtrack

• 1952: Somebody Loves Me – featured his song Toddling the Todalo
• 1940: Strike Up the Band – featured Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl
• 1939: Frontier Marshal – featured Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl

Writer

• 1914: Tillie's Punctured Romance – based on his musical Tillie's Nightmare

Self

• 1914: Our Mutual Girl – Sloane appeared as himself in episode 10 of this film series.

Family Life

Alfred Baldwin Sloane was the son of Francis James Sloane and Emma Baldwin. He married Lucille Mae Auwerda in New York City on February 15, 1900. They had one daughter named June Augusta Sloane (1901–1984). She later married Isaac Hosford Brackett.