[Dixielandjazz] Hat Trick

[Fred Spencer]

It may, or may not, be of interest to pommies and limeys who don't know this 
already, and a few others, that the origin of "hat trick"goes back to the 
days when cricketers wore hats, not caps, and any bowler who took three 
wickets in succession was awarded a hat. I don't think it came into common 
use in the USA until the 1960s and 1970s when, in a Boston Bruins broadcast 
I was listening to, the commentator said that someone had scored three 
goals--a "hat trick." He had no idea where it came from so I told him and it 
is now used in many sports. More useless information! Cheers.

Fred

----- Original Message ----- 

From: <Talegatorz at aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 1:27 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Hat Trick


> One of the best comedy bits my group does is to start the first set 
> playing
> The
> Washington and Lee Swing with a slow  6/8 tempo and increasingly bad style
> which collapses in an ugly heap near the end of the first chorus. The band
> scratches heads and generally tries to look stupid until one of us says; 
> "Oh I
> know! We forgot the hats!" I then retrieve an old battered suitcase from 
> off
> stage.
> Inside are a bunch of cheap straw hats which are then passed around to the
> band and selected audience members. This is followed by a hot, up-tempo 
> version
> of the same tune. The audience is usually in stitches and are totally on 
> board
> with us.
> That this bit is so successful just shows what a cliche'  the straw hat 
> and
> suspenders garb has become.  Just like the German bands wearing 
> lederhosen,
> there's nothing wrong with; its just what many audiences have come to 
> expect.
> That said, I propose we all agree to wear what we like and what works best
> for our gig situations.
>
> Thankfull this Thanksgiving to be part of such a wonderful community
> dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of Dixieland Jazz,
>
> Gus Bloch
>
>
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