''Battling Buttler'' is a musical in three acts with music by

Philip Braham Philip Braham (18 June 1881 – 2 May 1934) was an English composer of the early twentieth century, chiefly associated with theatrical work. From 1914, he composed music for such musicals and revues as ''Theodore & Co'' (1916) and '' London Call ...

and a book and lyrics by Stanley Brightman,

Austin Melford Austin Melford (1884—1971) was a British screenwriter and film director. He was the older brother of actor Jack Melford. Partial filmography Director * ''Car of Dreams'' (1935) * ''Oh, Daddy!'' (1935) * ''Radio Lover'' (1936) Screenwriter * '' ...

and

Douglas Furber Douglas Furber (13 May 1885 – 20 February 1961) was a British lyricist and playwright. Furber is best known for the lyrics to the 1937 song "The Lambeth Walk" and the libretto to the musical '' Me and My Girl'', composed by Noel Gay, from which ...

, which opened in London in 1922. It was then greatly revised by Walter L. Rosemont (music) and

Ballard MacDonald Ballard MacDonald (October 15, 1882 – November 17, 1935) was an American lyricist, who was one of the writers of Tin Pan Alley. Born in Portland, Oregon, he was a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ...

(book and lyrics) and produced on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in 1923 after tryouts in Detroit and Chicago. The farcical story concerns a man who pretends to be a championship boxer whom he resembles, until the two men are confused with one another, with humorous results.

Productions

''Battling Buttler'' premiered in London on December 8, 1922, at the New Oxford Theatre, where it ran for 238 performances, starring

Jack Buchanan Walter John Buchanan (2 April 1891 – 20 October 1957) was a Scottish theatre and film actor, singer, dancer, producer and director. He was known for three decades as the embodiment of the debonair man-about-town in the tradition of George G ...

, who also produced and choreographed the musical.Dietz
pp. 172–173
/ref> Dancing Honeymoon

After a major rewrite and Americanization by Walter L. Rosemont (music) and

(book and lyrics), the musical was produced under the name ''The Dancing Honeymoon'', opening on August 19, 1923, to rave reviews in Detroit, Michigan. It then played in Chicago under the same name before coming to New York.''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', October 9, 1923, p. 17 It was then renamed ''Mr. Battling Buttler'' and opened on

at the

Selwyn Theater The American Airlines Theatre, originally the Selwyn Theatre, is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 227 42nd Street (Manhattan), West 42nd Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. ...

on October 8, 1923, and closed on April 20, 1924, when it moved to the

Times Square Theatre The Times Square Theater is a former Broadway and movie theater at 217 West 42nd Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, near Times Square. Built in 1920, it was designed by Eugene De Rosa and developed by brothe ...

, opening the next day on April 21, 1924, and closing July 5, 1924, for a total of 313 performances. It was produced in America by George Choos by arrangement with Buchanan and The Selwyns.''Battling Buttler''
Internet Broadway Database, accessed January 1, 2020 The musical was staged in America by Guy F. Bragdon, with dances arranged by Dave Bennett, and featured songs by Joseph Meyer, Adorjan Dorian Otvos and Louis Breau. Only two of the Braham and Furber songs were retained. A radio performance was played on radio station WOR on October 22, 1923. After Broadway, the show went on the road, including performances in Philadelphia at the Chestnut Street Opera House starting November 10, 1924, and in Wilmington, Delaware, starting December 22, 1924. The cast starred

Charles Ruggles Charles Sherman Ruggles (February 8, 1886 – December 23, 1970) was an American comic character actor. In a career spanning six decades, Ruggles appeared in close to 100 feature films, often in mild-mannered and comic roles. He was also the e ...

.Mantle, p. 330 The musical was adapted into a 1926 silent film titled ''

Battling Butler ''Battling Butler'' is a 1926 American comedy silent film directed by and starring Buster Keaton. It is based on the 1923 musical '' Battling Buttler''. The film entered the public domain in 2022. Plot Alfred Butler is a scion of a wealthy ...

'' directed by and starring

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

. ''

'' noted the difference in the spelling of the name of the central character between the stage and film versions.

Synopsis (American version)

Alfred Buttler, who leads a quiet life in a small town in New Hampshire, somewhat resembles a welterweight boxing champion by the same name. He tells his trusting wife that he is the boxing champion, although he knows nothing about boxing. This gives Alfred the opportunity to leave home for weeks at a time to attend "training". Instead, he goes to have fun in the city with his old friends. In the second act, his wife (and the chorus) follow him, and the real Battling Buttler, who likes the joke, insists that the fake Buttler take his place in the boxing ring. When Alfred's wife runs into the boxer's wife, the two women assume that they are married to the same man, and farcical complications ensue.

Roles and American cast

*Alfred Buttler –

Charlie Ruggles Charles Sherman Ruggles (February 8, 1886 – December 23, 1970) was an American comic character actor. In a career spanning six decades, Ruggles appeared in close to 100 feature films, often in mild-mannered and comic roles. He was also the e ...

*Ernest Hozier – William T. Kent *Battling Buttler – Frank Sinclair *Bertha Buttler, the boxer's wife – Frances Halliday *Mrs. Alfred Buttler – Helen Eley *Deacon Grafton – Eugene McGregor *Nancy – Helen La Vonne *Marigold – Mildred Keats *Edith – Marie Saxon *A Chauffeur – George Sands *Frank Bryant – Jack Squire *Sweeney – Guy Voyer *Spink – Teddy McNamara *Feature Dancers – Grant and Wing *Eccentric Dancers – George Sands and Mack Davis *Exceptional Dancer – George Dobbs

Songs from the Broadway version

(music by Rosemont and lyrics by MacDonald, unless otherwise noted) ;Act I (The Home of Alfred Buttler, Silver Lake, New Hampshire) * “If Every Day Was Sunday” – Deacon Grafton, Ensemble and others (music by A. Dorian Otvos) * “You’re So Sweet” – Marigold, Edith and Ensemble (music by Joseph Meyer) * “Apples, Bananas and You” – Alfred Buttler and Mrs. Alfred Buttler (music by Philip Braham; lyrics by Douglas Furber) * “Two Little Pals” – Frank Bryant and Ernest Hozier * “Will You Marry Me?” – Marigold and others ;Act II (“Sweeney’s” at Malba, Long Island) * “Tinkle Tune” – Spink, Nancy, Ensemble and others (music by Louis Breau and Otvos) * “Dancing Honeymoon” – Frank Bryant, Marigold, Ensemble and others (music by Philip Braham; lyrics by Douglas Furber) * “All Dressed Up” – Kate and Ensemble * “Wish” – Battling Buttler * “Finale” – Company ;Act III (The 400 Athletic Club, New York City) * “As We leave the Years Behind” – Marigold, Frank Bryant and others (music by Meyer) * “In the Spring” – Edith and Ernest Hozier (music by Otvos)

Reception

Burns Mantle Robert Burns Mantle (December 23, 1873February 9, 1948) was an American theater critic. He founded the ''Best Plays'' annual publication in 1920.Chansky, Dorothy (2011)"Burns Mantle and the American Theatregoing Public" in ''Theatre History Stu ...

of ''The Daily News'' called it "a lively show, spotted with excellent dance numbers, decorated with a variety of showy costumes and tunefully sung."''Daily News'', October 12, 1923, p. 56

John Corbin John Corbin (May 2, 1870 – August 30, 1959) was an American dramatic critic and author. Career overview John Corbin was born in Chicago and educated at Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridg ...

, of ''The New York Times'', said “there is an infectious spirit to the thing that carries it at high speed through the three acts.”

References

Sources

* Mantle, Burns (ed.) ''The Best Plays of 1923–24'', Small, Maynard & Company, Boston. *Dietz, Dan. ''The Complete Book of 1920s Broadway Musicals'', Rowman & Littlefield (2019) {{ISBN, 1538112825 American musicals 1923 musicals Broadway musicals