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HOT ZK.fiITY !! A Bte Hit in a Rig Spot!We remember way back when Bill Eschenbaumso ably conducted the happy affairs at the Vitaphonetavern-way back when (about 1935, or thereabouts.)In company with the gentlemanly-mannered Julius(“Caesar”) Legat, proprietor of the Ship Cafe, this correspondent went one evening to visit Bill at the Vitaphone, just for a social call. Anyhow, in the coursingof the clock past midnight, and then some, the crowdwas temporarily thinned awhile; the musicians had allleft their instruments in the orchestra pit and had adjourned momentarily to the bar—with the exceptionof the Missus. And, Mister! Bill’s wife could really coaxeverything out of a piano keyboard ! She was softly improvising and so I snuk back into the ballroom to standand listen entranced. Suddenly she stopped, turnedto see me standing out there so all alone in starry-eyedappreciation of her melodies. And quickly she said: “Saycan you play any of these instruments ?”We gulped awkwardly, both of us-—me and myshadow. “Nothing but the trap-drums,” says us.Well, then get up here, then,” she commanded.Gosh! was I flustered with the startling array of kettles and jingle-bells and gadgets and miscellaneousjunk that a trap-drummer has to work with ! But somehow we got going . .. anyhow, I could always keep pret-good time with my foot. And Mister Mrs., you canappreciate it or not, it wasn’t until about our secondswing into the chorus of the first piece before the wholecaboodle of those musicians deserted the bar and crowded the doorway, to stare in amazement. (They didn’tany of ’em look like they were too mad, either.) ButJulius was getting worried. He whispered to Bill andsays: “Hey . . . maybe I’d better see Bryant home.”Nothing doing ! Bill Eschenbaum waved Caesaraway with, “Leave him alone; he’s doing grand.” Andthat must have been the truth (I hate to brag) becausethe guy who owned the trap-drum assembly had hisear cocked kinda inquisitively sideways all of the time,like he was trying to find out where I found all thatexceptional rhythm.And that was hot ziggety in a hot spot, a few yearsagone. Today and especially Saturday and Sundaynights, in another current hot spot— Pulaski Parkthe original Illinois Ramblers under the direction ofMaestro (“Babby”) Fambrini, will play to a much larger audience than I did in my Vitaphone heynight. And,too, Sally Segatti, will tickle the strings of his banjoto tickle your musical sensibilities plenty !
Newspaper Details
Spring Valley Bureau County Democrat
Spring Valley, Illinois, US
Thu, May 27, 1943
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Cook M.
IL, USA 15 Aug 2018
Other Publications Near Spring Valley, Illinois
Spring Valley Gazette
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