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OLD GOLD PRESENTS
PAUL WHITEMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA
There was no intention that
the “Old Gold” series, featuring Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, should form a
part of these Directories which, originally, were to show as much as is known of
the sponsored radio series in which Bing Crosby had appeared as a solo
performer. Then, out of the blue and
into my lap, fell an enormous amount of detail, via Wig Wiggins, from Mr. E.
Scott Whalen of It is worth mentioning that
when I was struggling with researching any of Bing's radio series, dated prior
to 1944, I would have given my eye teeth for such detailed listings. I also harboured the impossible dream that
someone might have actually listened to the programmes and compiled a radio log
of what they had heard. Improbability
became reality when it was pointed out to me that such a log, for the Old Gold
series had, indeed, been created, portions of which had already been published
in the book, "Bix
- Man And Legend" by Richard M. Sudhalter & Philip R. Evans with William Dean-Myatt. The
"someone" who hovered over his wireless, in 1929, jotting notes, was
Warren W. Scholl (journalist, Whiteman historian and the earliest recognised
expert on the Whiteman orchestra) and a letter from Philip Evans to Malcolm
Macfarlane provided further fragments regarding There was now a plethora of
information, any portion of which I was reluctant to discard,
indiscriminately. I do not consider
myself qualified to criticise or decry, any of these sources, although I have
become only too familiar with the misinformation contained in newspapers which
describe Bing, variously as a "baritone", "tenor" and
"contralto" or twist song titles out of recognition – “I’d Do
Anything For You" becoming the exact opposite, “I’d Do Nothing For
You" and "I Wanna Be Loved By You", in
defiance of any sort of syntax or meaning, being shown as, "I Want To Be A
Lover By You". Similarly,
"Revolutionary Rag" will provide a frustrating search through the
reference books unless one is aware that Irving Berlin had chosen to prefix the
title of his tune with "That" and we can only conjecture, that many
of these errors will be accounted for by misread notes or wrongly transcribed
telephone messages. Questions still crowd my
mind. Scholl was human and there are,
bound to have been, considerable difficulties involved in accurately
cataloguing the make-up of these radio shows, particularly seventy years ago,
without the benefit of any recording equipment, when a missed title would be
gone forever but he is scrupulous enough to admit when titles have been missed
(on one occasion as many as ten).
Whether this was due to poor radio reception or the sheer volume of the
data he was attempting to scribble down, between numbers, is not known. To a mere tyro, like myself,
his knowledge of the musicians and their work is quite awesome, enabling him to
state, quite unequivocally, "as recorded on Victor....or
It is unfortunate that less than half of the
total of 66 programmes are covered as, obviously, the book concerns itself with
only the shows, featuring Bix Beiderbecke and author, Philip R. Evans further
explains, "....When I started to research my Frank Trumbauer book, I
contacted Warren and asked if I might have the balance of the programmes for my
Tram book. He told me that he had tossed
them out, not feeling they were of interest to anyone. I about cried". I will join Philip in his tears because
Warren Scholl is now deceased and so that any questions that I had for him will
remain unanswered. On occasions, these
independent sources are in virtual agreement (see Programme No. 14) and on others,
they differ, wildly (see Programme No.
21). In some cases Whiteman appears to have
abandoned most of the programme, as printed, for something entirely different.
This raises another question. Even in those early days, listeners were quick to
take up their pens or telephone the studio with their complaints and surely,
tuning in to hear a favourite piece, as scheduled, only to find that it had not
been included in the broadcast would be a major source of irritation. Might this have been the reason, that later
in the series, explicit pre-broadcast details of the programmes became rarer in
the newspaper columns, remembering that it was not until mid 1938 that most of
the nation's press united in their embargo on all radio
"chatter". In view of Scholl's
"missed titles" coupled with the fact that I feel unable to abandon
any of the items uncovered by E. Scott Whalen's prodigious researches, I am
including every scrap of information that has been made available to me and in
the hope that it will not further, confuse, I have adopted the following method
of identification: Titles which are not included in any newspaper listings are
marked (a). Song titles from the
separate sources which coincide are marked (b).
This should leave anything that is unmarked as being taken, solely, from
the newspaper listings but please note that this refers to titles only. Sometimes, there is confliction as to who may
have performed a particular vocal and these alternatives are shown (See
Programme No. 29). In
some cases, the only data that survives is a list of songs, frustratingly,
without the performers. In addition,
there is the possibility that Bing Crosby/The Rhythm Boys may not have appeared
in every programme and although research continues, the numbers that featured
their talents may, forever, remain a matter of speculation. Nevertheless, I am confident that anything
set down here represents a greater detail of the content of the complete Paul
Whiteman-Old Gold Shows than has yet been published. There is another important
point to make. One of the slightly
irritating journalistic foibles that has been noted is a propensity to refer
to, "Bing Crosby and the Rhythm Boys". To those who know the score, this might seem
to be as fatuous, as saying, "Groucho and the Marx Brothers" but in
fairness, it should be said that, in 1929, the make-up of the seminal trio may
not have been so well known. In fact,
the only reason for bringing this to your notice is because there are also
allusions to "Bing Crosby and the Old Gold Trio" and I found myself
with a deal of extra work when Philip Evans pointed out that Frank Trumbauer's personal diary of the time, stated that Bing
Crosby was a member of the "Old Gold Trio". Once again, who am I to refute the words of a
musician who was there? In consequence,
as in the case of the Rhythm Boys, I have been obliged to shew
all titles which featured the Old Gold Trio, as Go to 1930 Shows Go to Indices for
show Back to contents Titles which are not included
in any newspaper listings are marked (a).
Song titles from the separate sources which coincide are marked
(b). This should leave anything that is unmarked
as being taken, solely, from the newspaper listings but please note that this
refers to titles only. From Station WABC Medley:
Whispering The
Japanese Sandman
Avalon Do You
Ever Think Of Me? Who Linger
Awhile How About
Me? Liebestraume (Liszt) *Makin' Whoopee The Rhythm Boys I'm
Bringing A Red, Red, Rose Jack
Fulton My Angeline (My Angel-een) Jack
Fulton My Pretty
Girl Gypsy *Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) Dardanella Where Is
The Song Of Songs For Me? Riverboat
Shuffle Singin' The Blues (Till My Daddy
Comes Home) "Paul Whiteman, King of Jazz, has decided on his inaugural
programme for the Old Gold-Paul Whiteman hour, which is to be broadcast Tuesday
night, at 9 o'clock, over a nationwide hook-up of stations of the No. 2 12th February 1929
From Station WABC
Limehouse Blues
Valse Inspiration B-Natural
Blues Marianne Lover,
Come Back to Me Further details unknown. It is doubtful that Bing appeared on this show. "The
second of the Old Gold-Paul Whiteman dance programmes on the ("Variety" No. 3 19th February 1929
From Station WABC Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin) *Where The Shy Little
Violets Grow (b) The Rhythm Boys *When Summer Is Gone (b) The Parade
Of The Wooden Soldiers (Jessel) Who Magnolia
(Mix The Lot, What've You Got) Méditation from ‘Thaïs’ (Massenet) My Angeline (My Angel-een) (a) Jack Fulton "Gershwin's famous 'Rhapsody In Blue', strains of
which have been identified with the Old Gold-Paul Whiteman hour since its
inception over the Columbia Broadcasting system two weeks ago, will be played
in its complete form by Whiteman in the nationwide broadcast over a 42 station
hook-up, at 9 o'clock. Thousands of
requests have been received by the P. Lorillard Company, makers of Old Gold
Cigarettes. Written for the Carnegie
Hall concert of the Whiteman Orchestra and dedicated to the Whiteman group, the
Rhapsody is closely identified with the King of American jazz." No. 4 26th February 1929
From Station WABC Lover Come
Back to Me You're The Cream In My Coffee If I Had
You Dardanella (My)
Wonderful One *I'll Get By (a) *My Castle In *You Wouldn't Fool Me, Would You? (a) * *So The Bluebirds And The
Blackbirds Got Together (a) The Rhythm Boys “The mighty Wagner was not the
kind of fellow to turn over in his grave. Nothing less than a back-somersault and
a couple of handsprings would give him any emotional relief. Therefore, if
earthquakes are recorded tonight, 6 o'clock, when Paul Whiteman's orchestra
presents "Wagneriana" to a coast-to-coast radio audience, you will
understand that Richard, wherever he is buried, is putting in a conscientious
protest. "Wagneriana" is what happens when Mr. Whiteman toys with the
great German's more familiar tunes–sort of worrying them a bit in the modern
manner. Mr. Whiteman's symphonic syncopated arrangements of the classics might
be called antiseptic jazz. Tune in KPLA-KMTR, 6pm.” (“Los Angeles Examiner”, 26th
February, 1929) No. 5 5th March 1929
From Station WABC Song Of Till We
Meet Again (a) Jack
Fulton Medley: Caresses (b) Say It With Music (b) My Darling April
Showers (a) An Orange
Grove In The Sheik Of Araby Medley of Waltz Themes: My Hero
(Strauss) (b) The Pink
Lady Waltz (Caryll) (b) The Merry
Widow Waltz (Lehar) (b) The Blue Sympathy (Friml) (b)
Sweethearts On
Parade (b) *My Suppressed Desire (a) The Rhythm Boys *Where The Shy Little
Violets Grow (a) The Rhythm Boys Liebestraum (Liszt) (a) *Give Your Little Baby Lots Of
Lovin' (b) Medley: *A Precious Little Thing Called Love (b) The Rhythm Boys A Love
Tale Of Glad Rag
Doll I Wanna Be Loved By You (b) Sweet
Georgia Brown (a) "Old
favourites, including a medley of famous waltz themes, will be the main feature
of the broadcast that the Old Gold-Paul Whiteman hour will present over WBBM,
WKRC and other stations of the Regularly, on Tuesday night, the
Columbia broadcasting system assaults the nation's bunion citadels with Paul
Whiteman's and Guy Lombardo's orchestras, and aggravated arches and tantalized
toes get up and go. These two transcontinental dance programs step out from
KPLA-KMTR at 6pm and 8pm, respectively, while KFWB also participates in the
latter. Whiteman's and Lombardo's musical osteopaths employ different
techniques in the massaging of chords into a state of vital harmony–some toes
and ears responding more readily to Mr. Whiteman's more subtle treatment; some
to the rhythmic decisiveness and rich simplicity of Guy the Lombardo. But,
basing predictions on local reactions, it seems that Guy Lombardo is steadily
scaling one side of the pinnacle of popular pre-eminence, while Paul Whiteman
is slipping slowly and gracefully down the other. At least, Whiteman for the
first time since he publicly acknowledged that he is father of the symphonic
jazz baby, can hear the hot blast of an adversary on his trail. I have been
thinking a great deal lately about what to do with members of the family who
don't like jazz during these two rousing weekly broadcasts. Here is my
conclusion and a very fine one it is: (“Los Angeles Examiner, 5th March, 1929) No. 6 12th March 1929
From Station WABC Oriental (b) *Louise (a) How About
Me? Medley: Whispering (b) Avalon (b) The
Japanese Sandman (b) Till We
Meet Again Who (a) Do You
Ever Think Of Me? (a) Waltz Medley: Marie (b) Jeannine,
I Dream Of Lilac Time (b) My Angeline (My Angel-een) (b) Jack Fulton What'll I
Do (b) Medley from "Lady Fingers": *Something To Live For (b) Ga-Ga (b) You're
Perfect (b) O Ya Ya (b) *(A Real) American Tune (b) *So The Bluebirds And The
Blackbirds Got Together (a) The Rhythm Boys *From Monday On (a) The Rhythm Boys Medley: Doin' The Raccoon (b) I'm Bringing A Red, Red, Rose *I Faw Down And Go Boom (a) The Rhythm Boys My
Mother's Eyes (b) I'll Never Ask For More (b) Don't Hold
Everything (b) Singin' The Blues (Till My Daddy
Comes Home) (a) "Paul Whiteman will ask
the advice of the radio audience in helping him select his favourite girl in
the programme. The difficulties of Mr.
Whiteman's problem are shown in the fourth group which he is presenting. This is a waltz group, including, 'Marie',
then, 'Jeannine', then 'Angeline' and finishing with
the heartfelt query, 'What'll I Do'" No. 7 19th March 1929
From Station WABC Canadian
Capers (b) *Diga Diga Doo (a) The Rhythm Boys When
Summer Is Gone Medley: Gypsy
Blues (b) When
Buddha Smiles (b) Sweet Lady (b) My Man
(Mon Homme) (b) Dear Old
Southland (b) Dusky
Stevedore (a) Who (a) The Whiteman
Trio (Fulton-Gaylord- Heatherton) Hawaiian Medley: One, Two,
Three, Four (b) Aloha Oe (b) The Parade
Of The Wooden Soldiers (Jessel) (a) *I'll Get By (b) Tango Medley:
Irresistible (b) La Seduction (b) *In A Little *Where The Shy Little
Violets Grow The
Rhythm Boys Medley: In The
Shadows (b) Bambalina (b) *I Kiss Your Hand Madame (a) Hot Lips (b) Pickin' Cotton (a) "To prove that his orchestra is equally good in presenting any form
of music, Paul Whiteman has selected a waltz medley and a tango medley for his
weekly programme over the No. 8 26th March 1929
From Station WABC Hymn To The Sun (a) Nola
(Arndt) (a) Spiritual Medley: *Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (b) Nobody
Knows De Trouble I've Seen (a) All God's Chillun Got Wings (a) *There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (b) Punch And Judy (a) Blue *Coquette (b) Runnin' Wild! (a) Till We
Meet Again (a) Jack Fulton Everybody
Loves You (a) *The Things That Were Made For Love (You Can't Take Away) (b) Medley: Magnolia (Mix The
Lot, What've You Got) (a) I'm On The Crest Of A Wave (a) I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than
Happy With Somebody Else) (a) Anything
Your Heart Desires (a) Cradle Of Love (a) Weary
River (a) Ray Heatherton Bo-Peep (a) “There are some selections which
we do not mind hearing in jazz arrangements, but we are not sure how we feel
about doing this with negro spirituals. However, on the 6 o'clock program over
the Columbia chain, released by KMTR-KPLA, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra will
play a medley of the following spirituals: "Swing Low Sweet Chariot,"
"Nobody Knows," "All God's Children Got Wings" and
"Deep River." There will be two other medleys, one of waltz tunes,
the other of foxtrots.” (Zuma Palmer. Hollywood Daily Citizen, 26th March, 1929) No. 9 2nd April 1929 From Station WABC Pale Moon Pompanola (a) Gypsy French Medley: Madelon (a) On The
Boulevard (a) Ca C'Est Waltz Medley: Down By The Old Mill Stream Sweet
Adeline In The Shade
Of The Old Apple Tree After The
Ball Medley: Moonlight And Roses (b) Among My Souvenirs (b) My Buddy (b)
Ramona (b) *Diga Diga Doo (a) The Rhythm Boys I Kiss
Your Hand Madame (a) Ray Heatherton *South Wind
(b) The Rhythm Boys The Song I
Love (b) Ray Heatherton Violetta from "La Traviata"
(Verdi) (a) If I Had
You (a) The Medley: Sleepy
Time Gal (b) Somebody Stole My Gal (b) Mary Lou (b) The Things
That Were Made For Love (You Can't Take Away) (b) When Day
Is Done Moonlight
On The Asleep In The Deep Sam, The Old Accordion Man In A
Little Wildflower
Hallelujah! My Sin (a) Ray Heatherton That's
A-Plenty (a) Note: Warren W. Scholl notes, “unknown
title after ‘Pompanola’” (‘Gypsy’?) “If you prefer popular music at
this time, 6, turn your dial to KMTR because that station will release a
Columbia program to be presented by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. One medley
to be offered includes "Moonlight and Roses," "Among My
Souvenirs," "My Buddy" and "Ramona." Another will be
made up of "Sleepy Time Gal," "Mary Lou" and "Things
Were Made For Love."” (Zuma Palmer, “Hollywod Daily Citizen, 2nd April, 1929) No. 10 9th April 1929
From Station WABC Song Of The High Upon A Hilltop Medley: Pretty,
Petite And Sweet (b) Angela Mia
(My Angel) (b) Ray Heatherton Indian
Love Call (b) Roses Of Yesterday (b) *Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) (b) The Rhythm Boys I Love To
Hear You Singing (b) Jack Fulton Waltz Medley: Gypsy Love
Song (Herbert) Valse Bluette Mighty Lak' A Rose Roses Of | |||||||||||