Will B. Johnstone

William Breuninger Johnstone (13 March 1881 – 4 February 1944) was an American writer, cartoonist, and lyricist.

His writing credits include the Marx Brothers's Broadway revue I'll Say She Is and, with S.J. Perelman, their first two Hollywood films, Monkey Business and Horse Feathers. He also wrote several popular songs, including a version of "How Dry I Am", a part of which plagiarizes Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay."

He created the cartoon character of 'The Tax Payer' wearing only a barrel held up by suspenders. It was a regular feature in the New York World-Telegram. Johnstone also created the comic strip You Know Me Al (distributed by the Bell Syndicate).

Birth and Death Data: Born March 13, 1881 (St. Louis), Died February 6, 1944 (West Palm Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1914 - 1924

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

Notes: Disc label (VI 70111) gives lyricist name as "Will B. Johnson"

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-15148 12-in. 8/26/1914 Your eyes George MacFarlane Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30168 10-in. 6/6/1924 Only you International Novelty Orchestra ; Lewis James Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
OKeh 654 10-in. ca. Apr. 1919 The call of the cosy little home Joseph A. Phillips Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 6717 10-in. 4/3/1919 The call of the cosy little home Charles Hart ; Leola Lucey Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 8340 10-in. 1/12/1922 Up in the clouds Lewis James ; Elizabeth Spencer Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 9228 10-in. 10/30/1923 The thrill of love Helen Clark ; Joseph A. Phillips Female-male vocal duet lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnstone, Will B.," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102288.

Johnstone, Will B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102288.

"Johnstone, Will B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102288

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