‘Winter Wonderland’ sheet music donated to WCHS

Posted 8/21/12

HONESDALE, PA — Local residents Sally and Ab Rutherford recently donated to the Wayne County Historical Society (WCHS) several pieces of sheet music for songs by Richard B. (Dick) Smith, a former …

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‘Winter Wonderland’ sheet music donated to WCHS

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HONESDALE, PA — Local residents Sally and Ab Rutherford recently donated to the Wayne County Historical Society (WCHS) several pieces of sheet music for songs by Richard B. (Dick) Smith, a former resident of Honesdale, who wrote the words to the holiday favorite “Winter Wonderland.” The Rutherfords donated the 1934 Guy Lombardo version of that classic, to which Felix Bernard wrote the music, as well as “It Looks Like an Early Fall” (with Ozzie Nelson as featured artist) and “The Breeze (That’s Bringin’ My Honey Back to Me).”

According to WCHS Executive Director Carol Henry Dunn, “Dick Smith was born in Honesdale in 1901, graduated from Honesdale High School in 1920, and went on to Penn State where he studied advertising and edited the college magazine. He also organized and conducted his own orchestra. After graduating, he moved to New York City, where he was not only a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, but also became a theater manager, with venues on Broadway and elsewhere around the country…

“Locals tell the story that the lyrics to ‘Winter Wonderland’ were inspired by snow scenes in Central Park in downtown Honesdale, which he witnessed from the windows of his family’s home at 922 Church St. ‘Winter Wonderland’ was featured in the ‘Ziegfeld Follies of 1934,’ and was first recorded by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. It eventually became a big hit about eight years after Smith’s death, and has since been recorded by over 200 artists including Perry Como, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Michael Bublé and many others, representing nearly every type of musical style.”

Smith died tragically young, in 1935, from tuberculosis, and was buried in Glen Dyberry Cemetery following a funeral at Grace Episcopal Church.

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