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Bert L. Rule

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bert L. Rule (né Albert Lyman Rule; 12 August 1891 Brooklyn;[1] – 17 August 1978 East Patchogue, New York) was an American composer, arranger, singer, and pianist of popular songs of Tin Pan Alley and the vaudeville genre. Rule composed and published his music, some of which became national hits, from 1913 to 1934. He worked in publishing houses, namely M. Witmark & Sons and performed in vaudeville theaters throughout the country roughly during the same period.

Career highlights

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Brennan & Rule (circa 1918–1920)

In 1918 and 1919, while under contract with M. Witmark & Sons, Rule performed vaudeville shows with lyricist J. Keirn Brennan, both signing compositions they wrote together, with Rule accompanying on piano. Their biggest nationwide hit at the time was Have a Smile for Everyone You Meet[2] and Gates of Gladness.[3]

O'Brien & Rule (circa 1923–1925)

In 1924, Rule performed as a singing composer, with John O'Brien, as singing comedian, in a vaudeville show at the Lyceum in Canton, Ohio.[4] There is an article and advertisement in an October 1924 Toronto newspaper stating that Rule and O'Brien was to perform at Shea's Hippodrome in Toronto.[5] There are also advertisements in 1924 issues of The Plain Dealer showing Rule and O'Brien performing at B. F. Keith's Palace in Cleveland.[6] There is a 1926 article in a 1926 issue of The Times, Batavia, New York stating that Rule and O'Brien was performing at Shea's in Buffalo.[7]

Selected compositions

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Various publishers
  • Way Down East, Sailors Don't Care, words & music by H. Wallis & G. Feist, Bert Rule (publisher unknown) (1923) OCLC 497250665
Published by A. J. Stasny Music Co.
Published by Allan & Co., Melbourne
Published by M. Witmark & Sons

Selected arrangements

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Published by Santly Bros.
Santly Bros. WFAA Collection

Selected discography

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Historic recordings
  • Have a smile Sterling Trio Victor 18518 (4 December 1918)
  • The gates of gladness (on the road to Sunshine Land) Shannon Four, Lewis James, Victor 18590 (28 May 1919)
  • That's how I believe in you Henry Burr, Victor 18848 (27 October 1921)
Cylinder recordings

Family

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Albert Lyman Rule was married to Jessie Jack Ellen Laurie (1894-1978). They had a son and a daughter: Donald J. Rule (born 1915–2008) and Edna J. Rule (born 1921-1990).

References

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  1. ^ Albert Rule: 1930 United States Federal Census Record, Woodhaven, New York
  2. ^ At Poli's, Wilkes-Barre Times, April 4, 1918
  3. ^ Brennan and Rule in Vaudeville, The Music Trades, pg. 23, June 14, 1919
  4. ^ Act Is Pretentious, The Repository, col. 5 (bottom), pg. 5, January 19, 1924
  5. ^ Shea's, Archived 2012-04-21 at the Wayback Machine Canadian Jewish Review, pg. 18, October 1, 1924
  6. ^ Advertisement, The Plain Dealer, pg. 17, January 5, 1925
  7. ^ "Everybody's Welcome" Heads Bill at Shea's Court Street Theater, The Times, Batavia, New York, col. 2, pg. 3, September 25, 1926