Lengsfelder, Drake, and Paul James McGrane also wrote “Hayfoot, Strawfoot” (1942) which was introduced by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra with Ivie Anderson (vocal), and “There’s a Big Blue Cloud (Next to Heaven)” (1951), which became a hit for Perry Como. Lengsfelder’s other work as a composer is mostly forgettable, including such novelty tunes as “Susie on the Sewing Machine” and “Pound Your Table Polka.”

Lengsfelder wrote dozens of plays and operettas that were produced in Europe. He started his own theater company, Your Theater, Inc., in the United States, which was responsible for the Broadway production Heads or Tails (1947).

- Jeremy Wilson