[78-L] What Happens to Old-Timers? A 1935 article

[Harold Aherne]

Found this in the 27 Aug. 1935 issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
****************************************************************************
WHAT HAPPENS TO OLDTIMERS
 
Their Day of Glory May Be Gone, But They'll Ne'er Be Forgotten
 
By Darrell V. Martin, Post-Gazette Radio Editor
 
WHAT HAPPENS TO big name orchestra leaders when they cease to lead an orchestra?
 
Whither goest such familiar names of a decade ago--Whitey Kaufman, Lew Conrad, Art
Landry, Tal Henry, Ross Gorman, Dan Gregory?
 
You remember Whitey Kaufman. How he used to "bowl them over" at the Nixon. And 
always a good radio band. Well, Whitey is now a booking agent at Lebanon, PA. No more
orchestra.
 
Ross Gorman at one time was among the first five highest paid orchestra leaders in this
country. Now on the musical staff at NBC.
 
"Among the Missing"
Jelly Roll Morton, writer of scores of hot tunes and the Cab Calloway of his day, is "among
the missing" on the music horizon. Ditto Art Landry (Sit right down, boys). 
 
Zez Confrey is now Rudy Vallee's piano player and Lew Conrad is vocalist with Abe
Lyman's Band.
 
Earl Fuller, who was the Paul Whiteman of his time (around 15 years ago), is the owner
now of a famous night club, the Swiss Gardens in Cincinnati.
 
King Not King Anymore
Phil Napoleon, leader of the Memphis Five, and Harry Hoffman, once very popular in
Pittsburgh, both on musical staff at NBC.
 
King Oliver, who made over 1,000 phonograph records [sic!], wrote dozens of songs and 
once was the king of colored orchestras, is reported the ticket taker in a Chicago dance
hall, where once he played to thousands.
 
Tal Henry is manager of the Valley Dale Ballroom in Columbus, Ohio.
 
Many leaders have taken to arranging music for other orchestras. Among them Dell
Lampe, Roy Ingraham, Dewey Bergman, Graham Prince (who gave Marty Gregor his start
in the Palais D'Or in New York). Marty Gregor still leading his own orchestra and part 
owner of Gay Paree on Babcock boulevard [sic].
 
Dan Gregory, Charlie Boulanger, Jean Goldkette (WOR), Max Fisher--among those trying
a comeback. George Williams playing lake resorts.
 
Katz Has Tough Luck
Al Katz (remember Al Katz and His Kittens?), loser of his carefully saved money in the 
stock market, is quite ill.
 
Dave Bernie, brother of Ben but famous in his own right, is arranging dance routines and 
producing floor shows in night clubs. 
 
Don Bigelow has definitely given up the music business and is associated now with his
father in the contracting game.
 
Dave Harmon a Booker
Opie Gates--a sensation when he came out of California five years ago--player of Junior
Proms at both Pitt and Tech, is a sax player now with Ben Pollock.
 
Eddie Edwards, writer of "Clarinet Marmalade" [sic] and other blue hits, has a small night
club in New York. Earl Carpenter has a five piece band in a Chinese restaurant in New
York.
 
Dave Harmon, when last heard from, was a booker in Dallas, Tex.
 
Freddy Mack, recently at the Hotel William Penn, has turned master of ceremonies in
New York theaters.
 
And so it goes--as Major Bowes says: "We turn the wheel of chance and around she 
goes, where she stops nobody knows."
************************************************************
 
Anyone know about the later histories of Al Katz or Dave Harmon/Harman? 
 
-HA