Alfred E. Aarons

Aarons, Alfred E. (1865–1936), composer and producer. After beginning his career as a theatrical callboy in his native Philadelphia, Aarons became the manager of New York's Standard Theatre and Koster and Bial's. He next turned to composing and inserted songs such as “Rag Time Liz” into Broadway musicals. Soon he was producing musicals for which he wrote the scores, including Mam'selle 'Awkins (1900) and The Military Maid (1900), both of which starred his wife, Josephine Hall. He also produced Ivan Caryll's The Ladies' Paradise (1901) at the Metropolitan Opera House, His Honor the Mayor (1906), Magnolia (1923), Tell Me More (1925), and $25 an Hour (1933). His son was Alex[ander] A. AARONS (1891–1943), who produced La La Lucille (1919), the first of his many shows with George Gershwin. Aarons joined forces with Vinton Freedley in 1923 and presented such shows as Lady, Be Good! (1924), Tip‐Toes (1925), Oh, Kay! (1926), Funny Face (1927), Here's Howe (1928), Hold Everything! (1928), Spring Is Here (1929), and Girl Crazy (1930). In 1927 they built the Alvin Theatre (named after the two of them) as a showcase for their musicals, but lost it in the Great Depression. They dissolved their partnership in 1933, and Aarons retired from active production.