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John Walter Bratton was born on 21 Jan 1867 in New Castle (Wilmington) Delaware
Watercolour of New Castle circa 1830 by Robert Shaw
According to the 1880 census he was brought up in the New Castle home of his Grandmother Sarah Bratten (note the spelling) b Pennsylvania 1826. (In 1896, see below, he wrote a song She's Been a Mother To Me and at the top of the sheet music he added "Dedicated to Mrs Sarah Bratton who has been a mother to me")
His musical education was at the Philadelphia College of Music. He went to New York's Tin Pan Alley and early on, he was a stage performer in both plays and as a baratone singer. His main career was as a composer of light music and it was said "Bratton was musically very literate and used subtle changes in rhythm patterns and dynamics to great effect." Indeed in the 1930's the record of his best work, The Teddy Bears' Picnic was used by the BBC for calibrating & adjusting equipment, due to the recording's large dynamic and frequency range
When he was 32 years old he became a Freemason, being raised in St. Cecile Lodge No. 568, New York City on 28 Feb 1899. His publishers the 3 Witmark brothers had joined that lodge 5 years earlier. It was/is the Mother Lodge of the Entertainers' Lodges and it also boasted as members, though not necessarily at the same time, Louis B Mayer (1912 ish), Al Jolson (1913), Harry Houdini (1923) and Film Director D W Griffith (1905 ish)
Bratton wrote over 240 songs in a prolific 25 year period from when he was about 25 years old in 1893 till his early 50's in 1918 ( career essentially over but he still dabbled for the rest of his life, late on, turning the tables and being the lyricist for other composers, clocking up a grand total of 250 songs carrying his name)
Broadway, New York
Walter H Ford wrote lyrics to 83 of the 107 Bratton songs in 1893-1901, 9 had 6 different lyricists, 13 were instrumentals and in two, Bratton wrote both words & music
Paul West wrote the lyrics to 71 songs (1902-1907 mainly). In the 3 year period 1903-05 John & Paul co-wrote 61 songs, bettering the output (but not the quality) of the John & Paul team some 60 years later
JWB's composing peak was in 1903 when he had 40 songs published ( 8 instrumentals, 26 with Paul West and 6 with other lyricists) The production line period of his career was over by 1905, with 89% of his entire output in print.
The Musical Comedies he wrote the music for are Hodge Podge & Co., Man From China, The Pearl & the Pumpkin and The Newlyweds and their Baby
Those in which he had songs featured include Star and Garter, Buster Brown, A Trip to Chinatown, The Toreador, Merry Go Round, The Rainmakers, The Old Holmstead Company, Gentleman Joe, The Land of Nod, The Gay White Way, The Office Boy, The School Girl and Charlot Revue 1925/26
In 1907 his best work The Teddy Bears' Picnic was published which sold well as a piece for piano.
The theatre connection remains, because in Britain The Teddy Bears' Picnic was often used in pantomimes. Indeed it was for a pantomime that 25 years later, words were added by Jimmy Kennedy in London's Tin Pan Alley. It became a great record success... it has gone on to become a classic.
In 1909 Bratton teamed up with Leffler and the Bratton Leffler Co produced three Broadway shows, The Newlyweds and Their Baby (1909) Let George Do It (1912) and The Ding Bats (?)
In 1914 Victor Herbert and others formed the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). John W Bratton became a charter member
His last published work during his lifetime, was as the lyricist, in 1945 at the age of 78, a career spanning 52 years...but note, I've seen reference to a work published 9 years after his death in 1956..I Watched The Rain w&m by Edith Temple, John W Bratton and Nancy O'Hara
John Walter Bratton died in his Brooklyn home on 7 Feb. 1947 a fortnight after his 80th birthday.
Broadway, NY
I have identified over 250 songs ( huge output but not compared with the later non-music writing/reading Israel Isidore Baline known as Irving Berlin who, allegedly, churned out 1500 songs)
Bratton's songs will be listed over the next few weeks...work in progress but here's some
1893 3
1894 15
1895 7
1896 12
1897 5
1898 13
1899 14
1900 23
1901 17
Rose Glenroy (1893)
Marie (Gavotte) (1893)
Two Pictures (Dear Parents Faces) (1893) with Walter H Ford
<< My Dainty Cigarette (1894) with Walter H. Ford
The Bells of Fate (1894) with Walter H Ford
What d'ye think of Hoolihan? (1894) with Walter H Ford
His Little Sweetheart Nell (Nellie & Jack) (1894) with Walter H Ford
I Didn't Think He'd Do It But He Did (1894) with Walter H Ford
It's All Right But It's Awkward (1894) with Walter H Ford
<< Only Me (1894) with Walter H. Ford
Just A Word For Father Too (1894) with Walter H Ford
My Dear Old Chum (Dick & I) Walter H Ford
The Old Stage Door (1894) words & music by John Walter Bratton
<< She Didn't Do A Thing To Him (1894) with Walter H. Ford
Tell Me Ruby, Will You True Be (1894) with Walter H Ford
Under the City Lights (1894) with Walter H Ford
Waiting For Nora's Return (1894) with Walter H Ford
<< Tarry Carrie Till We Marry (1894) with Walter H. Ford
I'll Not Forsake You Tom (1895) with Walter H Ford
Just As If She Didn't Know (1895) with Walter H Ford
The Melody He Used To Sing (1895) with Walter H Ford
<< Henrietta! Have You Met Her? (1895) with Walter H. Ford
<< Honey Does You Love Yer Man? (1895) with Walter H Ford This "coon love song" featured in "Gentleman Joe"
<<The Sunshine of Paradise Alley (1895) with Walter H. Ford. This featured in "A Trip to Chinatown"
<< Songs We Hear on the Stage (1895) with Walter H. Ford .This featured in Frank Durmont's Farce/Comedy "The Rainmakers" playing in Boston and Washington in 1894
It's Sunshiny Weather Because We're Together (1896) with Walter H. Ford
In a Quiet Little Way (1896) with Walter H Ford
Sadie My Lady (1896) with Walter H Ford
<< Isabelle (1896) with Walter H. Ford
Like A Good Little Girl Should Do (1896) with Walter H Ford
She Always Dressed in Black (1896) with Walter H Ford
Since Maggie Bought the Parrot (1895) with Walter H Ford
Sunday Night in Lovers Lane (1896) with Walter H Ford
The Belle of the Season (PF) (1896)
<< She's Been a Mother to Me (1896) with Walter H. Ford
<< I Love You in the Same Old Way, Darling Sue (1896) with Walter H. Ford. This featured in Denman Thonpson's "The Old Holmstead Company" see sheet music below
<< ditto
Obviously popular enough to warrant at least 3 print runs
<< Genevieve! (1896) with Walter H. Ford
Japanese Lantern Dance (1897)
<< Lurline (PF)
(1897)
Dance of the Waves (PF) (1897)
Mary's not as Green as She Looks (1897) with Walter H Ford
Trilby Waltzes by John W Bratton
<< Gayest Manhattan (PF) (1897)
The Gayest Manhattan Musical ran for 65 performances fom 22 March 1897 at Koster & Bial's Music Hall
<< Hats Off to the Boys who "Made Good" (1898) with Walter H Ford
Have a Kiss With Me (1898) with Walter H Ford
I Didn't Marry All Yer Kin (1898) with Walter H Ford
I'm Nothing To You Now (1898) with Walter H Ford
Oh Liza How I Despise Her (1898) with Walter H Ford
<< My Sunday Dolly (1898) with Walter H Ford
Don't Ask Me To Forget (1898) with Walter H Ford
The Old Folks Are Longing For You May (1898) with Walter H Ford
The Queen of Hearts (PF)
You May Regret Some Day (1898) with Walter H Ford
At The Sound Of The Sunset Gun (1898) with Walter H Ford
Cinderella, the Girl of Girls (1898) with Walter H Ford
Gold Wine and Kisses (1898) (Gavotte) (PF)
<< The Pride of the Pier (1899) with Walter H Ford
Heigh Ho- Love is but a Bubble (1899) with Walter H Ford
<< I Got All I Can Do To Keep My Hands Off You (1899) with Walter H Ford
The Change Will Do You Good (1899) with Walter H Ford
Home Was Never Like This (1899) with Walter H Ford
My Queen Irene (1899) with Walter H Ford
Such Is My Love For Thee (1899) with Walter H Ford
That You May Be Mine Your Eyes (1899) with Walter H Ford
<< Rubber Neck Jim (1899) (PF)
The back inside cover listing JWB's works up to 1899
<< Mandy, From Mandalay (1899) with Walter H Ford
The Touch of a Woman's Hand (1899) with Walter H Ford
<< You're Honey to yo' Mammy Just de Same (1899) with Walter H Ford
At Sunrise: Idyllic (PF) (1899)
<< Dear Old Soul (1899) with Walter H Ford
The Gay Golf Girl (1900) with Walter H Ford
Dream Days of Seville (1900) with Walter H Ford
Beneath the Evening Star (1900) with Walter H Ford
Billet Doux (1900) with Walter H Ford & G Hobart
Mon Cher Ami (1900) with Walter H Ford
My May Day (1900) with Walter H Ford
My Sunflower Sue (1900) with Walter H Ford ...featured in the Musical Comedy
Hodge Podge & Co
Broadway Show by Bratton and Ford
73 performances
23 Oct 1900
22 Dec 1900
Hoyt's Theatre, NY
My Sunbeam from the South (1900) with Walter H Ford
Not for a Day but for All Time (1900) with Walter H Ford
I'm the General that History's Been Waiting For (1900) with Walter H Ford
<< My Little Lady Bug (1900) with Walter H Ford described as "A Blackville Love Ditty"
Was featured in John J. McNally's Vaudeville Farce "Star & Garter" 26 Nov 1900 till 15 Dec 1900 at the Victoria Theatre
as was
Star & Garter (PF)
A Scion of the House of Highball (1900) with Walter H Ford
Since Then There's Been No Light About The Place-The Taller Dip (1900) with Walter H Ford
A Soldier of Love Am I (1900) with Walter H Ford
Some Day When Things Go Right (1900) with Walter H Ford
Springtime Bells (1900) with Walter H Ford
Sweetheart That Was and That Will Be (1900) with Walter H Ford
You Can Never Tell What A Kiss Will Do (1900) with Walter H Ford
Didn't You Believe My Enemy (1900) with Walter H Ford
A Gentleman of Winning Ways (1900) with Walter H Ford
The Grand-Stand Belle (1900) with Walter H Ford
When You Are Near (1901) with Walter H Ford
Your Own (1901) with Walter H Ford
<< He Ought To Have A Tablet In The Hall Of Fame (1901) with Arthur L Robb
Featured in the Musical Comedy "The Toreador" Feb 1904
Recorded by Edward M Favor on Edison
Be My Little Apple Dumplin Do (1901) with Walter H Ford
I'm Not Coming Back (1901) with Walter H Ford
AND HE DIDN'T...WE SEE NO MORE OF WALTER H FORD except one where he co wrote words
<< In a Cozy Corner (1901)
Mister Hezekiah from Ohio (1901) with Chas n Douglas
Alice (1901) with Alfred Bryan
Alimony Alice (1901) with Alfred Bryan
My English Rose (1901) with John Ernest McCann
My Little Belle of Japan (1901) with Arthur L Robb
My Pansy Blossom Blue (1901) with Chas N Douglas and Walter H Ford
<< In a Cosey Corner...again...there seems to be some confusion over the spelling. The correct American spelling is "cozy". John W. clearly likes "cosey" because he used it again in 1903 in "My Cosey Corner Girl" ..see below
Sue (1901) with Alfred Bryan
Sue sued me & I sued Sue (1901) w/m by John W Bratton
The Barrymore Waltzes (PF) (1901)
Barn Yard Frolics (PF) (1901)
Locks of Gold & Grey (1901) with CD Bingham
Maimie B (1901) with Matt Woodward
Dream Days of Seville (PF) (1901)
1902 11
1903 40
1904 23
1905 34
1906 4
1907 3
1908 11
1909 1
1911 1
1913 3
1917 1
1919 1
1921 1
Little Maggie Dooley's Tin Band (1902) with Alfred Bryan
<<Somebody's Waiting 'neath Southern Skies (1902) with Arthur J Lamb
We've Been Living in a Fool's Paradise (1902) with Arthur J Lamb
<< My Little Hong Kong Baby (1902) with Paul West
Columbine (1902) with Paul West
Ting Tang Kee (1902) with Paul West
Mary Ann McGuiness (1902) with Paul West
My Little Cup of Tea (1902) with Paul West
Nellie Mine (1902) with Paul West
The Man from China
Broadway Show
By Bratton & West
41 Performances
2 May 1904
4 June 1904
Majestic Theatre, NY
The Man from China Overture
She Read the New York Papers Everyday (1902) with Paul West
Come Along Mah Emily (1902) with Paul West
details from The Man from China
<< The Amorous Esquimaux (1903)
<< Life is Too Short to be Wasting Your Time (1904) with Paul West
<< There are Fifty Seven Ways to Catch a Man (1904) with Paul West
The Bower of Love (PF) (1902)
<< I Want to Play Hamlet (1903) with Paul West
Guess! Guess! Guess! (1903) with Paul West
<<Tell Me In the Golden Sunlight (1903) with Arthur J Lamb
The Roses Honeymoon (PF) (1903)
Star of India Morceau Oriental (PF) (1903)
<<True Little Blue Little True Little Eyes (1903) with Geo A Norton
As the Ivy Loves the Oaks (1903) with C N Douglas
Tender Hearted Jennie (1903) with Paul West
<< I'm On The Water Wagon Now (1903) with Paul West
This was featured in the Englander/Smith Broadway Musical called The Office Boy Victoria Theatre NY
2 Nov 1903
2 Jan 1904
Laces and Graces (1903) Instrumental composed by John W Bratton & Gustave Salzer
Sunshine & Roses (PF) (1903)
Finale i (1903) with Paul West
One of the Customs of China (1903) with Paul West
For I am a Married Man (1903) with Paul West
Society on de Bowery (1903) with Paul West
Make Believe (1903) with Paul West
They've Never Been Married Before (1903) with Paul West
One Nice Little Million (1903) with Paul West
<< My Cosey Corner Girl (1903) with Chas N Douglas
Recorded
* Henry Burr on Columbia
* Harry Macdonough on Edison
Very unusually this cover does not credit the lyricist
Words
Beside the murmuring sad sea waves
Some lovers like to sit
And watch the white winged seagulls
O'er old ocean's bosom flit
While others claim a country lane
With moonlight bright above
Is the ideal and only real
And proper place for love
By silv'ry stream some say love's dream
Takes on an added zest
There ev'ry glance takes on romance
And kisses taste the best
Then cheek to cheek on mountain peak
Some love to flirt and kiss
But of all the lot the choicest spot
In my opinion's this
CHORUS
In a little corner cosey
Where I sit with my darling Rosie
With her dear little hand in mine
And gaze into eyes devine
Ah my cosey corner pillow
Beats the moonlight stream or billow
And my heads in a whirl as I kiss each curl
Of my cosey corner girl
With lamp turn'd low..naught but glow
Of soft and mystic light
I seek my cosey corner
And the girl I love tonight
Mid draperies and downy ease
Luxurious and divine
I take sweet sips from ruby lips
Of she...whose only mine
On moonlight tryst let some insist
By mountain lake or stream
Where rude mosquitoes interfere
And spoil love's sweet young dream
In wooded dell let others tell
Of love's sweet ecstacy
But when I spoon I want no moon
The place I choose will be..
CHORUS
In a Lotus Field
(PF)
1903)
How I Thought I Look (1903) with Paul West
Le Banc Pre fe re (PF) (1903)
My Telephone Belle (1903) with Paul West
<<The Love Song of the Flowers (1903) with Arthur J Lamb
A Pretty Little Peach from Orange (1903) with Paul West
The Amorous Esquimaux (PF) (1903)
Pretty Little Boarding School Girls (1903) with Paul West
"Goodbye Teddy You Must March, March, March" with Paul West published in 1904 (3 years before TBP) during the presidential election campaign, basically tells Teddy Roosevelt to move out of the White House because Alton Parker, the Democrat opponent is going to win the election.
In reality, it was Teddy 1 Alton 0
That's the Girl (1904) with Paul West
Seeing New York in the Rubber Neck Hack (1904) with Paul West
I Love You Forever & Aye (1904) with Paul West
Resolved (1904) with Paul West
<< In a Pagoda (PF) (1904)
In Black and White (1904) with Paul West
Happy Jappy Soldier Man (1904) with Paul West
Additional music & songs by John W. Bratton and Paul West is credited in Leslie Stuart's Musical "The School Girl" 1904
The Pearl & the Pumpkin
Broadway Show by Bratton & West
72 Performances
21 Aug 1905
4 Nov 1905
Broadway Theatre
Featuring Honeymoon Hall and Jack O' Lantern Joe
A PRE-CURSOR TO THE TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC? Note, above, that in 1905 John Walter Bratton wrote an instrumental called The Squirrels' Picnic
Involved in the illustration of the book The Pearl and the Pumkin, on which the musical was based, was former newspaper cartoonist William Wallace Denslow (1856-1915) who was famous for the illustrations in The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L Frank Baum. Indeed he arrogantly believed that it was his pictures that made the book the success it was
From the Broadway Musical The Pearl and the Pumkin based on the book by Paul West and pictures by W W Denslow
<< Honeymoon Hall (1904)
Recorded 1905 - Harry Macdonough on Victor
Mademoiselle New York (1904) with Paul West
Come My True Love (1905)
<< Jack O' Lantern Joe (1905) with Paul West
<< The Little Black Man (1905) with Paul West
This and many of the previously shown songs seem disgraceful in current times. For information about so called coon songs CLICK HERE or see below
<< When America Is Captured By The Japs (1905) with Paul West
<< Come On, Let's Two Step (1905) with Maurice Stonehill, as featured in the Revue,The Land of Nod, which opened 1 April 1907
The Girl I Left in Boston Town (1905) words Chas N Douglas and John W Bratton music Ernest Ball featured in the musical comedy The Rollicking Girl
Rosy Lips (PF) (1906)
Spangles (PF) (1906)
The Wooden Soldier (PF) (1906)
<< The Town at the End of the Line (1906) with Arthur J. Lamb
<< Note...change of lyricist & publisher
<< Ev'ry Baby Is a Sweet Bouquet (1907) with several
This featured in The Newlyweds and their Baby, a Broadway production by The Leffler Bratton Co., and written by Bratton & others, with 40 performances at Majestic Theatre
22 Mar 1909
24 April 1909
The Leffler Bratton Co also produced "Let George Do It" which ran from 22 April 1912 to 4 May 1912. It was also based on a book by Aaron Hoffman with words and music by Paul West and Nat D Ayer
The Leffler Bratton Co also produced "The Ding Bats" see below
<< Somebody's Been Around Here Since I've Been Gone (1907) with Paul West
This featured in The Gay White Way at the Casino Theatre for 105 performances 7 Oct 1907 to 4 Jan 1908
<< The Teddy Bears' Picnic (PF) (1907) with words added in 1932 by Jimmy Kennedy
<< Molly McGinnity You're My Affinity (1907) Words & music by JWB
<< My Boy Bill (1908) with Paul West This featured in Gus Edward's "Merry Go Round" described as a Musical Comedy-Two Balmy Breaths from Bohemia which ran at the Circle Theatre from 25 April 1908 to 18 July 1908
In this show featured "Baby say Da! Da!" (1908) by John Walter Bratton and Paul West see below
<<Dimples (1908)
Mandy from Mandalay (1909)
Mamzelle Fifi (1909) with Paul West
The Jungle Jubilee (1910)
The Rest of the Week She's Mine (1910) with Charles H Taylor
Patsy Rosenstein (
r Man (1914) with Paul West
<< Then I'll Come Back To You (1917)
Words & Music JWB
When the Fightin' Irish Come Home (1919) w&m by John W Bratton
<< That's Why God Loves The Irish, One and All (1919) by Ernest R Ball with lyrics by John W Bratton
How Is It By You, By Me It's Fine (1921) by Ray Perkins with lyrics by RP and John W Bratton
Mender of Broken Dreams (1925) w&m by John W Bratton
This featured in Charlot Revue for 138 performances in the Selwyn Theatre NY from Nov 1925 to March 1926T
<< Sweetheart Let's Grow Old Together (1936) Leo Edwards with lyrics by John W Bratton
"I Talked to God Last Night" (1940) by David W Guion with lyrics by John W Bratton
"Lovely Little Lady" (1941) by Geoffrey O'Hara with lyrics by John W Bratton
Lets Get Together by Geoffrey O'Hara with lyrics by John W Bratton
<< Defend Your Country (1940) by Leo Edwards with words by John W Bratton
I Watched the Rain (1956) w & m by Edith Temple, John W Bratton and Nancy O'Hara
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