[Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne

[G. William Oakley]

Hi Bob:
Taylor's was on west Colfax.  They had the fabulous Taylor Four which became
the Taylor Three and then just The Taylor's.  They were a most entertaining
group.  Great musicians and very inventive comedians.  the man behind the
place, Sammy Toole was the inspiration behind the place.  For years the
place was sold out every night.
In 1979 or thereabouts I bought the place and tried to establish a nightclub
format (the Taylors were long gone) but it was not to be.  After dumping a
bundle I gave the place back to Sammy and the last I heard it was a C & W
joint. To paraphrase H. G. Mencken, "You can go broke overestimating the
taste of the American people."
Such is life.
Best,
Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Romans" <cellblk7 at comcast.net>
To: "G. William Oakley" <gwilliamoakley at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Morer on Pete Smythe and Jim Hawthorne


> How about "The Taylor's" out on East Colfax...?
> Bob
> -----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 wa
s
> > 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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> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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