Sam Fox Publishing Company
Encyclopedia
Sam Fox Publishing Company, American music publishing house founded in 1906 by Sam Fox
of Cleveland, Ohio. The company was the first to publish original film scores in the United States, and was the publisher of numerous artists and international hit songs.
was named music director. Zemecnik began writing original music scores for the films shown at the Hippodrome, which Fox published. The business arrangement between Fox and Zamecnik flourished and the music director became the major composer and music director for Fox's publishing company.
. That working relationship continued until Sousa's death in 1934. Publication of the Zamecnik scores ran the extent of the silent film
era (1913–1928) and the music was played in film theaters across the United States on a daily basis for more than a decade. The Fox-Zamecnik collaboration resulted in the publication of more than 2,000 compositions.
The 1915 piano novelty "Nola," by Felix Arndt
became an international hit, and by 1918, Sam Fox Publishing Company offerings could be found in newspapers in both the United States and Canada, in advertisements claiming "Leading Dealers sell Sam Fox Music of Merit." "Kisses", Valse D'Amour by J.S. Zamecnik was listed as one of two successes that should be in "every home." Zamecnik's "Neapolitan Nights" also met with major success, as did "Lady of Spain," penned by Erell Reaves and Tolchard Evans
in 1931.
Even as early as the release of "Nola," the Sam Fox Publishing Company logo featured the tag line, "Established Throughout The World," and listed offices and representatives in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, and "other Important Centers." The New York office was headed in later years by Sam Fox's son Frederick, who had worked at the office at 202 The Arcade, Cleveland until after 1942.
The company's musical score publishing for Hollywood films was solidified with contracts with Fox Films and Movietone News as their exclusive musical producer. The Hollywood film work led to his publication of songs in Fox films, including "On the Good Ship Lollipop
" and Animal Crackers in My Soup
sung by Shirley Temple
. Sam Fox Publishing Company entered the Broadway field in 1947 with the publication of the musical score for the award-winning film "Brigadoon
" and the score for "Man of La Mancha
."
Sam Fox Publishing Company ranked among the top ten musical publishers in the United States by the middle of the 20th century. The company became Sam Fox Publishing Company, Inc. on January 22, 1953, when it was incorporated in the state of New York.
Samuel Fox (1884-1971)
Samuel Fox , American music publisher and founder of the Sam Fox Publishing Company and the first to publish original film scores in the United States.-Early life:...
of Cleveland, Ohio. The company was the first to publish original film scores in the United States, and was the publisher of numerous artists and international hit songs.
Founding
The company began in 1906, when at age 25, Sam Fox borrowed $300 to start the company he first called Sandbox Music Publishing. At the same time as the company's founding, construction of Cleveland's Hippodrome Theatre had just been completed where John Stepan ZamecnikJohn Stepan Zamecnik
John Stepan Zamecnik was an American composer and conductor, most notably of "photoplay music."...
was named music director. Zemecnik began writing original music scores for the films shown at the Hippodrome, which Fox published. The business arrangement between Fox and Zamecnik flourished and the music director became the major composer and music director for Fox's publishing company.
Association with Zamecnik
Almost immediately, Fox and Zamecnik began a collaboration that resulted in a prolific output of music. Zamecnik used more than twenty pseudonyms in penning his songs, giving the impression that the publishing company was a large company. In 1908, Sam Fox Publishing Company released a march by Zamecnik entitled "The College Yell" which may have led to an association nine years later, when Fox became the exclusive publisher for the man known as the March King, John Philip SousaJohn Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
. That working relationship continued until Sousa's death in 1934. Publication of the Zamecnik scores ran the extent of the silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
era (1913–1928) and the music was played in film theaters across the United States on a daily basis for more than a decade. The Fox-Zamecnik collaboration resulted in the publication of more than 2,000 compositions.
Expansion
Felix Arndt
Felix Arndt was an American pianist and composer of popular music. His mother was the Countess Fevrier, related to Napoleon III....
became an international hit, and by 1918, Sam Fox Publishing Company offerings could be found in newspapers in both the United States and Canada, in advertisements claiming "Leading Dealers sell Sam Fox Music of Merit." "Kisses", Valse D'Amour by J.S. Zamecnik was listed as one of two successes that should be in "every home." Zamecnik's "Neapolitan Nights" also met with major success, as did "Lady of Spain," penned by Erell Reaves and Tolchard Evans
Tolchard Evans
Sydney Edmund Tolchard Evans was a British songwriter, composer, pianist and bandleader, whose works were popular from the 1920s to the 1960s....
in 1931.
Even as early as the release of "Nola," the Sam Fox Publishing Company logo featured the tag line, "Established Throughout The World," and listed offices and representatives in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, and "other Important Centers." The New York office was headed in later years by Sam Fox's son Frederick, who had worked at the office at 202 The Arcade, Cleveland until after 1942.
The company's musical score publishing for Hollywood films was solidified with contracts with Fox Films and Movietone News as their exclusive musical producer. The Hollywood film work led to his publication of songs in Fox films, including "On the Good Ship Lollipop
On the Good Ship Lollipop
"On the Good Ship Lollipop" was the trademark song of child actress Shirley Temple. Temple first sang it in the 1934 movie Bright Eyes. The "ship" in the song is an aircraft; the scene in Bright Eyes where the song appears takes place on an American Airlines Douglas DC-2 which is taxiing. In the...
" and Animal Crackers in My Soup
Animal Crackers in My Soup
"Animal Crackers in My Soup" was a song introduced by Shirley Temple in the 1935 film "Curly Top". The lyrics were written by Irving Caesar and Ted Koehler and the music by Ray Henderson, sheet music published by Sam Fox Publishing Company....
sung by Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
. Sam Fox Publishing Company entered the Broadway field in 1947 with the publication of the musical score for the award-winning film "Brigadoon
Brigadoon
Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Songs from the musical, such as "Almost Like Being in Love" have become standards....
" and the score for "Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece Don Quixote...
."
Sam Fox Publishing Company ranked among the top ten musical publishers in the United States by the middle of the 20th century. The company became Sam Fox Publishing Company, Inc. on January 22, 1953, when it was incorporated in the state of New York.