James Thornton (songwriter, vaudeville performer)
Encyclopedia
James Thornton was an American songwriter
and vaudeville
performer. He is primarily remembered today as the composer of the 1898 song, "When You Were Sweet Sixteen
".
, Massachusetts
, and then achieved success with his wife, Elisabeth "Bonnie" Cox, in music halls throughout the US as what was then called a "serio-comic" or "monologist" (essentially a stand-up comic) and singer. During his career, he also performed in a vaudeville team with Charles B. Lawlor
.
Thornton's compositions included: "When You Were Sweet Sixteen
", "She May Have Seen Better Days", "The Irish Jubilee", "Two Little Girls in Blue", "When Summer Comes Around", "It Don’t Seem Like the Same Old Smile", "My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon", and the 1893 song, "The Streets of Cairo", composed for the Chicago
World’s Fair
of that year.
Thornton’s last public appearance was in 1934 at the Forrest Theater in New York City
.
. According to the 1900 US census and his birth certificate, he was born of Irish parents, John Thornton and Catherine Molloy, in Liverpool
, England
. He emigrated with his parents and siblings to Boston United States
in 1869, became a US citizen in 1931, and died in New York City
.
Margaret Bradford Boni wrote about him:
Apparently, this was a recurring theme in their marriage, as a similar story is told about the origin of "When You Were Sweet Sixteen".
After Bonnie died in 1920, Thornton married Josephine Boyle.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performer. He is primarily remembered today as the composer of the 1898 song, "When You Were Sweet Sixteen
When You Were Sweet Sixteen
"When You Were Sweet Sixteen" is a popular song. It was written by James Thornton. The song was published in 1898. Its chorus:- Early recordings :*George J. Gaskin *Jere Mahoney *Henry Macdonough *J. W. Myers *Al Jolson...
".
Career
Thornton started his career as a "singing waiter" in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and then achieved success with his wife, Elisabeth "Bonnie" Cox, in music halls throughout the US as what was then called a "serio-comic" or "monologist" (essentially a stand-up comic) and singer. During his career, he also performed in a vaudeville team with Charles B. Lawlor
Charles B. Lawlor
Charles B. Lawlor was an American vaudeville performer and composer of popular songs. He was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1869....
.
Thornton's compositions included: "When You Were Sweet Sixteen
When You Were Sweet Sixteen
"When You Were Sweet Sixteen" is a popular song. It was written by James Thornton. The song was published in 1898. Its chorus:- Early recordings :*George J. Gaskin *Jere Mahoney *Henry Macdonough *J. W. Myers *Al Jolson...
", "She May Have Seen Better Days", "The Irish Jubilee", "Two Little Girls in Blue", "When Summer Comes Around", "It Don’t Seem Like the Same Old Smile", "My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon", and the 1893 song, "The Streets of Cairo", composed for the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
World’s Fair
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
of that year.
Thornton’s last public appearance was in 1934 at the Forrest Theater in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Private life
Little is known about his early life. According to the New York Times, he was born in Dublin, IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. According to the 1900 US census and his birth certificate, he was born of Irish parents, John Thornton and Catherine Molloy, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He emigrated with his parents and siblings to Boston United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1869, became a US citizen in 1931, and died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Margaret Bradford Boni wrote about him:
Apparently, this was a recurring theme in their marriage, as a similar story is told about the origin of "When You Were Sweet Sixteen".
After Bonnie died in 1920, Thornton married Josephine Boyle.