Billy Gould

Singing and comic speeches.

"Mary" sons, "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Popularity," "The Right Idea," and "I May Come Back to You."

Billy Gould, as dapper and debonair as ever, with a collection of stories and several corking songs, scored one of the hits of the bill at the Colonial Monday night. He was on rather early, but the entire bill was considerably switched about and he was moved from next to closing to No. 3. Gould introduces himself with a short speech to the effect that he has some new songs which he wrote and composed himself and some gags that he has dragged into the act just to make it more difficult. His opening song is entitled "Mr. Honeymoon," and he puts it over rather well, although it isn't just the type of song that one would expect from him. He follows this with a lyrical tribute to George M. Cohan as a song writer which brings in a revue of all of the hits the Yankee Doodle Comedian wrote in the past, including both "Mary" songs, "Give Mr Regards to Broadway," "Popularity," etc. Then come the stories, three of which were rather old. Of course Gould blames 'em all on his Irish friend Kelly, and as long as they still get a laugh he supposedly figures there isn't any need of changing them. Another song is entitled "The Right Idea." It's a topical number more or less of the red, white and blue hurrah style, ending with a President Wilson verse. Billy's best number is a corking march song of the Irish type that has a great melody and probably entitled "I May Come Back to You." The lyric has a touch of comedy that the comedian puts over to the best advantage by working to one of the boxes.

Variety, 40:8 (10/22/1915)