Theodore Bendix

Theodore Bendix or Theo. Bendix (July 25, 1862 – January 15, 1935) was an American composer, classical violinist, musical director, and opera conductor. He became a professional musician at the age of thirteen and was hired as a conductor for an opera company when he was sixteen. Before he was eighteen, he had written the music for the show, resulting in the hit song "My Sweetheart".

Bendix worked with numerous theaters and opera companies and was a musical director and composer with Florenz Ziegfeld, Henry Wilson Savage, Klaw and Erlanger. He was the musical director for several Broadway shows, including The Belle of New York, Ben-Hur, and Beauty and the Beast. He also established a music publishing firm, Theo Bendix Music Publishing Co. in New York City. In his time, Bendix was one of the best-known musical directors of popular music.

Early life Bendix was born on July 25, 1863, in Detroit, Michigan. His mother was a cousin of the German composer Felix Mendelssohn and was an heir to his estate. When he was thirteen years old, Bendix played with his father's orchestra at the Euclid Avenue Opera House. Bendix went on to compose many songs for the pianos and orchestras that were popular in their era. Next, he worked in Boston for nine years, directing the orchestras at the Globe Theatre and the Park Theatre from 1889 to 1900. He was orchestra leader at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. By In 1906, Bendix formed the Theo Bendix Music Publishing Co. in New York City. He was also the musical director for The Rose of Panama which opened at Daly's Theatre on Broadway in 1910. In 1911, he wrote music for The Great Name, a play by Henry Kolker that opened at the Cort Theatre.

He was the conductor for the Majestic Theatre in Los Angeles from 1920 to 1930. "Continental Guard's March.. W. F. Shaw, 1883. Alone in London. Boston: Grand Opera House, October 22, 1889. "The Butterfly" (7 inch Performed). Berliner, August 1897. "Victory" (performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra at a celebration in New York City at the end of the Spanish-American War). "In Beauty's Bower". New York: Carl Fischer Music. "A Southern Reverie". New York: M. Witmark & Sons, 1900. Plate 3546. "The Star Dreamer". New York: Carl Fischer & M. Witmark & Sons, 1900. Plate 800-19. "The Butterfly Dance" (7 inch Performed). Performed by Sousa's Band. Victor, October 5, 1900. "La Gazelle" (10 inch Performed). Performed by Sousa's Band. Victor, April 4, 1901. "Longing". New York: Carl Fischer Music, "'Tis Better to Have Loved and Lost". B. Johnson and G. Schirmer, words, 1905 "The Gentle Dove" from the suite "A Love Episode in Birdland". Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1906. Plate 2039-17. "The Magpie and the Parrot" from the suite "A Love Episode in Birdland". Boston & New York: Walter Jacobs & Theodore Bendix, 1906. Plate 6-24 "The Merry Lark" from the suite "A Love Episode in Birdland". Boston: Walter Jacobs, 1906. Plate 11-26. "By Right of Sword" (8 inch Performed). Performed by Victor Orchestra. Victor, April 5, 1907. "A Hungarian Episode". New York: Theodore Bendix Music. "Miniature Tone Poem" (10 and 12 inch Performed). Performed by the Victor Orchestra. Victor, December 8, 1910. The Great Name. For a Henry Kolker play, 1911. "Sweet Jasmine. Intermezzo", 1919. "Good Luck Waltz." Cleveland: S. Brainard Sons. c "Alone". Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Beau Brummel". Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Cradle Song (Visions of Rest)". Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Elks Quadrille". Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Golden Gate". New York: Carl Fischer Music. "Happy Boys". Cleveland: S. Brainard Sons. "Hold the Fort! (Bliss)". Cleveland: S. Brainard Sons. "I Am So Shy"..Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Laughing Eyes". "Little Coquette". New York: Carl Fischer Music "Little Beauty". Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Mountain Echoes". New York: Carl Fischer Music. "Oriental March". New York: Carl Fischer Music. "Sweet Simplicity". "To-morrow". Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. "Lilly". Church.