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{{short description| Comedic vaudeville song from the early 20th century}}{{Infobox song
]
| name = Mister Gallagher and Mister Sheen
| cover = Gallagher and Shean cover.png
| type = song
| artist = Ed Gallagher, Al Shean
| writer = Ed Gallagher, Al Shean
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = song
| file = File:Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean (1922) Positively, Mr. Gallagher?.mp3
| description =Recording of ''Positively, Mr. Gallagher?'', performed by Gallagher and Sheen (1922)
}}
}}


'''"Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean"''' is one of the most famous songs to come from ]. First performed by the duo of ] in the early 1920s, it became a huge hit and carried Gallagher & Shean to stardom.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Gallagher, Ed | author2=Shean, Al | title=Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean : Printed music edition | date=1922 | publisher=D. Davis & Co | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10387074 | accessdate=25 August 2017 }}, ''...Cover has portraits of Al Shean and Ed. Gallagher. / Cover title: Oh! Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean. / For voice and piano. / "By themselves about themselves"--Cover....''</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232523444 |title=NOTICE is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1912, and the Copyright |newspaper=] |issue=86 |location=Australia |date=13 December 1923 |accessdate=25 August 2017 |page=2295 |via=National Library of Australia}} , ''...Work—Composer. Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean—Fox Trot,-—Gallagher Shean...''</ref> The music was written by Shean, while ] (uncredited) wrote the lyrics. The sheet music credits Gallagher and Shean as writers. The song is also sometimes known as "Absolutely, Mr. Gallagher? Positively, Mr. Shean!."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gallagher-and-Shean|title=Gallagher and Shean {{!}} American vaudeville team|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>
'''"Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean"''' is one of the most famous songs to come from ]. First performed by the duo of ] in the early 1920s, it became a huge hit and carried Gallagher & Shean to stardom.


It contains jokes typical of the time but also lampoons current fads and events (''"Cost of living went so high / That it's cheaper now to die"''). The song itself gave rise to many parody versions. It contains jokes typical of the time but also lampoons current fads and events (''"Cost of living went so high / That it's cheaper now to die"''). The song itself gave rise to many parody versions.


As this song was sung on the vaudeville stage, each verse was presented as a miniature skit, as though Shean came across Gallagher on a street, beginning: ''"Oh, Mister Gallagher! Oh Mister Gallagher! Have you heard...?"'' Gallagher would say ''"Yes, yes"'' to his entreaties before the joke was set up in the verse. As this song was sung on the vaudeville stage, each verse was presented as a miniature skit, as though Shean came across Gallagher on a street, beginning: ''"Oh, Mister Gallagher! Oh Mister Gallagher! Have you heard...?"'' Gallagher would say ''"Yes, yes"'' to his entreaties before the joke was set up in the verse.


Because the duo's first appearance together had been in a skit set in Egypt, the two performed the song in Egyptian costume (Gallagher in white suit and straw hat of the tourist, Shean in ] and bizarre skirted jacket of the "native" colonial).<ref name="Slide_p203"/> Aside from one reference to the ] made in one of the original verses, their costumes had nothing to do with the song, but reflected the craze for all things Egyptian after the discovery of ] tomb. Because the duo's first appearance together had been in a skit set in Egypt, the two performed the song in Egyptian costume (Gallagher wearing either a straw hat or a solar topee, Shean in ] and bizarre skirted jacket of the "native" colonial).<ref name="Slide_p203"/> Aside from one reference to the ] made in one of the original verses, their costumes had nothing to do with the song, but reflected the craze for all things Egyptian after the discovery of ] tomb.


Each verse ended with a question-and-answer refrain, one of which – ''"Positively, Mister Gallagher? Absolutely, Mister Shean!"'' – became a well-known catchphrase for many years thereafter.<ref name="Slide_p203">Slide, Anthony (2012). ''The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville''. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 203. {{ISBN|1-61703-250-6}}</ref> Each verse ended with a question-and-answer refrain, one of which – ''"Positively, Mister Gallagher? Absolutely, Mister Shean!"'' – became a well-known catchphrase for many years thereafter.<ref name="Slide_p203">Slide, Anthony (2012). ''The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville''. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 203. {{ISBN|1-61703-250-6}}</ref>


Probably the most successful revival of the song was the version recorded by ] and ] for ] on July 1, 1938<ref>{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/crosby1bDecca.html|website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|accessdate=July 28, 2017}}</ref> which had special lyrics by Mercer. Sub-titled "Mr. Crosby and Mr. Mercer" this reached No. 7 in the charts of the day.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Whitburn|first1=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954|date=1986|location=Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-083-0|pages=Record Research Inc}}</ref> A version was performed on television by ] (Shean's nephew) with ] in the late 1950s, and ] made off-handed reference to it in his 1960s nightclub act, all of them confident that it would be immediately recognizable to the audience.<ref></ref> Probably the most successful revival of the song was the version recorded by ] and ] for ] on July 1, 1938<ref>{{cite web|title=A Bing Crosby Discography|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/crosby1bDecca.html|website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|accessdate=July 28, 2017}}</ref> which had special lyrics by Mercer. Sub-titled "Mr. Crosby and Mr. Mercer" this reached No. 7 in the charts of the day.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Whitburn|first1=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954|date=1986|location=Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-083-0|pages=Record Research Inc|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwpopmemories00whit}}</ref> A version was performed on television by ] (Shean's nephew) with ] in the late 1950s, and ] made off-handed reference to it in his 1960s nightclub act, all of them confident that it would be immediately recognizable to the audience.<ref></ref>


The song is recreated in the film '']'' (1941), by Shean (in a cameo role as himself) together with ] (playing a fictitious version of Gallagher).
⚫ In 1966, ] and ] performed a version of the song on ].<ref>, TV.com</ref>


⚫ In 1966, ] and ] performed a version of the song on '']''.<ref>, TV.com</ref>
⚫ In the 1974 play '']'', by ], the characters Gwendolen and Cecily sing a parody version of the song, substituting their own names. As late as 1983 the song was the centerpiece of an advertising campaign by the ] corporation ("''Absolutely Mister Pitney? Positively Mister Bowes!"'').<ref>{{cite journal |volume=104 |issue=15 |date=April 11, 1983 |title=Ad-Vantage |url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-04-11.pdf |journal=Broadcasting |page=18 |accessdate=April 17, 2014}}</ref>


⚫ In the 1974 play '']'', by ], the characters Gwendolen and Cecily sing a parody version of the song, substituting their own names. As late as 1983, the song was the centerpiece of an advertising campaign by the ] corporation ("''Absolutely, Mister Pitney? Positively, Mister Bowes!"'').<ref>{{cite journal |volume=104 |issue=15 |date=April 11, 1983 |title=Ad-Vantage |url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-04-11.pdf |journal=Broadcasting |page=18 |accessdate=April 17, 2014}}</ref>
⚫ There are several versions of the song, and a long list of verses, as it was occasionally reworked or updated, as was typical of topical vaudeville songs. It was recorded both on a popular 78 rpm disc record and on an early "talkie" film, both of which featured the original performers. The song also is heard in the soundtrack of the feature films '']'' (1941), in which Shean himself appears, and ''Atlantic City'' (1944).


⚫ There are several versions of the song, and a long list of verses, as it was occasionally reworked or updated, as was typical of topical vaudeville songs. It was recorded both on a popular 78 rpm disc record and on an early "talkie" film, both of which featured the original performers. The song is heard in the soundtrack of the feature film ''Atlantic City'' (1944).
⚫ ] linked this song to his creation ''Bosom Buddies'' for the musical '']'', referring to the common technique of "rhyme pattern that sounds like dialogue but is actually lyric".

⚫ ] linked this song to his creation "Bosom Buddies" for the musical '']'', referring to the common technique of "rhyme pattern that sounds like dialogue but is actually lyric".
This song inspired at least the jingle associated with the household cleaning product ]; whether it directly inspired the product name is unknown. This song inspired at least the jingle associated with the household cleaning product ]; whether it directly inspired the product name is unknown.


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
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* at * at

{{authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 14:55, 11 December 2023

Comedic vaudeville song from the early 20th century
"Mister Gallagher and Mister Sheen"
Song by Ed Gallagher, Al Shean
Songwriter(s)Ed Gallagher, Al Shean
Audio sample
Recording of Positively, Mr. Gallagher?, performed by Gallagher and Sheen (1922)

"Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean" is one of the most famous songs to come from vaudeville. First performed by the duo of Gallagher and Shean in the early 1920s, it became a huge hit and carried Gallagher & Shean to stardom. The music was written by Shean, while Bryan Foy (uncredited) wrote the lyrics. The sheet music credits Gallagher and Shean as writers. The song is also sometimes known as "Absolutely, Mr. Gallagher? Positively, Mr. Shean!."

It contains jokes typical of the time but also lampoons current fads and events ("Cost of living went so high / That it's cheaper now to die"). The song itself gave rise to many parody versions.

As this song was sung on the vaudeville stage, each verse was presented as a miniature skit, as though Shean came across Gallagher on a street, beginning: "Oh, Mister Gallagher! Oh Mister Gallagher! Have you heard...?" Gallagher would say "Yes, yes" to his entreaties before the joke was set up in the verse.

Because the duo's first appearance together had been in a skit set in Egypt, the two performed the song in Egyptian costume (Gallagher wearing either a straw hat or a solar topee, Shean in fez and bizarre skirted jacket of the "native" colonial). Aside from one reference to the Nile made in one of the original verses, their costumes had nothing to do with the song, but reflected the craze for all things Egyptian after the discovery of King Tut's tomb.

Each verse ended with a question-and-answer refrain, one of which – "Positively, Mister Gallagher? Absolutely, Mister Shean!" – became a well-known catchphrase for many years thereafter.

Probably the most successful revival of the song was the version recorded by Bing Crosby and Johnny Mercer for Decca Records on July 1, 1938 which had special lyrics by Mercer. Sub-titled "Mr. Crosby and Mr. Mercer" this reached No. 7 in the charts of the day. A version was performed on television by Groucho Marx (Shean's nephew) with Jackie Gleason in the late 1950s, and Lenny Bruce made off-handed reference to it in his 1960s nightclub act, all of them confident that it would be immediately recognizable to the audience.

The song is recreated in the film Ziegfeld Girl (1941), by Shean (in a cameo role as himself) together with Charles Winninger (playing a fictitious version of Gallagher).

In 1966, Dean Martin and Phil Harris performed a version of the song on The Dean Martin Show.

In the 1974 play Travesties, by Tom Stoppard, the characters Gwendolen and Cecily sing a parody version of the song, substituting their own names. As late as 1983, the song was the centerpiece of an advertising campaign by the Pitney-Bowes corporation ("Absolutely, Mister Pitney? Positively, Mister Bowes!").

There are several versions of the song, and a long list of verses, as it was occasionally reworked or updated, as was typical of topical vaudeville songs. It was recorded both on a popular 78 rpm disc record and on an early "talkie" film, both of which featured the original performers. The song is heard in the soundtrack of the feature film Atlantic City (1944).

Jerry Herman linked this song to his creation "Bosom Buddies" for the musical Mame, referring to the common technique of "rhyme pattern that sounds like dialogue but is actually lyric". This song inspired at least the jingle associated with the household cleaning product Mr. Sheen; whether it directly inspired the product name is unknown.

References

  1. Gallagher, Ed; Shean, Al (1922), Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean : Printed music edition, D. Davis & Co, retrieved 25 August 2017, ...Cover has portraits of Al Shean and Ed. Gallagher. / Cover title: Oh! Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean. / For voice and piano. / "By themselves about themselves"--Cover....
  2. "NOTICE is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1912, and the Copyright". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 86. Australia. 13 December 1923. p. 2295. Retrieved 25 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia. , ...Work—Composer. Mister Gallagher and Mister Shean—Fox Trot,-—Gallagher Shean...
  3. "Gallagher and Shean | American vaudeville team". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  4. ^ Slide, Anthony (2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 203. ISBN 1-61703-250-6
  5. "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin. pp. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. Marxology
  8. The Dean Martin Show - Season 2, Episode 4: George Gobel / Vikki Carr / Phil Harris, TV.com
  9. "Ad-Vantage" (PDF). Broadcasting. 104 (15): 18. April 11, 1983. Retrieved April 17, 2014.

External links

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