West and Denslow

Paul West

Paul Clarendon West (1871-1918) wrote the lyrics to the song “One! Two! Three! All Over,” which was interpolated into The Tik-Tok Man of Oz during the final months of the show. West also had a long association with William Wallace Denslow, illustrator and co-creator of the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

A letter from West to Denslow provides details of their earliest connections. West was editor of the Comic Section of The World, a major New York City newspaper in the late 1880s and early 1900s. At the time West wrote his letter, Denslow had recently illustrated the children’s book of verse by L. Frank Baum Father Goose: His Book, the first critical and popular success produced by the Denslow-Baum team.

Here’s West’s letter:

The World
Sunday Edition – Editorial Dept.,
Pulitzer Building, Park Row, N. Y.

Dec. 6 1899

Dear Denslow,

Maybe you remember one or two evenings we spent together in Chicago, when I was with Camille D’Arville. That is the reason I write so familiarly – also, I think I’m entitled to after having made up that page from “Father Goose” for the Sunday World, for you.

All of which leads me to ask you if we can’t get something from you at a rate commensurate with the limited amounts the World allows me to pay for comic pictures. If I should send you a good idea, and, on your working it up for a page, give you full credit as author of “Father Goose’s” pictures, wouldn’t you be willing to do the drawing “very reasonable” for us? Let me know, and I will send you some material on hearing from you? [sic]  With best wishes for the success of “Father Goose,” of which, by the way, I haven’t a copy, I am yours very truly,

Paul West,
Ed. Comic Supplement.

The famous actress Camille D’Arville, mentioned by West, was well known for her stint with the celebrated theatrical company the Bostonians. D’Arville employed West as her theatrical company’s advance agent in 1894. In December of that year, D’Arville played Chicago while touring in the comic opera Madeleine; or, The Magic Kiss. This engagement likely provided the “one or two evenings” when West met Denslow, who frequented Chicago theatrical circles, both socially and professionally, while he resided in that city.

The “page from ‘Father Goose’ for the Sunday World” that West “made up” for Denslow likely refers to a November 12, 1899, World's comic section feature on Denslow and Baum’s best selling Father Goose: His Book.

Denslow evidently complied with West’s request in the letter’s second paragraph. A month and a half after this letter, on January 1, 1900, a full-page comic illustration by Denslow graced the first page of “The Funny Side,” the World’s comic section. The delicate, detailed color artwork featured the character of Father Goose speeding on a sled while other characters from Father Goose: His Book flee from the sled’s path.

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