[Dixielandjazz] Re: Stroh violin

[dingle at baldwin-net.com]

Bill Haesler wrote:

>Dear Tamas and Steve,
>As a matter of interest, we Oz jazz and dance band enthusiasts have been
>aware of the Stroh violin for many years.
>They were popular here, as indicated on the website for the 'Fiddle Tunes
>Band', posted by Steve. (This popular group is based in the Hunter Valley
>area about 80 miles north of Sydney (where I live) - the local winery area.)
>The Stroh violin is well featured in an early Australian silent film where
>the heroine does a 'charleston' sequence with a jazz band (the Crystal
>Palace Orchestra) comprising trumpet; two saxophonists (alto and tenor
>doubling soprano); banjo; a full-kitted drummer and Stoh violin. We know it
>is supposed to be a jazz band, as they perform the playing gestures
>associated, in the public mi
>

>nd, with our music.
>The film is 'Greenhide' (1926), the second feature directed by the
>celebrated Australian film maker Charles Chauvel.
>Unfortunately, the only print of the film, held by ScreenSound Australia
>(our national film and sound archive) is incomplete.
>Chauvel's musical synopsis has survived, in which he suggests that "That
>Certain Party" (1925. Gus Kahn-Walter Donaldson) be played by the cinema
>pianist at this point.
>This song would have been known to film audiences at that time, as it had
>just been recorded and issued here by the Palais Royal Californians, a
>visiting 'jazz' band from the US.
>Kind regards,
>Bill. 
>
>  
>
>
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>
>  
>
The Stroh violin is most familiar to this fellow. My dad had one -- it 
seems to have disappeared somewhere in  years past, but he had it from 
his days with Goldkette units  in Detroit -- many of the smaller bands 
of that office also recorded. Red was trained to be a concert violinist, 
but got handed an alto sax by a cousin when he was 14 and that, as they 
say, was that. But I can see that odd Stroh -- a neck and finger board 
and a metal megaphone-like horn which would allow the fiddle to be 
recorded on a volume par with voices and reeds.
I still have two of Red's violins, plus his curved Conn soprano sax -- 
none of which I play. Heirlooms you might say. Dust catchers my wife says.
Charlie Hooks said he might buy the sax if it ever came to market. But I 
think I will hang onto it. I thought it would be neat to put the violins 
and sax, and an old metal clarinet I bought from Barrett Deems (for a 
buck just to shut him up...long story,) and have them set up in front of 
me along with my cornet and trombone in a band picture. Our trombone 
player can also legitimately lay out his clarinet, alto saz and 
mellophone, and our reed man plays alto, clarient, and baritonr sax.
It would make a send up of the old classic Wolverine Jazz Band picture. 
Of course I would have to part my hair in the middle and use some black 
shoe polish to cover th whitee thatch of skull cover I have - plus shed 
about 60 pounds so I can fit in my old Chicago gigging days tux.
Ah, hell with it...but that mention of the Stroh violin does bring 
memories. (Besides, Stroh made a pretty good beer, too!)
Don -- this nostalgia stuff is fun but I'd rather have some steady work 
-- Ingle