The Cubanola Glide

The Cubanola Glide

Sometimes it's amazing how modern an old tune can sound. You're looking at the cover of the Cubanola Glide, a rag written and published by Harry Von Tilzer with words by Vincent Bryan in 1909. The cover's nothing to speak of, it kind of reminds me of all the Hawaii and South Pacific themed covers that were common through the twenties when the wealth of the stock market boom allowed average people the opportunity to travel the world. Cubanola features a simple sea view with potted palms and what might be El Morro Castle in the background. The whole thing is done in a questionable green, but I guess all things tropical should be green.

Harry Von Tilzer

Von Tilzer holds a special place for me since he's a local boy. He was born in Goshen, Indiana and at the age of 14 ran away to fulfill every boy's dream of joining a traveling circus. Harry was a successful calliope player and he wrote new tunes and incidental music for the shows. Once he left the circus, he wrote and played for Burlesque and Vaudeville shows. In 1898 he sold his song My Old New Hampshire Home to a publisher for the grand sum of $15, and then watched it become a national hit that sold over 2 million copies. Bolstered by this success, he began writing professionally. 

In 1900 his tune A Bird in a Gilded Cage became one of the biggest hits of the age and Von Tilzer became one of the best known Tin Pan Alley songwriters. In 1902 Von Tilzer formed his own publishing company, where he was soon joined by his younger brother Albert. 

Harry Von Tilzer's other hits included Wait 'Til The Sun Shines Nellie, Old King Tut, All Alone, Mariutch, The Ragtime Goblin Man, I Love My Wife, But Oh You Kid!, They Always Pick On Me, I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad), And The Green Grass Grew All Around, and On the Old Fall River Line among others. Harry died in New York City on January 10, 1946. 

I managed to find a version of the Cubanola Glide by Arthur Smith. It's nice to actually hear a piece. So many times you're left with the cover image and no idea of what it might have sounded like. I imagine there was a Cubanola Glide dance too, but I couldn't find any videos showing the steps. I guess sometimes the past keeps her secrets.