[Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne

[G. William Oakley]

I think you are right about the Shirley-Savoy.  When I first came to Denver
as a callow youth all of the downtown hotels had music and most of the
downtown bars had at the very least a piano and most likely a trio.  Shaners
on 17th Street had Johnny Smith, the Senate Lounge had Effie, and you could
go all the way out east Colfax to the Aurora Lounge and hear music in a lot
of great little bars.  Turk once told me he played the Zanzibar.  Wasn't
that the funny place out on Colfax that was a quonset hut and later became a
C & W joint? Ah, the good old days.
Best,
Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "robert craven" <bcraven24 at comcast.net>
To: "G. William Oakley" <gwilliamoakley at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne


> Bill, I worked with Pete many times, I also did the "Round Up Riders of
the
> Rockies" with Pete's "Blister Bottom Symphony". The story I like is about
> the depression years and Pete would book gigs, out of town, usually, in
> north eastern Colorado. Pete had a union band but he'd book these gigs,
non
> union, under scale, as the "Ernie Caldwell Orchestra". This was to keep
the
> guys working.
> The Hotel Jim Hawthorne memtioned was probably the
> Shirly Savoy  (Silver Glade Ballroom). Pete was there for several years.
>
> Bob Craven
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "G. William Oakley" <gwilliamoakley at earthlink.net>
> To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 12:49 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne
>
>
> > This from Hawthorne in print regarding his big band debut with Pete
> Smythe.
> >
> >
> > That current TV commercial hustling ice cream bars -- you know, where
they
> > ask a man to sing I'm A Little Teapot -- well, that ad reminds me of my
> > first, only and final appearance as a "singer" with a big-band.
> >     During my Mile High City fledgling years in radio, my on-air partner
> on
> > a daily afternoon deejay show was a gentle man by the name of Pete
Smythe.
> > Pete was also the leader of a well-known dance orchestra in the Denver
> area.
> > Evenings, his band played at a swank Denver hotel ballroom. EAGER
> BEAVER...
> > As we are sometimes prone to do in our learning years, I was anxious to
be
> a
> > part of everything. One momentous day, Pete asked me if I'd like to sing
a
> > novelty number with his band. I had never had any training in singing,
> > however, I enthusiastically said "yes" to his invitation. That night I
> went
> > to the hotel for my grand vocal debut. At that time, the current big hit
> > novelty song on the radio was the very same I'm a Little Teapot. The
song
> > had a big-band arrangement, but a singer (with the band) had not yet
been
> > named. The job was mine, if I "clicked." The drummer usually sang the
> "funny
> > stuff." I sat in front of the musicians, just like Frank Sinatra sat in
> > front of the Tommy Dorsey band. I was self-consciously dressed in a
> tuxedo,
> > clutching little cards with the words to the song, waiting for my
> > introduction. HERE HE IS...
> >     When it came time for me to sing, I was introduced and I stood up
with
> > lyrics in hand, waiting for a cue from Pete. My long awaited debut was
at
> > hand. I was launching upon a new career - a novelty band singer. Pete
even
> > choreographed a little dance, much like the one the guy performs in the
TV
> > spot. Within 10 seconds after I began "singing" I noticed the dance
crowd
> > slowly shuffling toward their tables, some covering their ears. Within a
> > minute, I was standing alone in front of the band, "singing" to an empty
> > dance floor. The reason was simple, I had no idea of how to control my
> > voice, so I just sang as loud as I could. I figured sheer volume would
do
> > the trick.
> >     I finished my "song" with the band breaking up with laughter, the
> > audience scowling and the perplexed manager of the ballroom huddling
with
> > Pete. As I left the bandstand, the musicians gave me a courteous,
> > professional round of applause - a simple gesture to a fellow performer,
I
> > figured. The drummer winked at me, sending that well-know
acknowledgement
> of
> > a "job well done." He seemed the happiest of them all.
> >     Smythe, the next day, reluctantly related to me what the manager had
> > told him: "If that awful Hawthorne ever sings here again, I'll fire you
> and
> > the band." It really wasn't necessary for Pete to tell me, I KNEW I was
> not
> > destined to be a band singer after that fiasco. It was then that I
decided
> > to concentrate on broadcasting as a career.
> >     Now, after all these years, some dumb TV commercial reminds me of
the
> > most sensitive of my many youthful adventures. One thought has occurred
to
> > me. I just wonder if the person who dreamed up that TV spot is maybe a
> > distant relative of one of the dancing couples who happened to witness
my
> > "singing debut" that night in Denver. If so, I feel sure he/she was
> > inspired, subconsciously, perhaps, to re-create the monumental event on
a
> TV
> > spot many years later. I hear the commercial is really working as the
sale
> > of those chocolate-covered ice cream bars is at an all-time high.
Without
> > doubt, a consequence of my unique performance with a big-band many years
> > earlier.
> >
> > Hey, I want my royalties.
> >
> > ©1993 Jim Hawthorne
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Dixielandjazz mailing list
> > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> >
>
>