By Glen R. Goodhand
There are basically four kinds of summers. There is the wet kind, when it rains at the drop of a hat; the dry season, when the blackest cloud won’t release a drop of moisture; the cool variety, when sweaters and jackets are frequent attire; and, the ideal duration, which provides pleasantly-warm temperatures, periodic rain showers to assure needful growth — and a series of sunny days granting opportunity for picnic plans, happy campers (and golfers) and a cheery atmosphere.
It must have been the latter which the composers of this issue’s ‘Musical Memories’ had in mind. George (Honey Boy) Evans, a minstrel, and comedian Ren Shields chose a bright sunny day to take actress-singer Blanche Ring to Brighton Beach (New York) for a Sunday of fun and relaxation. After a fine meal, the trio sat around chatting casually, when Evans remarked that of all the seasons on the year he preferred the “good old summer time”. Shields spontaneously latched onto that expression, announcing that it sounded like a good title for a song. Their lady guest enthusiastically ‘seconded the motion’.
When they returned to Manhattan, Ren Shields went to work on fleshing out his brain child. A few days later he handed the completed lyrics to Evans, who very quickly improvised an appropriate melody. Since he could not write a note of music, he engaged the help of Blanche Ring who outlined the treble and bass clefs, especially arranged for piano.
As has been the case with a number of melodious creations, the response by publishers was anything but positive. Several said they were not interested in a ‘seasonal’ ditty, the life of which could be appropriated for only three short months.
Since she had been part of the plan in the first place, Ring decided to perform the piece in her new Broadway musical comedy, The Defender. Right from the get go audiences loved it. So much so that during many performances those in the seats would join right in with her for the chorus.
From that point on there was no problem in finding a willing publisher. It turned out to be a long-lasting hit, with sheet music sales reaching the millions. In the year of its introduction, 1902, it made the Billboard charts for five weeks; in 1903 it persevered for 12 weeks. But its popularity revived again and again. In 1949 it was the catalyst for a movie by the same title, starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson. It even crashed commercials, being featured in an ad for the insect repellant ‘Bug Off’ in 1975.
It was recorded by three well-known artists of the day in 1902: The Hayden Quartet, Billy Murray, and Harry McDonough. But in more recent years The Andrew Sisters, Connie Frances, Nat ‘King’ Cole and Byng Crosby chose it a part of their repertoire.
A unique, but careless expression of fondness appears in the chorus, which betrays its timeline. An Australian slang word, ‘Tootsie Wootsey’, which is equivalent to ‘dame’ in more modern times, reveals a somewhat flippant spin on affection.
In the good old summer time
In the good old summer time.
Strolling through a shady lane,
With your baby mine.
You hold her hand and she holds yours;
And that’s a very good sign
That she’s your tootsie-wootsey
In the good old summer time.