[Dixielandjazz] Weatherbird

[Tom Duncan]

Fred Spencer writes on Mon, 27 Sep 2004 
>>>>Does anyone know the origin and meaning of the title "Weatherbird or
Weather Bird". Is it the same as Joe"King" Oliver's "Weather Bird Rag"?
It is not in Townley or many other sources I have tried. One hint is a
suggestion it has something to do with gambling. Thanks. Fred<<<

Well, here's one explanation . . . Per the site www.free-definition.com
referring to the newspaper "The St. Louis Post-Dispatch":

"Since February 11, 1901 the paper has included the Weatherbird on its
front page, a cartoon of a bird posed and attired to reflect a topical
comment of the day, next to the weather forecast. In the 1920s, Louis
Armstrong twice recorded ragtime duets named after it."

In Philadelphia, "everyone reads the Inquirer." It is not impossible
that in Chicago and for the traveling musician in the Midwest, "everyone
read the Post-Dispatch" and loved the little bird. Just an example of
early brand placement, maybe? Listen to "Ice Cream" and note the verse
with reference to "Eskimos". The radio show where this was featured was
sponsored by the company who made "Eskimo Pie" ice cream treats.

Regards,

Tom Duncan