DEMS BULLETIN
DUKE ELLINGTON MUSIC SOCIETY
05/1 April - July 2005
27th Year of Publication
FOUNDER: BENNY AASLAND
HONORARY MEMBER: FATHER JOHN GARCIA GENSEL
EDITOR: SJEF HOEFSMIT
ASSISTED BY: ROGER BOYES
| |
THE INTERNATIONAL DEMS BULLETIN DUKE ELLINGTON MUSIC SOCIETY 05/1 April - July 2005 27th Year of Publication FOUNDER: BENNY AASLAND |
Voort 18b, 2328 Meerle, Belgium
Telephone: +32 3 315 75 83
Email: dems@skynet.be
Duke's Itinerary
ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, AND DELETIONS
DEMS 05/1-7
Recent research in local newspapers has produced numerous
additions and corrections to Duke Ellington’s itinerary.
Events listed in bold I believe to have happened.
(DESB) refers to clippings found in the Duke Ellington Scrapbooks at
the Smithsonian. (DD) refers to an item mentioned in Ken Vail’s
"Duke’s Diary," with no documentation given until now.
Please feel free to join in on the fun and look up
Ellington’s visits to your town. Please send additions,
corrections, and comments to DEMS: dems@skynet.be.
3Jul30, Bournehurst on the Canal, Buzzard’s
Bay, MA. Correct date, not 2Jul. (ad, Boston Post, 3Jul30,
p18).
5Jul30, Moseley’s, Boston, MA. (ad,
Boston Post, 5Jul30, p4)
29Jul30, Stars’ Park, St. Louis, MO. Dance
held at Negro National League baseball stadium. (ad, St. Louis
Argus, 25Jul30, p3) "The musicians are on a barnstorming tour to
Hollywood. St. Louis, Kansas City, and Omaha will hear the boys."
("Chicago Hears Duke Ellington," Chicago Defender, city ed.,
2Aug30, p7) Local sources in Kansas City and Omaha should be checked
for these engagements.
5Feb to 11Feb31, Metropolitan Theater, Boston,
MA. Correct dates, not 6Feb to 12Feb. Duke Ellington and His
Orchestra take to the road following the end of their three-year
engagement at the Cotton Club. (ads, Boston Post,
5-12Feb31)
9Feb31, Ambassador Palace, Boston,
MA. "Duke Ellington and his orchestra and Charlie Johnson and his
Victor Recording orchestra from Small’s Paradise, New York, drew
the largest throng of both races ever gathered in this city when they
played at the Ambassador palace, Berkeley St. and Warren Ave."
("Boston Turns Out to Greet Duke, Charlie," Chicago Defender,
city ed., 14Feb31, p6)
27Feb to 5Mar31, Uptown Theater, Chicago, IL.
Correct dates, not 27Feb to 4Mar. (ads, Chicago Herald and
Examiner, 27Feb-5Mar31)
6Mar to 12Mar31, Paradise Theater, Chicago, IL.
Correct dates, not 5Mar to 11Mar. (ads, Chicago Herald and
Examiner, 5-12Mar31)
13Mar to 19Mar31, Oriental Theater, Chicago, IL.
Correct dates, not 12Mar to 18Mar. (ads, Chicago Herald and
Examiner, 12-19Mar31) "In addition to her great singing, Ivie
[Anderson] was also considered a good-luck charm. We opened at the
Oriental Theater on Friday, February 13, 1931 [Ivie’s debut with
Duke], and we broke the all-time house record. We returned to the
Oriental on Friday, March 13, 1931, and broke that record, too."
(Duke Ellington, Music is My Mistress, p124)
Events during the 8 to 14May31, Ambassador Theater,
St. Louis, MO, engagement:
10May31, Cotton Club, banquet in
honor of the band. ("The Duke Himself in Town," St. Louis
Argus, 8May31, p5)
12May31, Pythian Hall and Cotton
Club. 3137 and 3133 Pine, dance, Duke Ellington and His Cotton
Club Orchestra. (ad, St. Louis Argus, 8May31, p3)
13May31, People’s Finance
Auditorium. Duke and members of his orchestra were "celebrated
guests" at a dance. ("Duke Ellington Guest at Shriners’ Annual
Dance," St. Louis Argus, 15May31, p5)
14May31, Pythian Hall and Cotton
Club. Duke Ellington a "special guest" at performance by the
Walter Barnes band. (ad, St. Louis Argus, 8May31, p3)
Exact date unknown, May31, Koch
Hospital auditorium. At the invitation of a hospital patient,
Duke Ellington performed six tunes: Ring Dem Bells, Three
Little Words (vocal by Sonny Greer), I’m a Little
Blackbird (vocal by Ivie Anderson), When We Get Together
(vocal by an otherwise unidentified "Mr. Harris"), Dinah
(vocal again by Greer), and St. Louis Blues. ("Duke Ellington
Stirs Koch Hospital Patients with his Famous Cotton Club Orchestra,"
St. Louis Argus, 15May31, p3)
15May to 21May31, Oriental Theater, Chicago, IL.
(ads, Chicago Daily Tribune, 15-21May31) "Included on the
program…are The Peanut Vendor, Ol’ Man River,
Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, I’m So In
Love With You, Black and Tan Fantasy and Mood Indigo."
("Ellington and Band Back at the Oriental," Chicago Defender,
city ed., 16May31, p8)
Dances during 6 to 19Jun31 Pearl Theater,
Philadelphia, PA, engagement:
17Jun31, Market Arena. Blacks
weren’t admitted until Sam Stiefel, owner of the Pearl Theater,
intervened. "Finally they were admitted — but were forced to
dance in a roped-off area set aside for them by officials." ("Jim
Crow Negroes as Duke Plays," Philadelphia Tribune, 25Jun31,
p1)
18Jun31, Shadowland. Return
engagement from 11Jun. (ad, Philadelphia Tribune, 18Jun31,
p6)
22Jun31, Rainbow Gardens, Waldameer Park, Erie,
PA. "Dancing at 9:00." (ads from Erie, PA, newspapers, and
ticket, in the scrapbooks of Herc Chacona who booked Ellington dances
twice in 1931 and again in 1933. Thanks to his son, John Chacona, for
providing copies.
13Aug31, Modernistic Ballroom, Fair Park, Milwaukee,
WI. (ad, Milwaukee Journal, 13Aug31, sec L, p4)
4Sep31, Mackinaw Dells, Peoria, IL. (ad,
Peoria Journal, 4Sep31, p28)
7Sep31, Modernistic Ballroom, Fair Park, Milwaukee,
WI. Return engagement on Labor Day. (ad, Milwaukee
Journal, 6Sep31, sec S, p7)
10Sep31, Rainbow Gardens, Waldameer Park, Erie,
PA. Dancing at 9:00. (ads, Erie newspapers, and ticket, in
Chacona scrapbooks)
3oct to 9oct31, Pearl Theater, Philadelphia, PA.
(ad, Philadelphia Tribune, 1oct31, p6; and review, 15oct31,
p6) Jersey City, NJ, has also been listed for this week due to this
reference: "For the week of October 3 the orchestra is booked for the
Stanley Theater, Jersey City." ("Say Ellington Gets New Plan and
Higher Pay," Chicago Defender, city ed., 3Oct31, p7) This
seems to be in error, and perhaps a check of local sources will
locate the band in Jersey City for the open week of 23 to
29oct31.
20oct31, Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA. (ad,
Boston Post, 19oct31, p15)
22oct31, Butterfly Ballroom, Springfield, MA.
(ad, Boston Post, 19oct31, p15)
Dance during the 30oct to 5Nov31, Paramount Theater,
New Haven, CT, engagement:
3Nov31, Music Hall. 10 p.m. ("Duke
Ellington at Music Hall Tonight," New Haven Evening
Register, 3Nov31, p9)
6Nov to 12Nov31, Metropolitan Theater, Boston,
MA. Venue identified. (ads, Boston Post, 6-12Nov31)
6Nov31, Copley Plaza, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA. ("Announce Plans of the
Intercollegiate Ball," Harvard Crimson, 3Nov31) "Record
breaking attendance of 1,500 couples." ("Harvard-Dartmouth Rooters
Hear Duke," Baltimore Afro-American, 28Nov31, p9)
20Nov to 3Dec31, Oriental Theater, Chicago, IL.
Correct dates; a two-week, not three-week engagement ending 10Dec.
(ads, Chicago Daily Tribune, 20Nov-10Dec31) It seems likely
that Ellington played a theater engagement in St. Louis the week of
4 to 10Dec31, but local sources should be checked. "Duke and
his boys will leave the Oriental theater headed for St. Louis."
(Walter Barnes, Jr., "Hittin’ High Notes," Chicago
Defender, city ed., 5Dec31, p7)
19Dec31, Indiana Roof, Indianapolis, IN. (ad,
Indianapolis Star, 19Dec31, p15) (DD)
25 to 31Dec31, Fisher Theater, Detroit, MI.
(ads, Detroit News, 25-31Dec31)
23 to 29Jan32, Hippodrome, Baltimore, MD. Five
shows a day, with Florence Hill, Nicodemus, Four Step Brothers. (ads,
Baltimore Sun, 23-29Jan32)
During the 5 to 11Feb32 Brooklyn Paramount, New
York, NY engagement:
7Feb32, Earl Carroll Theater, New York,
NY. "Willie and Eugene Howard, Dave Rubinoff, Duke
Ellington’s Band, Milt Gross, Ernie Bushmiller, Queenie Smith
and an ensemble from the ‘Vanities’ appeared in the long
show [to benefit the Broadway-Saranac Relief Fund]." ("Three Benefits
Draw Large Audiences," New York Times, 8Feb32, p32)
During the 19Feb to 9Mar32, Orpheum Theater, San
Francisco, CA, engagement:
16Feb32, arrives in San Francisco,
CA. "Quite a number of friends, admirers, and press agents were
on hand to greet the Duke…." (Joe Williams, "Stage and Screen,"
San Francisco Spokesman, 20Feb32, p7) The orchestra made a
"unique…3,000 mile, non-stop, record-breaking jump from the
[Brooklyn] Paramount to the Orpheum." (ad, Variety, 26Jan32,
p64)
18Feb32, Home of Noel Sullivan.
Welcome reception by the Alexander Dumas Club. "Adding to the
pleasure of the evening were several selections by Mr. Ellington and
soloists in his entourage." ("Duke Ellington’s Band Entertained
by Dumas Club," San Francisco Spokesman, 20Feb32,
p4)
29Feb32, Apex Cabaret. Duke an
"honored guest" at club owned by Curtis Mosby. (ad, San
Francisco Spokesman, 27Feb32, p7)
8Mar32, Apex Cabaret. Farewell
night to Duke. (ad, San Francisco Spokesman, 12Mar32,
p2)
26Jun32, Green Lantern, Anderson, IN. (ad,
Indianapolis Star, 26Jun32, p2) (DD)
28Jun32, Miramar Ballroom, Gary, IN. Ellington
ended this dance engagement early due to a "shortage in box
receipts." ("Ellington Dance Brief but Big Hit," Gary
American, 2Jul32, p1)
30Jun to 28Jul32, Lincoln Tavern, Morton
Grove, IL. Correct closing date, not 27Jul. (radio listing,
Chicago Daily Tribune, 28Jul32, p12)
29Jul32, Fernwood, Peoria, IL. "The orchestra
came directly from the Lincoln Tavern, near Chicago." ("Throng of
Dancers Hail ‘Duke’s’ Band," Peoria Journal,
30Jul32, p10)
8Aug to 14Aug32, Castle Farm, Cincinnati, OH.
Correct closing date, not 15Aug. (ad, Cincinnati Enquirer,
14Aug32, sec3, p2)
18Aug32, Coliseum, Decatur, IL. (ad, Peoria
Journal, 18Aug32, p20)
24Aug32, Wildwood Park, Mansfield, WI. (ad,
Stevens Point Journal, 22Aug32, p3)
31Aug32, Riverview, Park, Des Moines, IA.
(Everett Wadsworth, "Duke Ellington Thrills Crowd," Iowa
Bystander, 2Sep32, p3) (DD)
16 to 22 Sep32, Tivoli Theater, Chicago, IL. This
booking as reported in Variety (13Sep32, p32) was evidently
canceled. Band was recording in New York on 19, 21, and 22Sep. (ads,
Chicago Daily Tribune, 16-22Sep32, do not list Ellington at
the Tivoli; recording dates per New DESOR)
During the 7 to 13oct32 Brooklyn Loew’s
Metropolitan Theater, New York, NY engagement:
7oct32, Rockland Palace, New York,
NY. "Duke Ellington’s band, the Hall Johnson choir, W.C.
Handy, Jules Bledsoe, Monette Moore, and George Morton will be among
the entertainers at the benefit performance for the Scottsboro Unity
Defense Committee…with Bill Robinson…as emcee." ("Music
Notes," New York Times, 4oct32, p26)
18Nov to 25Nov32, Pearl Theater,
Philadelphia, PA. Correct closing date, not 24Nov. (ad,
Philadelphia Inquirer, 25Nov32, p10)
25Dec32, Hotel Schenley, Pittsburgh, PA. Aragon
Club ball at midnight, and concert at 11:00 pm, with the Doc Peyton
Orchestra. Local broadcasts over WWSW at 11:30 pm and 12:00 midnight.
("Anatole Ball to Have Two Orchestras," Pittsburgh
Sun-Telegraph, 24Dec32, p5; and radio listing, 25Dec32, sec 1,
p8).
12Mar33, Cotton Club, New York, NY. Correct
opening date for Duke’s 1933 engagement, not 9Mar. "Beginning
Sunday, Mar. 12th." (ad, Brooklyn Eagle, 10mar33,
p18)
9Sep33, Hershey Park Ballroom, Hershey, PA. (ad,
Gettysburg Times, 7Sep33, p2)
11Sep33, Rainbow Gardens, Waldameer Park, Erie,
PA. (ticket from the collection of Herc Chacona)
15Sep to 17Sep33, Castle Farm, Cincinnati, OH.
(ads, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15Sep33, p6; and 17Sep33, sec3, p2)
During the 30Sep to 6oct33, Majestic Theater,
Dallas, TX, engagement:
30Sep and 5oct33, Ice Palace. 10 p.m. dances
following daily theater appearances. ("Ellington Band to Play First
Dance Engagement at Ice Palace Saturday," Dallas Morning News,
30Sep33, p8) The 30Sep dance was for whites; the 5oct
for blacks.
6oct33, Peacock Terrace, Baker
Hotel. 11 p.m. broadcast over WFAA. (Dallas Morning News,
6oct33, secIII, p2)
7oct to 10oct33, Worth Theater, Ft. Worth, TX.
(ads, Fort Worth Star Telegram, 7-10oct33)
11oct to 13oct33, Paramount Theater, Austin, TX.
(ads, Austin American, 11-13oct33)
12oct33, Tillotson College.
Ellington "told about his music and played several numbers for"
students at the African American women’s college. ("Duke
Ellington Guest at Tillotson College," Black Dispatch,
19oct33, p3)
12oct33, Gregory Gym. 10 p.m.
dance. (ad, Austin American, 12oct33, p10)
14oct to 20oct33, Majestic Theater, San Antonio
,TX. Correct end date, not 19oct. ("Duke’s Band Arrives
Tomorrow, Here One Week," San Antonio Register, 13oct33, p1)
San Antonio daily papers should be checked.
Exact date uncertain, oct33, Dinner at
Don Albert’s House, San Antonio, TX. "Mr. and Mrs. Don
Albert were hosts at a charming party in their home honoring
Don’s cousin, Barney Bigard…. Mr. Ellington favored the
guests with several of his own compositions, among which was Black
Jazz Nocturne." ("The Don Alberts Entertain Cousin," San
Antonio Register, 27oct33, p6) 3Nov33 has been given incorrectly
for this event.
21oct to 27oct33, Majestic Theater, Houston, TX.
(ads, Houston Chronicle, 21-27oct33).
21oct33, City Auditorium, 10 p.m.
dance. (ad, Houston Chronicle, 21oct33, p6)
28oct to 31oct33, Jefferson Theater, Beaumont,
TX. (ads, Beaumont Enterprise, 28-31oct33)
29oct33, Peoples Theater, 11:00
p.m. performance. "Entire theater reserved for colored." (ad,
Beaumont Enterprise, 29oct33, secB, p9)
30oct33, Neophogen Hall, 10:30 p.m.
dance. (ad, Beaumont Enterprise, 30oct33, p5)
1 to 3Nov33, Waco Theater, Waco, TX. (ads,
Waco Times-Herald, 1-3Nov33)
1Nov33, Shrine Club, dance, 11:00
p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (ad, Waco Times-Herald, 1Nov33)
2Nov33, Cotton Palace Coliseum.
("Waco Thrills to Duke Ellington’s Hot Tunes," Houston
Informer, 11Nov33, p5)
4 and 5Nov33, Majestic Theater, Wichita Falls,
TX. (ads, Wichita Daily Times, 4-5Nov33)
4Nov33, Wichita Club, 11 p.m.
dance. (ad, Wichita Daily Times, 4Nov33)
Late-hours events during 10 to 16Nov33 Criterion
Theater, Oklahoma City, OK, engagement:
14Nov33, Skirvin Hotel, private
party. ("Sets Precedent," Black Dispatch, 16Nov33, p1)
15Nov33, Market Garden, dance.
("Multitudes Greet Ellington Engagement," Black Dispatch,
16Nov33, p3)
17Nov to 23Nov33, Orpheum Theatre, Tulsa, OK.
(ads, Tulsa Daily World, 17-23Nov33)
18Nov33, Convention Hall, dance at
11:30 p.m. (ad, Tulsa Daily World, 18Nov33, p3).
5Jan34, Roseland Ballroom, Kansas City, MO.
"[Duke Ellington] playing the entire dance. Dancing 9 Till 2." (ad,
Kansas City Call, city ed., 5Jan34, p11)
16Feb34, Regal Theater, Chicago, IL. "Duke
Ellington and his great band spent a few hours in the city Friday
night en route to California. The Duke…came on stage at the
Regal theater to greet his old pal, Lucius [Lucky] Millinder, and the
house’s patrons. He was royally received." (Ellington’s
Band Passes Through City," Chicago Defender, national ed.,
3Mar34, p9)
27Apr34, Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA.
(ad, Sacramento Bee, 27Apr34, p8)
29Apr34, San Pablo Park, Berkeley, CA. Duke made
an afternoon appearance at a baseball game. The game was stopped as
Ellington stood on the pitchers mound; spoke to the crowd of 4,000;
and threw two pitches to Earl Snakehips Tucker. ("Duke Ellington
Receives Royal Welcome by Fans," San Francisco Spokesman,
3May34, p4); and Sweet’s Ballroom, Oakland, CA, dance,
7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. (ad, Oakland Tribune, 28Apr34, p2)
During the 19 to 25May34, Music Hall, Seattle,
WA engagement:
21May34, Finnish Hall. Dance in
honor of "members of Duke Ellington’s band, Earl Tucker, Miss
Ivy Anderson, and Gorilla Jones [boxer]." Music and floor shoe by the
Harlem Club. ("Duke Ellington Band and ‘Gorilla’ Jones
Guests at Dance," Northwest Enterprise, 17May34, p4)
1Jun to 3Jun34, Orpheum Theater, Salt Lake City,
UT. "Four shows daily" with a movie. (ads, Salt Lake
Tribune, 1-3Jun34) (DD)
7 to 13Jun34, Layover in Chicago. "Duke
Ellington and his band arrived in the city Thursday from the Pacific
coast for a week’s layoff. They are due to leave for the East
early next week and return here for an engagement at the [Chicago]
World’s Fair. ("Duke Ellington and Band Here," Chicago
Defender, national ed., 16Jun34, p8) On 12Jun, writer Dan
Burley sat with Ivie Anderson at amateur fight night at the Savoy,
while the band was "here [Chicago] for a few days." (Dan Burley, "She
Swings and She Sings and It All Comes So Easy!" Kansas City
Call, city ed., 22Jun34, p8) The 7Jun to 12Jun, Orpheum
Theater, Denver, CO engagement listed in Variety (29May34) was
even listed in a Denver newspaper the previous Sunday ("Here is What
Denver’s Theaters Offer This Week," Denver Post, 3Jun34,
sec3, p7), but was evidently canceled. (daily ads, Denver
Post, 7-12Jun34, do not list Ellington) Perhaps the cancellation
and early return east was due to illness in the band. (DEMS
02/2, p20).
13Jul to 19Jul34, Loew’s Orpheum, Boston,
MA. Correct dates, not 20 to 26Jul. (ads, Boston
Post, 13-26Jul34)
20Jul to 27 Jul34, Tour of One-Nighters in the
South. "Harlem’s aristocrat of jazz will be seen and heard
in Roanoke, Petersburg, and Richmond, all in Virginia; in Durham and
Goldsboro, North Carolina; in Columbia and Charlotte, South Carolina
[Charlotte is in North Carolina] and in Charleston, W.Va." ("Duke
Ellington to Tour South," Baltimore Afro-American, 4Aug34, p9)
Local papers in these cities need to be checked to verify these
dates.
31Jul34, City Auditorium, Atlanta, GA. (Lucius
Jones, "Society Slants," Atlanta Daily World, 1Aug34, p3)
Correct date; 7Aug has also been given for this gig.
30Jul34, Louisville, KY; and 1Aug34,
Birmingham, AL. Following the 31Jul performance at the
Auditorium in Atlanta, Duke told a reporter, "We left Louisville
after playing a roadhouse there about three o’clock in the
morning and got in here about 8:20. Our contract called for
9:00…. Jump to Birmingham tomorrow." (Cliff Mackay, "The Duke
Can Dish it Out Plenty Hot," Atlanta Daily World, 2Aug34,
p3)
2Aug34, Auditorium, Chattanooga, TN. (ad,
Chattanooga Times, 2Aug34) Research courtesy of Martin Thach
of Chattanooga.
16Aug34, Russell’s Point, Indian Lake, OH.
"Dancing 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m." (ad, Lima News, 16Aug34,
p11)
13oct34, Ritz Ballroom, Manchester, NH. (ad,
Boston Post, 13oct34, p8)
21oct34, Earle Theater, Washington, DC. "Duke
Ellington…who came to town over the weekend to see Mama
Ellington, went back stage at the Earle Sunday night to visit
[bandleader] Paul Ash. Ash insisted on taking him out on the stage
and presenting him." (Louis Lautier, "Capital Spotlight,"
Baltimore Afro-American, 3Nov34, p9) [Duke] was greeted by
such applause that he consented to take over one of the grand pianos
and play his own fascinating composition of Sophisticated
Lady. And how he played it!" (Nelson Bell, "Ellington Plays a
Piece," Washington Post, 23oct34, p16)
13Jan to 19Jan35, Regal Theater, Chicago, IL.
Week-long engagement, not 19 and 20Jan. (ads, Chicago Herald and
Examiner, 13-20Jan35)
20Jan to 26Jan35, Shubert Theater, Cincinnati,
OH. Correct dates, not 21Jan to 27Jan. (ads, Cincinnati
Enquirer, 20-27Jan35)
28Jan35, Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, MI.
"Played to an immense crowd Monday night." (Russell Cowan, "Round N
Bout Detroit," Chicago Defender, national ed., 2Feb35, p 8)
4Apr35, Masonic Temple, Birmingham, AL. "Duke
Ellington and his Orchestra played to more than 1,500 patrons here
last Thursday evening…. This was Duke’s second engagement
here. He played for a white group on his other appearance [1Aug34]."
("Duke Ellington in Birmingham," Chicago Defender, national
ed., 20Aug35, p11)
8Apr35, Logan Hall, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee,
AL. Duke evidently thought the 2:00 p.m. performance was canceled
and went directly to Montgomery, AL, for an evening concert. Duke was
located and at 4:20 began a performance for students of 15 numbers
including Creole Love Call, Sophisticated Lady,
Rockin in Rhythm, Cocktails for Two, Mood
Indigo, Stormy Weather, and I’m
Satisfied." ("Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Thrill Four
Thousand," Tuskegee Campus Digest, 20Apr35, p1)
11May to 14May35, Palace Theater, Youngstown,
OH. Four-day, not six-day engagement ending 16May. (ads,
Youngstown Vindicator, 11-16May35)
27May35, Savoy Ballroom, Pittsburgh, PA. According to
the Chicago Defender, this event was canceled. "Due to the
death of Duke Ellington’s mother [that day], it made it
impossible to keep engagements at the Savoy Ballroom last Monday, May
27. Money was refunded and all Pittsburgh is in sympathy with the
king of jazz. Ellington will return at a later date." ("Cab Calloway
in Pittsburgh," Chicago Defender, national ed., 15Jun 35,
p7)
16Jun35, Miramar Ballroom, Gary, IN. "The Duke,
Ivie, and the Three Flats sure gave Gary dance lovers something to
think about for quite a while." ("Chatter Box," Gary American,
21Jun35, p2) 23Jun has been given for this engagement.
17Jun35, Sun Prairie Ballroom, Sun Prairie, WI.
(ad, Wisconsin State Journal, 15Jun35, p9)
19Jun35, Eagles Ballroom, Oshkosh, WI. Relocated
from EWECO Park due to rain. (ad, Oshkosh Northwestern,
19Jun35, p4)
7Jul35, Spanish Gardens, Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City,
OK. "The band was guaranteed $1,000. 1,600 paid an admission of
$1.10." (Edward Christian, "Musical Lowdown," Black Dispatch,
11Jul35)
10Jul35, San Antonio, TX. "Many hundreds of
fans…literally jammed the auditorium [likely the Carver] making
dancing almost impossible." ("Jo’s Jottings,"San Antonio
Register, 19Jul35, p6)
15Jul to 21Jul35, Sylvan Club, Ft. Worth, TX. Ellington
did play a one-nighter on 6Jul35, but the return engagement
never happened. The Sylvan, known for gambling, burned to the ground
early in the morning of 12Jul. ("Sylvan Club Razed by Fire," Ft.
Worth Star-Telegram, 12Jul35, p1)
17Aug35, Casino, Narragansett Pier, RI.
(Boston Post, 11Aug35) (DESB)
8Nov to 14Nov35, Hippodrome, Baltimore, MD.
(ads, Baltimore Sun, 8-14Nov35) (DESB)
15Nov35, Convention Hall, Rochester, NY. Correct
date, not 14Nov. (Rochester News, 15Nov35) (DESB)
29Nov35, Roseland State Ballroom, Boston, MA.
(ad, Boston Post, 28Nov35) (DESB)
3Feb to 9Feb36, Lay over in Kansas City, MO.
Before the Pla-Mor Ballroom engagement 8Feb, then back to New
York. A tentative engagement for the Roby Theater, 9-11Feb,
did not materialize. (Kansas City Call, city ed., 7Feb36,
p3)
22Mar to 25Mar36, Lay over in St. Louis, MO.
(Ben Thomas, "Footlights," St. Louis Argus, 27Mar36, p1)
12Apr36, Coliseum, St. Louis, MO. Easter Sunday
dance with the Jeter-Pillars and Eddie Johnson bands. ("Duke
Ellington Dance is a Big Success,"St. Louis Argus, 17Apr36,
p3)
17Apr36, Miramar Ballroom, Gary, IN. "Duke
himself didn’t arrive until 11 o’clock, the band played
without piano." ("Chatterbox," Gary American, 24Apr36, p2)
11Jun36, Graystone Ballroom, Dayton, OH.
Wilberforce University Commencement Prom. (ad, Indianapolis
Recorder, 6Jun36, p13)
4Jul36, Casino, Narragansett Pier, RI. (ad,
Boston Post, 3Jul36, p15)
24Jul36, Ocean Pier, Old Orchard Beach, ME. (ad,
Boston Post, 19Jul36, p29)
30Jul36, Colonial Casino, Onset, MA. The band was
advertised there for 23Jul while on a short tour of New
England. This date has been incorrectly listed in the references due
to an inaccurate reading of an ad in the DESB. There is no ad in the
30Jul36 Boston Post.
2Feb37, Rainbow Gardens, Sacramento, CA. (ad,
Sacramento Bee, 2Feb37, p8)
3Feb37, Cocoanut Grove, Stockton, CA. "From 7:30
to 8 o’clock [Ellington] will be heard in a special broadcast
from the studio of KWG." ("Duke Ellington Band Plays on Air, for
Dance," Stockton Daily Evening Record, 3Feb37, p14)
4Feb37, Civic Auditorium, San Jose, CA. (ad,
San Jose Mercury News, 4Feb37, p8)
7Feb37, Oakes Ballroom, Tacoma, WA. (ad,
Tacoma News-Tribune, 7Feb37, p4) I cannot find any mention if
this engagement was canceled. An advertised 6Feb37 dance at
the Trianon Ballroom, Seattle, was canceled when the
band’s train was caught in a snowstorm in Northern California.
("Hi De Ho! Duke’s Marooned in Snow," Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, 7Feb37, p4) The 8Feb37 dance at the
Armory, Bellingham, WA, did occur. ("Duke Ellington Big
Drawing Card in Sound Cities," Oregon Daily Journal, 13Feb37,
p5) A different snow storm caused the orchestra to arrive late, and
perform in their street clothes, for the first performance on
9Feb37 at the Palomar Theater, Seattle, WA. ("Duke
Ellington’s Band Makes Hit," Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
10Feb37) Later that night a dance was given "in honor of Duke
Ellington and his band and entertainers" at Finnish Hall.
Music was provided by Gene Coy and His Eleven Black Aces. ("Leader of
‘Black Aces’ Band," Northwest Enterprise, 5Feb37)
15Feb37, McArthur Court, University of Oregon,
Eugene, OR. Concert at 7:30 p.m. followed by dance at 9:00 p.m.
(Oregon Daily Emerald, 16Feb37, p1)
28Feb37, train station, Kansas City, MO.
30-minute layover en route from Los Angeles to New York. ("Duke
Ellington and His Band Here between Trains," Kansas City
Call, city ed., 5Mar37, p14)
29Jul37, Fox Pavilion, McHenry, IL. (ad,
Arlington Heights Herald, 23Jul37, p8)
6Sep37, Coliseum, St. Louis, MO. Labor Day Night
dance. (ad, St. Louis Argus, 3Sep37, p5)
8Sep to 14Sep37, Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis,
MN. Correct dates, not 7Sep to 13Sep. (ads, Minneapolis
Tribune, 7-14Sep37)
11oct37, Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, MA. Dance 9
p.m. to 2 a.m. (ad, Boston Post, 11oct37, p14)
14oct to 20oct37, Metropolitan Theater, Boston,
MA. Correct dates, not 15 to 21oct. (ads, Boston Post,
14-21oct37)
9Dec37, Dreamland, Little Rock, AR. (ad,
Arkansas Democrat, 8Dec37, p4)
16Dec37, Carioca Ballroom, St. Louis, MO. (ad,
St. Louis Argus, 10Dec37, p5) Danceland in Cedar Rapids, IA,
has also been listed for this date (Variety, 24Nov37, p42),
but there is no mention in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
11Aug38, Bal-a-l’Air, Shrewsbury, MA. (ad,
Boston Post, 11Aug38, p12)
9Nov38, Roseland Ballroom, Kansas City, MO.
Dance with Harlan Leonard and His Kansas City Rockets. (ad, Kansas
City Call, city ed., 11Nov38, p9)
15Jun39, Meadowbrook, North Adams, MA. ("At
Ballrooms," Boston Post, 11Jun39, p15)
19Jun39, Lowell House, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA. Senior Dance. ("No More ‘Senior
Spread,’" Harvard Crimson, 19Jun39)
2oct39, Coliseum Ballroom, St. Paul, MN.
("Hundreds Acclaimed Duke Ellington at Coliseum Ballroom Last
Monday," Minneapolis Spokesman, 6oct39, p1)
20Apr40, Sweet’s Ballroom, Sacramento, CA.
(ad, Sacramento Bee, 20Apr40, p2)
25Feb41, El Patio Ballroom, Reno, NV. (ad,
Nevada State Journal, 23Feb41, p2) (DD)
26Feb41, Cocoanut Grove, Stockton, CA. (ad,
Stockton Daily Evening Record, 26Feb41, p15)
27Apr41, Trianon Ballroom, Oklahoma City, OK.
"Ivie Anderson, singing star with Ellington, is an Oklahoma product.
Her grandmother still lives in Chickasha, just a stones throw from
Oklahoma city." ("Harlem’s Aristocrat of Jazz to Play Dance at
Trianon," Black Dispatch, 19Apr41, p8) "Duke Ellington pulled
them in 1,200 strong. Still the peer in his field, Ellington gave a
great program." (Jimmy Stewart, "Jimmy Says," Black Dispatch,
3May41, p8)
29Apr41, Masonic Temple, Pine Bluff, AR. Concert
and dance. (ad, Pine Bluff Commercial, 28Apr41, p2)
4May41, Palace Theater, Peoria, IL. (ad,
Peoria Journal-Transcript, 4May41) (DD)
18Jun41, Capri, Los Angeles, CA. After closing
night at the Trianon:
The Capri jumped last Wednesday night after
hours. Every musician of note in town was there. Lunceford and Duke
men had a chance to cut each other and knock everyone else out.
Nellie Lucher, piano; Slam Stewart, bass; George Reed, drums; Joe
Lewis, guitar; and Jackie Porter, trumpet; got the session going with
Lady Be Good.
Late Ben Webster, Joe Thomas, Lester Young and Bumps Myers, all tenor
saxes, battled for a while. Bumps sent everybody in the joint,
including Lester. He did everything but whistle into his horn.
Webster, as always, went six stories below the basement, to dish up
his particular brand of dirty tone. Young honked away and played some
magnificent breaks. Really producing volume, Thomas was in unusually
good form.
Rex Stewart ranked Gabriel with his expressive cornet choruses and
Doutsie Williams wasn’t far behind. Proving his master touch
Jimmie Blanton plucked bass on Body and Soul while Al Norris
riffed a bit of gutter guitar.
Lee Young deserves a big pat on the back and four roses (bottle
variety) for getting together such a fine group of musicians. (Wilma
Cockrell, "Jam Session," California Eagle, 26Jun41)
11oct41, Sweet’s Ballroom, Sacramento, CA.
(ad, Sacramento Bee, 11oct41, p9)
12oct and likely 13oct41, Sweet’s
Ballroom, Oakland, CA. (ad, Oakland Tribune, 12oct41, sec
B, p11) Sweet’s had a policy of booking the same band Sunday
nights for whites (advertised in the Oakland Tribune) and
Monday nights for blacks (advertised in the California Voice),
as for Jimmie Lunceford (8 and 9Jun41) and Earl Hines (31Aug and
1Sep41). Unfortunately the mid-October 1941 issues of the
California Voice are missing.
When did Junior Raglin start filling in for ailing Jimmie
Blanton? Blanton was mentioned in a review of an opening day
performance at the Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, CA, 5 to
11Nov41. (Kevin Wallace, "Duke Ellington’s Band Hailed at
Golden Gate," San Francisco Examiner, 6Nov41, p24)
Raglin’s joining the Orchestra was reported in the
28Nov41 California Voice:
One evening about eighteen months ago myself and
a few of the gang were sitting around a table at Frisco’s Dawn
Club. The occasion was merely one of the Hot Club’s monthly jam
sessions. About all we heard all evening was a gang of untalented
kids who were disgracing the noble name of swing. Some tenor man had
just "butched" up a chorus in the prolific "Lady Be Good" and we were
about to leave in disgust when some obscure kid named Alvin "Junior"
Raglin surged into a guitar solo. He hadn’t progressed past the
first phrase before every swing fan in the jernt was on the edge of
his seat waiting to be "knocked out." It was a beautiful item that
Junior created that night and he was rewarded with fervent
"all—reets" and "all—roots" that constitute
swingdome’s highest tribute. And it was thus before Bay Region
swing fans. Soon after he hooked up with Wilbert Barranco and Jerome
Richardson out at the Alabam. While there he displayed marked ability
in both guitar and string bass. But regardless of his unmistakable
talent any gambler would have given you at least One Thousand to One
Against the unknown Raglin being a permanent fixture with Duke
Ellington by November 1941! The thing that couldn’t happen here
— did!!! The peerless Jimmie Blanton, who incidentally has no
equal as a creative bassist, health gave out on him. Boss Duke had
him examined by the greatest lung specialist on the West Coast. The
medico recommended that the kid be placed in a sanitarium and be
allowed to rest for at least two years. And so he had only one
alternative, and that was to retire Blanton and secure adequate
substitution. And as the band was all signed sealed and delivered for
Southern California’s Trocadero starting on November
27th, he could not wait for John Kirby, Israel Crosby,
Vernon Alley, or any other great name to come from the East Coast and
he was confined to Northern California for a choice.
And so by process of elimination he arrived at his only logical
choice, the versatile ex-Modesto boy Alvin "Junior" Raglin. (Ken
Freeman, "Music and Musicians," California Voice, 28Nov41,
p5)
18Nov41, Civic Auditorium, San Jose, CA. 8:30
p.m. to 1:00 a.m. (ad, San Jose Mercury Herald, 18Nov41,
p18)
During the 15 to 21Dec41, Palomar Theater, Seattle,
WA, engagement:
18Dec41, Owls’ Club, Seattle,
WA. "The beautiful rooms of the Owls’ club were the scene of
a gay pre-Christmas dinner party, honoring the members of Duke
Ellington’s band Thursday evening." (Northwest
Enterprise, 26Dec41, p4) I have been unable to determine the
location of the Owls’ Club. More research is needed.
Itinerary additions © Kenneth R. Steiner 2005. Please
feel free to contact me at: azuremood88@yahoo.com.