[Dixielandjazz] Hambone Kelly's - 1950

[Bill Haesler]

Jim O'Briant queried the composition of the  band at Hambone Kelly's  
[yes, this is correct spelling] in 1950.
> "....who was playing there at that time. I'm assuming that it was Lu  
> Watters and the one-cornet version of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band.

Ed Coltrin replied:
> You are absolutely correct, Jim
> I also was a customer at Hambone's, You bought your ticket from  
> Mother Scobey and gave the ticket to Pop Scobey.......I followed the  
> band from Big Bear Inn on Redwood canyon road, in Oakland to Dawn  
> Club , Annie Street, SF.  Many fond memories of my times at both  
> Dawn and Hambones.

Dear Jim and Ed,
The Lu Watters band played its last gig at the Dawn Club on New Years  
Eve 1946.
It opened at Hambone Kelly's on 13th June 1947 but, due to a mix up,  
only a small crowd turned up. So the Grand Opening was held on 20th  
June 1947.
This was the two trumpet band as Ed infers with his recollection of  
Bob Scobey's parents at the door.
However, by the end of 1948 both Bob Scobey and Turk Murphy had left  
the group and the Yerba Buena name was dropped, notwithstanding that  
it was reused on some of the later record labels.
In 1949 Wally Rose and Bill Dart also left, but both were back by  
December 1949 for the Down Home recordings.
But the audiences at Hambones were down in 1950, the 5 nights a week  
had dropped to weekends only and the band was cut from 7 (by dropping  
trombone and banjo) to 5 (Watters, Helm, Rose, Lammi and Dart).
Hambone Kelly's closed on New Years Eve 1950.
I hope this helps.
Very kind regards,
Bill.