[Dixielandjazz] Shtick

[eupher dude]

What is the origin of the whole garter belt/straw hat/red suspenders/red 
vest menality in OKOM?

Obviously, the whole Rosie O'Grady's/Your Father's Mustache/Shakey's thing 
has a part, but where did THEY get the notion?

It makes sense that ragtime players in bars/sporting houses would wear 
garters to stash their tips, much like a stripper (so I'm told...  ;)   And 
I know straw hats were once quite the high fashion, but I also doubt that 
Oliver/Armstrong/ODJB/Wolverines et al would have worn that kind of thing on 
the bandstand.  Did they even wear uniforms per se??

My hypothesis goes to Max Morath and Bob Darch, doing their shtick in the 
50's and wearing the garters/straw hats/red vests as part of the estimable 
historic record.  To use one of Shiek Littlefield's phrasings, the mASSES 
saw that and figured all the music is the same, be it Joplin or Jelly Roll, 
and started requesting that as a costume for gigs.  And, a stereotype is 
born.

So, when a non-OKOM player (meaning, someone who is proficient and 
experienced in swing, bop, and beyond) suddenly gets the opportunistic 
notion to play "Dixieland" and gets the gig, they want garters, black 
pants/white shirt, bow tie.  Would they wear a fez to play bop, like Diz?  
Shoot up, and get drunk, like Bird?  Turn their back to the audience like 
Miles?  I think not.

I absolutely hate the black/white/vest mentality.  I do it, because I want 
the job.  Anything I book myself will not be a black/white/vest thing, much 
less garters.  Unless you're wearing stockings instead of pantyhose, but 
that's a different story.

Now, a nice Panama hat, well yeah, like Leon Redbone, that's a different 
story!  But not with black pants/white shirt.

end of rant.

steve

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