Elixir of the Incas
In 1890s New York City, Baron and Brannigan are vaudeville performers looking to make it big on the stage. Billy Brannigan loves to sing and dance and prepares the duo’s routine for their nightly performances. But Danny Baron feels his talents lie in playing piano and writing songs, not on the stage performing with Billy. An injury eventually forces Billy to change his vocation – smart and always scheming, he establishes a publishing house in Tin Pan Alley to promote new songs, using Danny’s talents as a musician and his music compositions. Business was Billy’s “Elixir of the Incas,” the name given to the tonics sold to the public when he and Danny worked with a medicine showman in the Midwest as young boys.
This turn-of-the-century novel is an enjoyable read. The author’s writing pulled me into New York’s Victorian age; he shows a masterful command of the dialect, costumes, and social customs of this exciting age of early American musical entertainment. This is a fascinating tale of Billy, Baron, the women they loved, and how they evolved during the changing musical environment. Be prepared to be immersed in their story. I can’t recommend this book too highly!
