1962 Press Photo Composer Rudolf Friml at the piano in his Hollywood home

Hollywood - Rudolf Friml, who composed his first operetta 50 years ago, improvises a melody in his Hollywood hill-top home while telling of his plans to carve a career of more serious music. He says he quit writing operettas because "there's no one to sing them any more," Now, he says, "I think I want to do something with my serious works."

Photo is dated 1962.

Photo measures 8 x 10.25 inches.