An important article, viewed from the perspective of Dreiser studies, has just been published. It provides new information about the possible, if not likely, identity of a lover of Theodore Dreiser’s older brother Paul Dresser, the songwriter.
“112-year-old mystery solved? Indiana madam may have inspired famous song”
by Domenica Bongiovanni
The Indianapolis Star
August 3, 2017
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Paul Dresser wrote a popular song, “My Gal Sal,” in 1905, which, with the exception of another one of his songs, “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away,” is Paul’s best known song and which was a hit in its day. The song is about Paul’s lover, who was said to be the madam of a house of prostitution in Evansville, Indiana.
The article refers to ongoing research that has been pursued doggedly by New York Times Magazine writer John Jeremiah Sullivan and his research assistant Joel Finsel.
In his autobiogaphical work Dawn, Theodore Dreiser identified Sal, Paul’s lover, as Annie Brace, a madam whose working name was Sallie Walker.
Through painstaking sleuthing, Sullivan believes he has discovered the identity of the real Sal.
My thanks to Tamie Dehler for informing me about this article.
— Roger W. Smith
August 3, 2017
Roger W. Smith's Theodore Dreiser site 