Fw: [Dixielandjazz] Re: [Sextet from Hunger]

[Robert S. Ringwald]

Recently there was a discussion of the Sextet From Hunger.  There was also a
mention of George Thow.

I forwarded the e-mail to Bob Havens.  Below is his response.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Havens" <bobhavens at webtv.net>
To: "Robert S. Ringwald" <ringwald at calweb.com>
Cc: "Bob Havens" <bobhavens at hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 1:33 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: [Dixielandjazz] Re: [Sextet from Hunger]


> Hi  Mr. Wonderful,alias Mr. Ringwald,
>     I have not been a lurker in the [Dixieland Group] with Don Ingle and
> others but since you have told me about George Thow recently being the
> subject of conservation I would like to add a few bits of information
> about Gus since I played with him in 1960 while doing the Lawrence Welk
> TV Show.  We both were a part of the little jazz band that was featured
> occasionally during the show.  He quite often played what looked to me
> like a straight version of a mellophone.  I don't remember the proper
> name for it. Don Ingle would probably know what it was.
>      In those early Welk days I was doing a little writing . Don, you
> mentioned the Dorsey Bros. recording that featured the lone trumpet of
> Georgie Thow. Well one day I brought in to the Welk rehersal an
> arrangement for small group on that same number and the trumpet part was
> practacally identical to the Dorsey recording which I liked very much.
> You should have heard George's comment after finishing my arrangement .
> He immediately remembered it and said " I thought I had seen the last of
> that God Dam part twenty five years ago."
>     I remember the "Sextet From Hunger" back in the 1940's from a week
> -end radio show called "The Borden  County Fair" featuring Bert Parks as
> the MC and always included selections by Eddie Scravanic and the Sextet
> >From Hunger.  Of course in those days I did not know who the players
> might be.  I mentioned the program once to George and he informed me
> that he was in  the band then.  I am not positive but I believe he said
> that the trombone player was  either Joe Yukle or Brad Gowans.  All I
> remember is that that band played their buts off.
>     Georgie's chops were not real strong during the Welk show days and
> Lawrence eventully ask him to step down from the section and to make way
> for another man who turned out to be Dick Cathcart.  Lawrence loved to
> hear dixieland jazz and had a good ear for talent. Choosing Dick  proved
> that point.  That was the beginning of a great little jazz band which
> also included both  Don Bonee" and Mahlon Clark on clarinet.
>      Lawrence , being the smart business man that he was, kept Thow on
> the payroll and took advantage of Gus's college education and put him in
> charge of writing  cue cards for Welk's announcements.  So as it were
> Gus did the remainder of the run of the show as a writer and  he
> sometimes appeared as a guest  with the dixie group. I led a brass
> ensemble which played  at George's funeral some time in the 80's.
>       My reguards to all of you [Dixieland  Group] people.  Maybe I
> should start lurking and again run across a subject for which I can add
> my knowledge.
>
> Bye for now,
> Bob  Havens
>
>
> Hot Tram Tooter & Bubble Blower
>