MEET ME TONIGHT IN DREAMLAND, was one of the most famous and beloved popular songs of the first decade of the twentieth century. This gentle waltz, with poignant lyrics, was written by Beth Slater Whitson and Leo Friedman. It was published in Chicago in 1909. Friedman and Whitson sold it to the largest publisher in Chicago, Will Rossiter. Unfortunately, Rossiter never paid one cent to the authors in royalties. Originally, on the sheet music cover was an artist who was unknown. Rossiter then took a 1903 photo of popular vaudevillian and singer, Reine Davies(1886-1938), and used her on his sheet music cover. After he did that, sales of the sheet music went to over two million in that first year. Despite what a few others have stated, the song had no connections whatsoever to Coney Island's "Dreamland." The memorable chorus goes:
Meet me tonight in dreamland, under the silvery moon;Meet me tonight in dreamland, where love's sweet roses bloom.Come with the love-light gleaming in your dear eyes so true;Meet me in dreamland, sweet dreamy dreamland;There let my dreams come true.
