1930s Videos
newest 100 1930s videos / 1930s widgets / media rss:

The Big Bands of course didn’t just play for dancing. Where today’s rock groups perform (ummm) in huge stadiums, movie theaters served much the same purpose back in the Swing Era. For those of us from the Philadelphia area, one of the locations whose name still resonates is the famous Earle Theatre. It was built as both a concert hall and a movie theater, and during its short existence the Earle was arguably the finest movie “palace” in the city. Interestingly enough its original name was proposed with a backwards spelling – “Elrae” – but by the time it opened in 1924 some level of rationality prevailed and The Earle it was. The interior was opulent even by the standards of those pre-Depression days. There was of course a giant pipe organ that would be played to accompany silent films. Marble was nearly everywhere – even the lowly water fountains were solid marble topped by illuminated glass canopies! What wasn’t marble was decorated with murals and tapestries; it’s been estimated that the secondary draperies alone would cost well over $100,000 each to reproduce today, IF the materials and craftsmanship could be found. The Earle had a perfect location back in those pre-interstate highway days. 11th and Market Streets was then right in the heart of the city’s commercial district, just a couple of blocks away from the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroads as well as two subway lines and any number of streetcar routes. By the late 1930s fans would pour in to hear nearly every national and regional big band. Eventually shows were even scheduled for 9 or 10 in the morning so that everyone would have a chance to hear their favorites, not to mention spending more money! If you could line up a set of advertising posters you’d have a gallery of the greatest of the greats: Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra, Jimmie Lunceford, Claude Thornhill – they all appeared time after time. And maybe his band wasn’t as well known nationally, but Philly natives could take special pride whenever Jan Savitt and his Top Hatters blew their unique sounds from the Earle’s stage. If that wasn’t enough star power, when the Earle wasn’t showing movies or hosting a Big Band, you could see acts such as Laurel and Hardy or Earl Carroll’s Vanities! The end of the Swing Era took its toll on the Earle just like it did on so many other venues. Philadelphia was caught in the “urban renewal” wave that called for a remaking of the Market Street corridor. The idea of mixed use was out of favor so fading venues such as the Earle were becoming worth more as sites for concentrations of offices and retail stores. The Earle tried to hold on by featuring vocal groups and rhythm-and-blues acts but it was all over by 1953, barely three decades after the theater opened. The great Ames Brothers at least made sure that the Earle’s last day ended on a high note. The wreckers then moved in, not even sparing that wonderful pipe organ. Jeff Karpinski King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Email Me

Henry Holloway Photos Artie Shaw and Henry (1999) Les Brown and Henry (1999) Neal Hefti and Henry (2003) Sammy Cahn and Henry (1986) Steve Allen and Henry (1999) Big Band Academy Award (2003)to Henry Holloway Eric Kieswetter and Henry (1990's) Henry on the BBC (1999) So, who is Henry Holloway? In a nutshell, Henry is a distinguished broadcaster who has been hosting a popular big band program for three decades -- in South Africa! Here is a photo of Henry and his wife, Marilyn, at their home in Caledon, South Africa, about 60 km from Cape Town. Their home is a lovely, four-star Bread and Breakfast (B&B) called "The Basildon." To get a better idea about their B&B, visit their web site. It is "a clean, well-lighted place," as Ernest Hemingway might have described it. Henry also hosts a remarkable big band program called "Swing Sing and Jazz" that can be heard on FMR, Fine Music Radio, 101.3 FM, a non-profit radio station headquartered in Cape Town. Henry's one-hour show airs every other Saturday and can also be heard worldwide, thanks to Internet radio! I listen to it from 8 AM to 9 AM Pacific (11 AM to Noon Eastern) in Los Angeles. It comes in loud and clear! Click here to listen to FMR now -- or to Henry's show next time it airs and to learn more about Henry. Henry's next show will be on Saturday, July 26th. I urge you to set a reminder, as I do using Yahoo! Calendar, so that you don't miss it. Here's the playlist for Henry's show last Saturday, July 12th: 1. "Are You Jumpin' Jack" - Jack Million Band - Belgium 2. "Give Me the Simple Life" - Werner Loots 3. "I've Got a Crush on You" - Artie Shaw 4. "Holiday for Strings" - Gothenberg Symphony/Miller AAF Band arrangement 5. "Embraceble You "- Janet Sidell - June 1992 - Sydney, Australia 6. "Whistle While You Work (Jangled Nerves) " - Teddy Stouffer - Switzerland 1940's 7. "My Foolish Heart" - Carol Sloane (1988) with Kenny Barron 8. "Scorpio" (1990) - Buck Clayton (Band Leader) 9. "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" - Kings of Dixieland with Cliff Jones (1972) 10. "Elmer's Tune" - Jonny Cooper 11. "Cabaret" - Albie Louw 12. "Let's Misbehave" - Lola G. Henry always plays a few songs by artists I don't know, one of the reasons I enjoy his show so much. These are usually European or South African performers. He expands my horizons whenever he is on the air. I bet you, too, will become a regular Henry Holloway listener! Oh, one more thing. Take a look at our sidebar. You'll see Henry is an Honorary Member of The Palomar! He has been since early this year. Here's a song by my friend Polly Podewell called "Radio" that I think Henry will enjoy: George Spink Moderator - The Palomar Los Angeles, California Email Me

Envy & Other Sins is proud to present "The Fourth GRAND PHEASANT CHAMPIONSHIP of the World 2008" COMING SOON to a certain park near you!! Author: envyandothersins Keywords: Envy Other Sins Martyr Elliander Pictures Music Video Promo Polydor Mobile Act Unsigned Sony Ericsson rock Pheasant World Championships Football Tennis Wimbledon Mr Chomondley Warner 1930's BBC R.K.O. archive TV Game on Harry Enfield The Sting Added: July 15, 2008

Author: SLATEONE Added: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:43:42 -0800 Duration: 190A music video showing life in the USA during the twenties and thirties.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:35:14 -0800 Duration: 428Daredevil sign painters Bimbo and Koko like what they see through the window of Betty Boop's Dancing School, and stay for a lesson.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:35:58 -0800 Duration: 428Koko takes Betty to the museum, where she's locked in overnight and forced to sing at the skeletons' dance.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:12:19 -0800 Duration: 4255An orphan boy in 1830's London is abused in a workhouse, then falls into the clutches of a gang of thieves. This poverty row adaptation (courtesy of Monogram) of the Charles Dickens classic has about as much finesse as a school pageant, despite the appearance of old pros like Irving Pichel (as Fagin) and Lionel Belmore (as Mr. Bumble). As a matter of fact, while the film has a couple of choice moments in its second half, any good intentions are done in by some serious miscasting: an overage Artful Dodger (Sonny Ray) and Nancy (Doris Lloyd) and, worst of all, an unsympathetic Oliver (Dickie Moore). Rather than proving an asset, its short running time (70 minutes) gives a careless, rushed air to the proceedings and ensures a total absence of the visual poetry which marked David Lean's definitive 1948 version. (PDomain)

Chester Morris, college football hero, gets a job on Wall Street for Thelma Todd's father. Fed up with the cons and piracy of Wall Street, he goes into business for himself, highjacking rumrunners' ships bound to Prohibition America. Some things never change, but hey sounds like homeboy has a plan Click here to download The Movie Store

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:24:34 -0800 Duration: 395Betty Boop: Happy You and Merry Me (1936) A stray kitten wanders into Betty Boop's house, gets sick on candy, and is cured with catnip by Betty and Pudgy the pup

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:25:01 -0800 Duration: 351Betty Boop: The Hot Air Salesman (1937) A door to door salesman visits Betty Boop's home with a long line of useless household gadgets

Bill, that's the kind of question that can lead to LONG discussions, or brief battles, in my opinion. So to help answer it in a sane manner, I went to Wikipedia: Here's what this online encyclopedia offers: Stylistic origins: Jazz Cultural origins: 1920s (United States) Typical instruments: saxophones, brass instruments, rhythm section (banjo, piano, bass, tuba or sousaphone, vibes, drums, percussion) Mainstream popularity: 1920s-1950s Derivative forms: jump blues, swing A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The terms jazz band, jazz ensemble, stage band, jazz orchestra, and dance band are also used to refer to this type of ensemble. This does not, however, mean that each one of these names is technically correct for naming a 'big band" specifically. In contrast to smaller jazz combos, in which most of the music is improvised, or created spontaneously, music played by big bands is highly "arranged", or prepared in advance and notated on sheet music. The music is traditionally called 'charts'. Improvised solos may be played only when called for by the arranger.Still happy in Tucson! Larry Schnebly Tucson, Arizona Email Me

Rummaging around through some old books, I found one of the first books I ever bought. It was 1944 and the title is the same as I entitled this post: Esquire's Jazz Book Edited by Paul Eduard Miller with an introduction by Arnold Gingrich. Price on the dust jacket, still enclosing the book -- $2.00. A note on the Copyright 1943,1944 page says, "This volume has been manufactured in accordance with the regulations of the War Production Board." The eight chapter headings are: Hot Jazz: Prophet Without Honor How to Listen to Hot Jazz Esquire on Jazz 1934-1944. Collectors: Personalities and Anecdotes Jazz Greats: Musicians and Bands Historical Chart of Jazz Influence Esquire's All-American Band Musician's Bio-Discographies. The first-choice band selected by Esquire's Board of Experts: Louis Armstrong, trumpet and vocal Jack Teagarden, trombone Benny Goodman, clarinet Coleman Hawkins, tenor saxophone Art Tatum, piano Al Casey, guitar Oscar Pettiford, string bass Sidney Catlett, drums Red Norvo, xylophone - Lionel Hampton, vibraphone (tied) Billie Holiday, vocal Artie Shaw (Armed Forces) The second-choice band was: Cootie Williams, trumpet Lawrence Brown, trombone Barney Bigard, clarinet Johnny Hodges, alto saxophone Earl Hines, piano Milton Hinton, string bass - Al Morgan, string bass (tied) Cozy Cole, drums Leo Watson, vocal - Mildred Bailey, vocal (tied_ Willie Smith, Armed Forces Dave Tough, Armed Forces There's a statement which leads me to think this may have been the first All-Star Band selected by Esquire, It says: "The 1944 jazz front had an auspicious beginning with Esquire's All-American Jazz Concert at the Metropolitan on January 18th. The enthusiastic respones to this event, and to the magazine's special jazz issue which appeared at that time, prompted the publication of a dollar pamphlet, now out of print. It brought back a lot of memories.... Still happy in Tucson! Larry Schnebly Tucson, Arizona Email Me

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:50:39 -0800 Duration: 379Popeye: Me Musical Nephews (1942) Popeye is up late listening to his nephews play their instruments when he decides that it's time for bed. Not ready to call it a night, the nephews sit up making music with objects from around the bedroom. Every time Popeye tries to catch them they stop playing and jump into bed pretending to be asleep. Fed up, Popeye pulls his bed outside the iris but his nephews follow, leading Popeye to go bouncing into the audience as they wrap up their set

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:50:39 -0800 Duration: 339Popeye: Parlez Vous Woo (1956) Olive is so captived by "The International", a radio personality with a French accent, that she'd rather stay home than go out on a date with Popeye. Bluto, overhearing this, comes to the door as the character. Popeye does his best to get Olive back, to no avail. Finally, Bluto challenges Popeye to a duel, ultimately stabbing him in the chest where his can of spinach was. Popeye unmasks Bluto, then eats another can of spinach to give himself a French accent.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:24:54 -0800 Duration: 375Popeye: Spinach Fer Britain (1943) A German sub destroys a rowboat, a buoy, and another German sub (obviously, not the pride of the fleet)...

Well, I just wanted to know something, guys. Being a relatively newcomer, I am still collecting the records of different big bands of the 1930's - 1950's. I have been sampling bands like Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and the like. I have found many records not really considered to be big band, swing, or just good dance music. What I am wondering is what do you guys consider not to be big band but, still, falling into a category of good band music.... I keep searching the internet, and find titles by different groups and vocalists, including Sammy Kaye, Kay Kyser, and Doris Day, just to name a few. Where would you consider bands and vocalists like these to fall?? Thanks for your help. George: Happy Birthday to The Palomar! Bill Cahill St. Petersburg, Florida Email Me

Congratulations, George! Best wishes on the first anniversary of The Palomar. I'm sure I can safely speak for all the members in thanking you for allowing us the privilege to not only experience some of the greatest music of all time, but to interact with one other in sharing that joy along with the memories that music engenders. Memories, both good and not so good, are pretty much all that people my age can look back on and know they will never change. And music, especially our kind of music, like historic events during our lifetime, freeze us in time and provide a window into the past that that shows us where, when, and with whom we were sharing that special moment. For me, growing up in Brooklyn at the end of World War Two opened up a new world of excitement and hope that the war years had arrested, seemingly, forever. My folks were smiling and laughing a lot more than they had been, and my aunts were on cloud nine because God had spared my uncles in the Navy and returned them home safely to our shores. And the music played and played and played. In New York, radio station WNEW, 1130 on the AM dial, featured such legendary radio personalities as Martin Block and his Make Believe Ballroom, later passed onto William B. Williams with the overnight Milk-mans Matinee rounding out the days listening. Every big band, vocal group, and crooner played through out the day and night. My future bride told me she shared her home in Brooklyn, a three-family house, with two other aunt and uncles. Each apartment had big band music from WNEW going all day and night, (a kind of pre-tech stereo). It was as if, she said, someone had dialed every radio in all the apartments to WNEW and snapped off the tuning dial so the station could not be changed. When my Uncle Tony came home from the Navy, he told me he would give me a quarter every time he took my Aunt Gloria into the parlor and I put Glenn Millers "Moonlight Serenade" on the Victrola, turned out the light, and "GOT LOST" If memory serves, I had similar arrangements with some of my other uncles as well. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is not only the music that influences our memories, but how that music influenced those we loved, who created those memories that we hold so dear. I'm sure, as "Wolf", so eloquently shared with us in his latest post, memories of our loved ones are made that much sweeter when tied to the times, people, and events of the Swing Era and the artists that made it all possible. With thanks to George Spink and all the members of The Palomar, who share the times and music that I would have loved to have been part of.... Best regards, Tom Cicconetti "Brooklyn in the 50's" Lebanon, Pennsylvania Email Me

When I was growing up in the southern Appalachian mountains of Tennessee during the late forties and the early fifties, my mother was one of the hippest swingers of the time (not the same as “swingers” of today!). She could really bop to Benny Goodman and was as good as they came when it came to dancing to swing. Mom also liked country music because that was the music she grew up with. My dad was a dyed-in-the-wool country and western music lover. When he wasn’t driving a coal truck delivering coal to the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) or running moonshine to Atlanta or Augusta, Georgia, he spent his time working part-time at the local radio station playing the latest country music hits of the time. Now don’t let me mislead you here. Radio stations in rural Tennessee during that period would let just about anyone with the nerve get on the radio and be a DJ. What he loved about that job was getting to meet those that were out on the road promoting their own songs by delivering their own records to the radio stations personally and asking the DJ on the air to play their records. One of his proudest moments was when Hank Williams came to his little station and asked my dad to play his music. He still has a picture of Hank and him in front of that little radio station holding Hank's new hit record with their arms over each others shoulders. Dad was a pretty good guitar player and singer in his own right at the time and spent many weekends at the local Juke Joints playing and singing with his little four-piece band. But I think his most favorite music, that of which mom liked the most, was playing the music of his all time favorite Bob Wills. That was the “Swing” that my dad enjoyed. James Robert (Bob) Wills was born in Kosse, Texas in 1905 and was considered to be the father of what we all know as “Country Swing”. Bob’s father and grandfather taught young Bob to play the fiddle and the mandolin at a very young age. Bob spent much of his youth picking cotton and listening to cotton picker’s songs. During the 1920’s, "Jim Rob," as he was called at the time, became a barber as his trade, married, and moved first to Roy, New Mexico then to Turkey, Texas ( can you imagine living in a place called Turkey?). Soon Jim Bob grew restless and moved to Fort Worth to pursue a career in music. It was while performing in a medicine show in Fort Worth that he learned comic timing and some of the famous "patter" he later delivered on his records. Wills made his professional debut as a blackface singer along the lines of Al Jolson who was also a big hit during this time. Bob was a big fan of Bessie Smith and once rode 50 miles on horseback just to see her perform live. Wills formed The Wills Fiddle Band in 1930 when Milton Brown joined his group as lead vocalist. Brown brought a sense of innovation and experimentation to the band. He became the “Light Crust Doughboys” sponsored by the makers of Light Crust Flour. Bob was despised by his superiors at the flour company because they considered his music as "hillbilly music." Wills and his best friend, Tommy Duncan, his then lead singer, left the Doughboys in 1933 after Wills had missed one show too many due to his sporadic drinking, which finely lead to his death in 1975. Bob Wills continued throughout the years adding to his band the music of the times and of the south where he played. I could go on with page after page about the music and the man. However, you can read up on the life of Bob Wills at Wikipedia and other internet sites about his life. My dad, now in his early 80’s, lives in Denver with his wife, Rosemary, whose brother was a songwriter in Nashville. He wrote a couple of songs for Buck Owens during the 1960’s. They still talk about Buck when he was rising to fame in Phoenix and the many friends that they knew over the years in country music like Chet Adkins and Ernest Tubb. Dad and Rosemary were friends with other country music greats like Merle Haggard and Wayland Jennings who they also met in the 1960’s in Phoenix through Buck. When I was growing up my old man often had his friends over to play their music, drink and sing their songs. To me then, they were just a bunch of country singers trying to make it big in the country music business. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but as the years have passed by, I’ve looked back at the time they spent out on the patio and wish I had paid more attention to who they all were. The one thing they all seemed to say back then, was that the greatest of them all, when it came to showmanship was the king himself, Bob Wills. How I wish we could have known him! I want to thank my dad for those few great memories, and for the love of country music that he instilled in me. I also want to wish him and all fathers, a belated happy Fathers Day! Thanks, dad. Spencer "Wolf" Smartt Dallas, Texas Email Me From the 1974 album Fathers and Sons featuring songs by both Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Asleep at the Wheel:

Next time you visit our big band web site, Tuxedo Junction, please visit our Amazon aStores. You'll find great selections and low prices on big band CD's, DVD's, VHS videos, and books. You'll also find many other items Amazon offers -- and at very competitive prices. Here is the main link to our Amazon Stores: http://www.tuxjunction.net/amazon-store.htm You'll find four Amazon aStores on Tuxedo Junction: Amazon.com (US) - http://www.tuxjunction.net/amazon-store-1.htm Amazon.ca (CA) - http://www.tuxjunction.net/amazon-store-2.htm Amazon.co.uk (UK) - http://www.tuxjunction.net/amazon-store-3.htm Amazon.de (DE) - http://www.tuxjunction.net/amazon-store-4.htm Feel free to order from any Amazon aStore you wish. Keep in mind you might incur higher shipping charges if you order from one outside your own country; but that is often the best way, and sometimes the only way, to find rare big band CD's, DVD's, VHS tapes, and books. You'll also notice ads to Amazon.com throughout Tuxedo Junction and in the sidebar on The Palomar. Thank you for visiting and shopping at our Amazon aStores. We rely on your purchases to keep Tuxedo Junction and The Palomar online. Cordially, George Spink Los Angeles Moderator - The Palomar Email Me

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:27:21 -0800 Duration: 372Betty Boop: The Impractical Joker (1937) Betty Boop's baking is interrupted by obnoxious practical joking friend Irving. Can Grampy out-joke the joker?

Author: QIP1 Added: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:27:21 -0800 Duration: 51A stirring blend of vintage boxing, crime, and drama, Crime Patrol is a hard hitting 1930s film. Starring the go-getting Ray Walker, the film begins on the wrong side of the tracks with Walker as a street level pugilist who does favors for ...

Author: QIP1 Added: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:27:21 -0800 Duration: 51A stirring blend of vintage boxing, crime, and drama, Crime Patrol is a hard hitting 1930s film. Starring the go-getting Ray Walker, the film begins on the wrong side of the tracks with Walker as a street level pugilist who does favors for ...

A stirring blend of vintage boxing, crime, and drama, Crime Patrol is a hard hitting 1930’s film. Starring the go-getting Ray Walker, the film begins on the wrong side of the tracks with Walker as a street level pugilist who does favors for gangsters. But as the payoffs and boxing matches get too hectic, Walker gets pushed towards decisions about his loyalties. Go straight, or stay cool? The film is briskly paced; and the more sinister elements of the story stand out as much harder than the usual 1930’s fare. All in all, Crime Patrol is a knockout movie filled with high, lows, loves, and villains.Author: QualityInformation Tags: drama crime criminals classic movies life in 1930's 1930s criminal old fashion scenes music history stories scene Posted: 29 June 2008 Rating: 0.0 Votes: 0

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:34:00 -0800 Duration: 374Betty Boop: My Friend the Monkey (1939) A swingin' hurdy-gurdy man goes by Betty Boop's house; she wants to buy the monkey, which causes plenty of trouble for Pudgy the Pup.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:24:49 -0800 Duration: 370Betty Boop:Musical Mountaineers (1939) Betty Boop runs out of gas in Feud County, and wins over the initially hostile hillbillies with her dancing.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:22:55 -0800 Duration: 369Betty Boop: Happy You and Merry Me (1936) A stray kitten wanders into Betty Boop's house, gets sick on candy, and is cured with catnip by Betty and Pudgy the pup.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:24:41 -0800 Duration: 396Betty Boop: Making Stars (1935) Betty Boop emcees a stage show presenting "future stars"...performing infants

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:50:12 -0800 Duration: 429I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You (1932) Betty Boop and friends meet Louis Armstrong on a jungle safari.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:50:13 -0800 Duration: 374Betty Boop's Ker-Choo (1933) Betty, Koko, and Bimbo drive at the auto races; Betty has a cold, and her sneezes help her win.

Author: OldTimeMedia Added: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:24:19 -0800 Duration: 369Betty Boop in House Cleaning Blues (1937) Housecleaning blues are just what Betty Boop has the morning after a wild party. Grampy to the rescue!