Timeline
| 1902 | June 18 - Louis Alter is born I Haverkill, Massachusetts |
| 1915 | Begins playing the piano in local movie houses for silent pictures |
| 1917 | Enrolls at the New England Conservatory to study music under the tutelage of Stuart Mason |
| 1924 | Begins work as accompaniest and touring partner for Nora Bayes. |
| 1928 | First hit song is the instrumental MANHATTAN SERENADE |
| 1929 | Moves to Hollywood. Accompanies various singers including Helen Morgan, Beatrice Lillie and Irene Bordoni |
| 1934 | Ethel Waters' recording of COME UP AND SEE ME SOMETIME is a top ten hit on the Billboard pop charts |
| 1936 | Jan Garber's recording of A MELODY FROM THE SKY reaches #1 on the Billboard pop charts |
| 1936 | YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME reaches #1 on the pop charts with a recording by Benny Goodman |
| 1937 | Fats Waller's recording of A THOUSAND DREAMS OF YOU reaches #8 on the Billboard charts |
| 1937 | Alter receives an Oscar Nomination for Best Original song for A MELODY FROM THE SKY in the film The Trail of the Lonesome Pine |
| 1940 | Glenn Miller's recording of THE SKY FELL DOWN reaches #16 on the Billboard pop charts |
| 1941 | Tommy Dorsey's recording of DOLORES is the #1 hit recording on the Billboard charts |
| 1941 | Joins the US Air Force, entertaining troops at air bases |
| 1942 | MANHATTAN SERENADE is a top ten hit recording for Harry James |
| 1942 | Alter receives an Oscar Nomination for Best Original song for DOLORES in the film Las Vegas Nights |
| 1943 | Tommy Doresy's cover recording of MANHATTAN SERENADE reaches #4 on the Billboard pop charts |
| 1949 | Tony Martin's recording of CIRCUS reaches #24 on the Billboard pop charts |
| 1952 | The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra reaches the top fifteen on the pop charts with a recording of NINA NEVER KNEW |
| 1975 | Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame |
| 1980 | Louis Alter Dies in New York City |