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J. Cheever Goodwin

John Cheever Goodwin (1850 – December 1912) was an American musical theatre librettist, lyricist and producer. Goodwin was born in Boston and graduated from Harvard University. He began a career in journalism before turning to writing for the stage. Early in his theatrical career he worked for Alice Oates, acting in her company and translating French opera bouffe into English for performance by her company. He often worked with composers Edward E. Rice and Woolson Morse. Goodwin was one of the earliest American writers dedicated to musical theatre librettos and lyrics. His first successful libretto was Evangeline in 1874, and his last new work was produced in 1903.

Goodwin's works included a much-revived musical adaptation, or musical burlesque, of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Evangeline called Evangeline; or, The Belle of Acadia (1874), composed by Rice; The Corsair (1887), with music by Rice; Jacquette (1887), with music by André Messager; Little Pig Went to Market (1890), with music by Gustave Kerker; The Merry Monarch, an English-language adaptation of L'étoile, with music by Morse (1890); a popular and well-revived piece, Wang (1891), with music by Morse, starring De Wolf Hopper; Panjandrum (1893), with music by Morse, written for and produced by Hopper's company; The Devil's Deputy (1894), music by Edward Jakobowski; A Daughter of the Revolution (1895), with music by Ludwig Engländer; Lost, Strayed or Stolen (1896), with music by Morse; 'Round New York in 80 Minutes (1899–1900), with music by Rice and John J. Braham; The Cadet Girl (1900), with music by Ludwig Engländer; The Monks of Malabar (1900), composed by Engländer; The Rogers Brothers in Central Park (1900–01), with music by Maurice Levi; The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast (1901–02), with music by Frederick Solomon; and Mr. Bluebeard (1903), with music by Solomon.

Of Lost, Strayed or Stolen, a critic commented: "Cheever Goodwin, clever at adaptation, at times a most dexterous manipulator in stagecraft, has been singularly successful in this latest venture. Starting of a delightfully humorous set of complications, woven logically together, he has made an honest translation and obtained a genuinely absurd farce which he carries through four acts, sustaining the interest to the end."

Birth and Death Data: Born 1850, Died December 1, 1912

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1918

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

= 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 [Pre-matrix A-]426 7-in. 10/17/1900 When Reuben comes to town Edna Florence Female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]474 7-in. 10/29/1900 When Reuben comes to town Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]492 7-in. 11/7/1900 The duchess of Central Park Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]519 7-in. 11/15/1900 When Reuben comes to town S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1912 10-in. 1/26/1903 When Reuben comes to town S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1912 7-in. 1/26/1903 When Reuben comes to town S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3001 10-in. 1/3/1901 When Reuben comes to town S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo and whistling, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]3001 7-in. 1/3/1901 When Reuben comes to town S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor B-21922 10-in. 5/14/1918 A pretty girl Mabel Garrison Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 318 10-in. ca. 1901-Sept. 1902 When Reuben comes to town Will F. Denny Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 318 7-in. ca. 1901-Sept. 1902 When Reuben comes to town Will F. Denny Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 943 10-in. ca. 1902-1908 I'm getting quite American, don't you know Male vocalist (unidentified; Columbia Records) Tenor vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 943 7-in. ca. 1902-Oct. 1905 I'm getting quite American, don't you know Male vocalist (unidentified; Columbia Records) Tenor vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 944 10-in. ca. 1902-1904 The troubles of the Reuben and the maid Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 944 7-in. ca. 1902-Oct. 1905 The troubles of the Reuben and the maid Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 46190 10-in. 11/9/1915 A pretty girl Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47329 10-in. 1/30/1917 A pretty girl Norma Kopp Danforth Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Goodwin, J. Cheever," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104032.

Goodwin, J. Cheever. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104032.

"Goodwin, J. Cheever." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104032

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