Harry Ruby facts for kids

Harry Ruby (born Harry Rubenstein on January 27, 1895 – died February 23, 1974) was a talented American musician. He was a pianist, a composer who wrote music, and a songwriter who created lyrics. Harry Ruby also wrote scripts for movies.

He became famous for his work in music and was added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Harry Ruby was married to Eileen Percy, an actress from silent films.

Harry Ruby's Life Story

Harry Ruby was born in New York City in 1895. When he was young, he wanted to be a professional baseball player. But that didn't work out.

Instead, he started playing the piano. He toured in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. Harry played with groups like the Bootblack Trio.

In his early career, Harry worked as a pianist. He was also a "song plugger." This meant he played new songs to help make them popular. He worked for music publishing companies like Gus Edwards.

From 1917 to 1920, Harry worked with other songwriters. He helped create popular songs like "Come on Papa" and "Daddy Long Legs."

Working with Bert Kalmar

Harry Ruby found his biggest success when he met Bert Kalmar. Bert was a lyricist, meaning he wrote the words for songs. They became a very successful songwriting team. Their partnership lasted for almost 30 years.

Their story was even made into a movie! The 1950 film Three Little Words showed their lives. Fred Astaire played Bert Kalmar, and Red Skelton played Harry Ruby.

Friendship with Groucho Marx

Harry Ruby was good friends with the famous comedian Groucho Marx. Harry appeared on Groucho's TV show, You Bet Your Life, several times.

Groucho Marx often talked about Harry Ruby. In a concert in 1972, Groucho sang one of Harry's songs. He introduced it by saying how much he liked Harry's music.

One of the songs Groucho sang was a funny one about Father's Day:

Today, Father, is Father's Day

And we're giving you a tie

It's not much we know

It is just our way of showing you

We think you're a regular guy

You say that it was nice of us to bother

But it really was a pleasure to fuss

For according to our mother

You're our father

And that's good enough for us

Yes, that's good enough for us

Groucho also sang another part of the song on The Dick Cavett Show:

The tie that you got

Didn't cost such a lot

And we'll give you the same tie next year.

You tell us it was nice of us to bother

But it really was a pleasure to fuss

For they say, a child can only have one father

And you are the one for us.

And you are the one for us.

Harry Ruby's Creative Works

Harry Ruby created music and wrote for many different projects.

Film Scores

He wrote the music for several movies, including:

• Animal Crackers (1930)
• Horse Feathers (1932)
• Duck Soup (1933)
• Bright Lights (1935)
• Walking on Air (1936)
• Three Little Words (1950)

Screenplays

Harry Ruby also helped write the stories and scripts for these films:

• The Kid from Spain (1932)
• Horse Feathers (1932)
• Duck Soup (1933)
• Bright Lights (1935)
• Walking on Air (1936)
• Lovely to Look At (1952)

Broadway Shows

He contributed to many Broadway musicals and revues. A revue is a show with songs, dances, and skits.

• Ziegfeld Follies of 1918 (1918) - He was a featured songwriter.
• Helen of Troy, New York (1923) - He co-wrote the music and lyrics.
• The Ramblers (1926) - He co-wrote the music, lyrics, and story.
• The Five O'Clock Girl (1927) - He wrote the music.
• Animal Crackers (1928) - He co-wrote the music and lyrics.
• Fosse (1998) - This show featured his song "Who's Sorry Now?"

Famous Songs

Harry Ruby wrote many well-known songs, often with Bert Kalmar.

• "Rebecca Came Back From Mecca" (1921)
• "Who's Sorry Now?" (1923) - This was Kalmar and Ruby's first big hit song.
• "I Wanna Be Loved by You" (1928) - This song was a hit for Helen Kane. It was also sung by Marilyn Monroe in the movie Some Like It Hot.
• "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" (1928) - From the musical Animal Crackers, this became Groucho Marx's famous theme song.
• "Three Little Words" (1930) - This was their biggest hit song.
• "Nevertheless" (1931) - This song was popular for Jack Denny and later for Frank Sinatra.
• "I'm Against It" and "Everyone Says I Love You" (1932) - From the movie Horse Feathers.
• "Hail, Hail Freedonia" (1933) - From the movie Duck Soup.
• "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" (1935) - This was one of their last big hits.
• "The Real McCoys" (1957-1963) - This was the theme song for a TV show.

Death

Harry Ruby passed away on February 23, 1974. He was 79 years old. He died in Woodland Hills, California. He was buried at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.

See also

In Spanish: Harry Ruby para niños

• Category:Songs with music by Harry Ruby