A Blast From The Past!

[Flintlock76]

Hey, remember Paul Whiteman and his orchestra?  I do!

Because I know the period, I'm not THAT old!

Anyway, this comes to us courtesy of Mike, our lost "Wanswheel."  It's Paul Whiteman playing "Choo-Choo," with visuals from "Danger Lights."  Fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rva7-DEyQ9A  

[GeoffS]

WOW,  hold on tight!!  Another version of the music followed, just as good, but did not have a train. That version was not there the next time I watched.

GS

[Overmod]

Here's Tram's version

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m6jXKEsqYv4

[Jones1945]

Great stuff. Imagine listening to it inside a concert hall!

[NKP guy]

  I really enjoyed the video, Flintlock!  It combines two of my favorite things:  trains...and Paul Whiteman, "the king of jazz."

   I suppose you've already seen his video of the song "Happy Feet"?

[Flintlock76]

NKP guy

 I suppose you've already seen his video of the song "Happy Feet"?

No, I haven't caught that one, I'll have to look for it.

I don't know about everyone else, but ever since Lady Firestorm and I saw "Danger Lights" we've called the Milwaukee Road "The Road Of Dan Thorne."  If you've seen the film you know why!  Fine actor, Louis Wolheim.  And did you know he was a math professor at Cornell before he got into acting?

I'll be the students really  paid attention in his  classes!

[Overmod]

NKP guy

   I suppose you've already seen his video of the song "Happy Feet"?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UIPDT2tT3Wk

[Overmod]

How many of you know this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ghEa1x23low

Or this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GVwU7FG1OYA

(The whole thing is here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=StjRTrR9A0g)

 

[Flintlock76]

"Happy Feet" sounds like the theme from a pre-Code Hollywood movie!

[Overmod]

Or this...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MPuvZFfm6YE

[NKP guy]

 

Flintlock76

"Happy Feet" sounds like the theme from a pre-Code Hollywood movie!

   Maybe it's not a theme, but the 1929 movie it's in pre-dates the Hays Office Code.

[Flintlock76]

More "Happy Feet" from Wanswheel.

This is from a 1930 film called "King of Jazz" featuring Paul Whiteman.  Musical and shot in two-strip Technicolor, they really pushed the technology with this one!

And think about it, WW1 is only 11 years in the past, and "Gone With The Wind" and "The Wizard Of Oz" are only nine years away. 

And watch who grabs and holds your attention in the singing trio.  That's star quality baby!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_JTOInMEuQ&t=3686s

[NKP guy]

   In the notes he wrote for a 3-disc phonograph album (1972) of music from the 1920's, Rogers E. M. Whitaker (aka E. M. Frimbo) had this to say about Paul Whiteman:

   "If any name is to be given to this period in the history of American music, it probably should be called the Whiteman Era, for Paul Whiteman was just about the dominant note.  His vast band, overflowing with fine musicians, seemed to be everywhere--on records, on stage, in the movies, in the movie houses, in the nightclubs.  His orchestrators were brimming with ideas; the notion of incorporating a sort of floor-show interlude in the middle of a set was borrowed by many another band.  Moreover, his ability to pick out and nurse along such diversified talents as Bix Beiderbecke, Bing Crosby and Mildred Bailey was without equal.  Even if years have passed since you last listened to the Whiteman recordings of that time, your memory will anticipate those famous choruses in full ensemble and the bewitching variety of the innumerable solos.  And with good reason."  Et cetera.

 

[Flintlock76]

And "Frimbo" probably knew Paul Whiteman.  Hey, he probably knew everybody.

[coalminer3]

"King of Jazz" shows up on Turner Classic Movies every so often. I saw it probably within the past 6 months, IIRC. The tune "Happy Feet" is one that you can't get out of your head. 

work safe