[Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne

[Bob Romans]

Did any of you Coloradoans hear of the Dick Mango big dance band from
Loveland, Colorado?
He played tenor sax with Ted (Is everybody happy?) Louis during the war
years, and made a couple of movies with him too. Originally from the east
coast, and one hell-of-a-musician!

-----Original Message-----
From: G. William Oakley <gwilliamoakley at earthlink.net>
To: robert craven <bcraven24 at comcast.net>
Cc: DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2003 5:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne


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
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> >
>
>



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