Albert Von Tilzer

Albert Von Tilzer, composer of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 29, 1878. In his early career, Von Tilzer was a music director for a vaudeville company as well as a shoe buyer for a Brooklyn department store. He was hired as a staff writer at his brother Harry’s music publishing company and in 1903, formed his own publishing firm with another brother, Jack.

Von Tilzer worked on Broadway composing the scores for Honey Girl, The Gingham Girl, Adrienne and Bye, Bye Bonnie. He also contributed songs to films in the 1920’s and ’30’s.

Von Tilzer’s chief collaborators include Jack Norworth, Junie McCree, Lew Brown, Neville Fleeson and Cecil Mack. Highlights from the Albert Von Tilzer catalog include “Teasing”, “Honey Boy”, “Smarty”, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey”, “I’m the Lonesomest Gal in Town”, “Oh, How She Could Yacki Hacki Wicki Wacki Woo”, “Au Revoir, but Not Goodbye”, “Take Me Up With You, Dearie”, “Nora Malone”, “Why Doesn’t Santa Claus Go Next Door?”, “Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl”, “How Do You Do, Miss Josephine”, “I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time”, “Waters of Venice”, “Wait Till You Get Them Up in the Air, Boys”, “Oh, By Jingo”, “My Little Girl”, “Chile Bean”, “I Used to Love You but It’s All Over Now”, “I’ll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time”, “Dapper Dan”, “My Cutie’s Due at Two to Two Today”, “Roll Along, Prairie Moon”, “I’m Praying to St. Christopher” and “Say it With Flowers.”

Albert Von Tilzer died in Los Angeles, California on October 1, 1956.