Alfred E. Aarons, born on November 16, 1865, is listed in The Lambs’ Roster as a Non-Theatrical member. This is most likely an error. He was a theatrical manager and producer who was also the father of Lamb Alexander A. Aarons. Early in his theatrical career, Alfred worked as a manager for Oscar Hammerstein’s Manhattan Roof Garden above his Manhattan Opera House. Taking a try at composing and producing, he wrote the score and produced a show entitled Military Maid (1900). In the play, actress Josephine Hall delivered the showstopper “Sister Mary Has the Measles.” Unfortunately, the show closed within week. Many of his early works were equally unsuccessful.
His first musical success was a musical collaboration between him and Lamb Jerome Kern entitled The Babes and The Baron (1905). In 1919, he was in the act of putting together a play entitled La La Lucille (1919) when his son introduced him to Lamb George Gershwin. Although he planned to have the score written by Lamb Victor Herbert, he hired Gershwin who wrote his first complete theatrical score for the show. In late 1925, he produced the show Tell Me More (1925)—also with Gershwin—which was a follow-up to his son’s play Lady, Be Good (1924). The play starred Lamb Fred Astaire and sister, Adele. Later in his career, Aarons also managed some of the most famous Broadway theaters including the New Amsterdam, the Vanderbilt, the National, and the Broadhurst. He passed away in New York City on his birthday, November 16, 1936.–RET