BERLIN, IRVING. (1888-1989). Russian-born, American songwriter. TLS. (“Irving”). 2/3p. 4to. N.p., November 18, 1942. On his personal stationery. To American newspaper columnist LEONARD LYONS (1906-1976).

“I’m taking care of the Red Cross Station Hospital. We’re planning to give them a show.

I’ll try to think of the verse I suggested, but first you must get all the other contributions from the song-writers. All I could give you would be a four-line jingle and it certainly wouldn’t be enough for a column.

My best to you, and in case I haven’t thanked you enough for the many mentions of the show and me, here goes for another ‘I thank you...’”

Born Israel Beilin, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants on New York’s Lower East Side, Berlin pulled himself out of poverty through his unique songwriting abilities, eventually publishing more than 1,500 songs, starting with his 1911 hit “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and the most famous of which are the enduring classics Always, God Bless America and White Christmas. In the spring of 1918, Berlin was drafted into the infantry and assigned to Camp Upton, in Yaphank, New York. A thoroughly detestable time, it nevertheless “proved to be a beneficial shock, for it gave him an entirely new range of experiences on which to draw for his songwriting,” (As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin, Bergreen). As an insomniac, chief among these despised experiences was reveille, Berlin’s hatred of which soon found expression in the rebellious tune, “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.” When the song became an immediate hit, Berlin decided to approach the camp’s commander about staging a vaudeville show for the amusement of troops not yet shipped off to fight in Europe. Years later, after the outbreak of World War II, the show was restaged as This Is the Army, a fundraiser for the military. Rehearsals began in the spring of 1942, making it highly likely that it is the show referred to in our letter. Wildly successful, This Is the Army, was made into a film in 1943.

Like Berlin, Lyons was born to Jewish immigrants living on the Lower East Side. Beginning as an attorney, Lyons earned a reputation as a journalist, first writing for the Jewish Daily Forward and, later as Broadway columnist for the New York Post (where the editor advised him to change his last name from Sucher to Lyons). From 1934-1974, Lyons penned 12,000 individual columns for his “The Lyons Den,” becoming a New York institution that was eventually syndicated by King Features.

Folded and unevenly age toned. With the address “779 7th Ave.” written in an unidentified hand under the signature. In very good condition.