Prolific American songwriter (1895-1974) whose works, many of which were prominently featured in the films of the Marx Brothers and Eddie Cantor, include such standards as 'I Wanna Be Loved by You' and 'Three Little Words.' Group of ten TLSs by Harry Ruby, most signed "Harry," totaling seventeen pages on eleven sheets, dated from 1948 to 1972. Ruby writes on records, relationships, and the music business. Selected excerpts:
May 20, 1950: "About Five O'clock Girl: I had a letter from the American Play Co. saying a deal was being made for some of Bolton's shows, including the above, if the TV rights were not given to MGM, which studio owes the show…Winkler phoned to say he checked with the legal depot., and that he was told the studio did not own the TV rights…Here comes a letter from Rumsey saying the legal dept. of MGM, in N.Y., claims they have the TV rights, and asks for further information…Bolton, as you know, is not too careful about these things and has often gone ahead and done a thing without much concern about the consequences. His position has always been that they may not find out—and, if they do, so what? You settle. But the American Play Company will not go ahead on this basis."
October 31, 1957: "I talked to Bigs yesterday. He is making demos of So Long Oo Long…. and one I wrote with Bert Marx a few years back: I Keep Telling Myself. I told him I'd split the cost of the demos and do what I can when he makes them. He said he is also making two other songs he wrote. I hope he gets a break with these: his songs."
August 26, 1959: "Jack Mills writes for us to go ahead with the demo of 'So Long Oolong.' That means he will pay half of its cost. I will get on it right away. Second, a record, a single, has been made of: 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' that I believe will be very big."
May 25, 1963: "I know how hard it is going to be for you to leave Peggy. But I also know you have the courage and heart that few have. And, as I said in another letter, you can always fly back when it may become necessary. I know the excessive cost of staying in New York these days. It is awful!"
July 14, 1963: "I told you weeks ago that they are gonna try to get I Gotta Stop Dreaming of You, which Bert and I wrote with Sid Silvers—started…I know they mean business. So we might have something there."
July 28, 1972: "Mostly, people refer to me as a songwriter. which gets me so sore. Now and then some one introduces me as a baseball player. which is as it should be. When a man, in my case—me—who has spent the better years of his life playing baseball, he wants the world to know it… How soon they forget. Through the years, when I introduced your father to someone, I said: 'I want you to meet Bert Kalmar. He is a great magician.' Wasn't that better than saying he was, as he was, a great songwriter—and song-and-dance man? I once introduced Irving Berlin as a great songwriter. he was furious. 'Why,' he yelled at me, 'Don't you tell people what a great singing waiter I was?'"
In overall fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned 'Birthday Greetings' telegram from Ruby.
