Posted 11 years ago
Downhome
(24 items)
I recently came upon these four photographs of early/vintage Big Bands and I really enjoyed them. I have always been a fan of the music, so these were something special to me. One of the bands seems to be called the "Hollywood Harmony Hounds" and another "Saxy's Syncopating Serenader". I would say that these are from the early 1900's, no later than the 1920's or so.
I have tried to research the band names and all other text (inscriptions included) but have not been able to find anything out on any of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much, and I do hope you enjoy viewing them as well!
Notice that every pic has a banjo so they must be good, or at least civilized. I'm a little prejudiced as I've built 2 banjos, & can't play! Would show pics of the last one but CW doesn't allow things you make. Nobody on this "Rock" plays a 5 string so don't even have anybody to tell me if the tone is good. "The Devil plays a five-string" as mothers told their daughters to keep them away from pickers.
Wesley Barry, or Wes was a movie star with a band, The Hollywood Harmony Hounds that had a national music tour in 1926. He started out as a child star in silent films, one of the first. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0058191/
T A
Thanks a lot for that TubAmp! I don't suppose you know of any online links that fully connects them or lists the other members of the band or any further information do you? Is it him in the image with the fiddle/violin? Do you mind my asking how you knew this? I would like to learn more.
Also, blunderbuss2, I can't believe that I didn't realize that there was a banjo in each image. That is interesting indeed!
Look at the picture on that bass drum!
SSS
Saxy's Syncopating Serenaders!
Interestingly, there is reference on the net to "Saxi Holtsworth Harmony Hounds" in 1920 until 1924. The Saxi just seems similar to Saxy! Saxi is also seen as Saxie. He was married to a singer Vera Burt. He had a brother Charlie Holtsworth also a trumpeter. Best known for BOW WOW.
Just a hunch.
Is the common element the sax player in Photo s 1,2 and 3?
The second sax player in photo 3 might be playing the clarinet in photo 4.
The banjo player in 1 and 2 might be in 4 too!
I don't think Wesley Barry appears in any of these photos. He looks like he made appearances with the band and did appearances in department stores. The band then comprised "11 men with Billy Burton and the Franklin Sisters, singers and dancers from Elsie Janis’s "Spices" specializing in the Black Bottom."
A real Hoot!
Detail: "To Chongo My Friend & Pal, Rob"
Chongo or Chango?
Would that mean that Rob was one of the band members?
I picked right up on the banjos. I play a five string a little.
I thought it was Bob, not Rob.
Also, any thoughts on the other one with writing on it? I can make out very little of it.
Got it.... Bob.
There's Witzel. L.A.
That's the Witzel Studios.
Ziegfeld photographers. Harold Lloyd too!
http://historicalzg.piwigo.com/index?/category/209-witzel_studios_albert_witzel_max_munn_autrey_walter_frederick_seely
Witzel Studios
Albert Walter Witzel
Witzel, LA & Witzel, Hollywood
Location: 811 S. Hill Road, Los Angeles, & 536 S. Broadway
Time Period: 1902 - 1927.
http://historicalzg.piwigo.com/index?/category/209-witzel_studios_albert_witzel_max_munn_autrey_walter_frederick_seely
The intriguing words I see are "to the Troubadours".
Sincerely.
Is there "Hoffman" at the end of the line under Troubadours?
"Leader"