The Bustanoby-Romberg Connection

The Bustanoby Freres knew talent when they saw it. Take the case of that penniless youth with no recommendation except that he was handsome and could dance. They hired Rudolph Valentino at ten dollars a week to work as a gigolo and dance with the ladies at their afternoon "tea" parties. It wasn't long before someone else discovered him, and he became a Hollywood film star.

The musician Sigmund Romberg is another talent discovered by the Bustanobys. Romberg, who later became famous for songs that still are played today, worked for them. In 1912 they hired him to lead the house salon orchestra.

In "Bustanoby, Papa of Cafe Society," "The American Weekly" (May 10, 1942) is quoted as saying that Jacques Bustanoby was the one to be credited with introducing dancing into the restaurant. But two other bits of history say otherwise.

Elliott Arnold in his book about Romberg, "Deep In My
Heart," tells how Romberg raised the idea with Andre Bustanoby, who was very skeptical. When the idea caught on, Andre gave Romberg a raise to $150 a week, which at that time was a substantial amount. Chapter IX of Arnold's book tells quite a bit about Romberg and the Bustanobys.

Arnold's book title is taken from a song in Romberg's famous operetta, "The Student Prince." The title is also the title of a 1954 MGM movie in which Jose Ferre starred as Romberg. The movie features many of Romberg's famous songs. The Bustanobys are briefly mentioned.

A bio of Romberg on the Internet tells the same story about the introduction of dancing into the restaurant. This bio also includes all the music Romberg has written and that which is still available. The web address is http://nfo.net/.CAL/tr5.html. Not only does it list the music it offers the opportunity to listen to samples (if your computer has audio and RealPlayer).

Romberg is a Songwriters' Hall of Fame member.